Financial Aid Counselor

Financial Aid Counselor

We are searching for an experienced Financial Aid Counselor at our Arapahoe Campus facility.

Position Title: Financial Aid Counselor
# of Positions to Fill: 2
Department/Program: Financial Aid 55000
Work Location Authorization: Hybrid On-Site/Remote
Campus Location: Arapahoe Campus
Reports to: Director of Student Financial Services
FLSA Classification: Non-Exempt/Hourly
FTE: 100% (40 hrs/week)
Compensation: $20 - $25 depending on experience

Application Deadline: March 27, 2024

Job Summary
The primary function of the Financial Aid Counselor is to assist students and families in applying for financial aid and financial planning to enhance the recruitment and retention of a diverse student body. This role serves as primary contact for current and prospective students requesting information or needing help with the student financial planning process. This role is additionally responsible for administrative financial aid processing, such as reviewing documents, resolving student eligibility issues, and the awarding of financial aid.

Job Duties & Responsibilities

Key Accountability 1: Student Customer Service

• Act as a primary contact for students and families requesting financial aid and financial planning assistance via phone, email, Zoom, face-to-face, and group information sessions.
• Counsel students and families regarding financial aid, scholarships, program costs, budgeting, and financial literacy.
• Help manage the general mailbox for Financial Aid, answering questions and routing to appropriate staff members when necessary.
• Assist with student outreach regarding missing documentation and other aid related issues.
• Assist with review, data entry, and tracking of Student Financial Services related documents and appeals for additional financial support.

Key Accountability 2: Financial Aid Awarding

• Review financial aid applications for accuracy and resolve conflicting information
• Manage Colorado State Aid applications, awarding, and utilization tracking
• Manage AmeriCorps funding and serve as institutional contact
• Award incoming and returning student with various forms of financial aid: institutional, federal, state, and external agencies
• Assign COA budget parameters and student attendance patterns, reviewing for accuracy
• Revise previously awarded financial aid when additional funding is received, ensuring the student does not exceed COA
• Adjust aid for students who deviate from their expected credit-load or request and increase/decrease to their loans

Key Accountability 3: Student Eligibility Review

• Complete 2-step verification for all selected students, carefully reviewing all submitted documents to ensure compliance with federal regulations
• Ensure accurate and timely updating of FAFSA records when corrections are required
• Perform division of income on FAFSA applications for students requiring an adjustment
• Review citizenship documentation and perform secondary confirmation on federal sites when applicable
• Review any student financial aid related documents submitted for accuracy and complete data entry
• Review student eligibility criteria issues, such as Pell LEU, UEH, Aggregate Loan, etc.,
• Assist with Professional Judgement process, working closely with students and families to gather documentation and evaluate eligibility adjustments on a case by case basis, in align with federal and institutional policies

Key Accountability 4: VA Education Benefits

• Counsel military-connected students on types of education benefits, general student and program eligibility, and how to apply/transfer benefits
• Collect and track required eligibility documents
• Review and Certify VA student enrollments
• Work with Advisors to ensure accurate degree plans for VA students
• Monitor VA enrollment changes and SAP progress, to ensure timely reporting to VA
• Complete annual VA SCO trainings and attend monthly webinars to remain current on VA policy and procedure

Miscellaneous::

• Maintain working knowledge policies and procedures related to Student Financial Services.
• Maintain cross-functional working knowledge and proficiency of Student Information System (Ellucian Colleague) and Student Portals (Ellucian Self-Service and Microsoft Sharepoint).
• Cross-train with other Student Financial Services positions, to serve as back-up when needed.
• Other duties as assigned

What Naropa Requires:

• All job candidates must hold a commitment to co-create a diverse and inclusive community and actively participate in related JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion) professional development regarding the dynamics of privilege and oppression and the impact these have in the workplace.
• All job candidates must demonstrate their level of understanding of the dynamics of privilege and oppression, and the impact these have on equity, access, and opportunity.
• All job candidates must demonstrate an appropriate level of understanding of and appreciation for the values of Naropa University and the capacity to demonstrate an integration and embodiment of these values as evidenced in work, communication, collaboration styles, and other general workplace behaviors.
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher learning, 3 years of additional experience my substitute for degree
• One (1) year of financial aid experience
• One (1) year working with Student Information Systems
• Excellent oral/written communication – ability to clearly communicate complex ideas and solutions
• Attention to detail - thorough when performing work and conscientious about attending to detail
• Leadership – strength in taking an objective and resources and bringing the idea to fruition
• Collaboration – capability to work well independently as well as part of a team
• Critical Thinking – secure relevant information, identify issues, and generate proposed solution
• Detailed knowledge of the Microsoft Office suite (particularly Excel)
• Proven exceptional customer service skills

What We’d Like You to Have:

• Four (4) years Financial Aid experience
• Experience working with Colleague/Banner Student Information System
• Demonstrated experience with awarding financial aid and/or eligibility review

Physical Requirements & Environmental Conditions
During regular daily activities, employee must be able to do the following with or without reasonable accommodation; sit, handle/finger, interruptions/distractions, heat/cold and dust.

Naropa recognizes the following holidays throughout the year:

• Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
• Memorial Day
• Juneteenth
• Independence Day
• Labor Day
• Fall Break, 4th Thursday and Friday in November
• Winter Break, the last two weeks in December encompassing the Christmas holiday as well as New Year’s

Naropa’s health and welfare benefits include the following: medical, dental, vision, FSA, HSA, employer-paid short-term and long-term disability, employer-paid life insurance and accidental death and dismemberment, an employer-sponsored pre-tax retirement savings plan, which includes up to 2.5% employer matching, and a variety of voluntary, employee-paid supplemental insurance plans.
A comprehensive benefits package is available to full-time employees who work a minimum of 30 hours each week. Employees who work 20 – 29 hours each week are eligible for only the employer-paid short-term & long-term disability, employer-paid life insurance & accidental death and dismemberment, and the retirement plan, which includes up to 2.5% employer matching.

Employees who work fewer than 20 hours per week are eligible to participate in Naropa’s retirement plan only, which includes up to 2.5% employer matching.

All regular full-time and part-time faculty and staff, including student workers, accrue sick leave benefits. Full-time and part-time staff positions accrue vacation and personal time. All leave accrual rates vary based on the position, hours worked, and years of service.

The University recognizes the importance of including its employees in its organizational mission and values and welcomes employees into the classroom to “touch the magic.” Specifically, regular employees are provided generous tuition remission opportunities for themselves and their family members.

Naropa University participates in the Council of Independent Colleges Tuition Exchange Program (CIC-TEP). CIC-TEP is a network of CIC colleges and universities willing to accept, tuition-free, students from families of full-time employees of other CIC participating institutions (full-time as designated by the employer/institution). Additional information can be found here: https://www.cic.edu/member-services/tuition-exchange-program. Naropa University’s commitment to diversity aligns with its highest aspirations to apply contemplative inquiry and education to explore and embody the human qualities that facilitate collaboration to create a common humanity and a just society. Individuals who have experience with and a commitment to inclusive communities are encouraged to apply. EOE

Title IX is a federal civil rights law that prohibits gender discrimination, sexual harassment, sexual and relationship violence. This law applies to all students, faculty, and staff.