Financial Aid Advisor Job in Palmer 2023
CLASSIFICATION: Student Services Professional 2
GRADE: Grade 78
WORK TYPE: On Campus, Staff Full-time
ADMINISTRATIVE UNIT: University of Alaska Anchorage
SCHOOL/BUSINESS UNIT: UAA Matanuska Susitna College
LOCATION: Palmer
CATEGORIES: Administrative/Personnel, Business/Accounting/Finance
Position Summary:
Mat-Su College is seeking a Financial Aid Advisor who likes the challenge of helping people make good decisions about their future. This position is one of two financial aid advisors forming a critical part of the Student Services team at Mat-Su College. Financial aid advisors work closely with academic advisors, admissions staff, and outreach personnel to help students transition into college and persist toward graduation. Candidates who are comfortable working with numbers, have strong emotional intelligence, and proven problem solving abilities are encouraged to apply.
Duties:
OUTREACH:
Provide detailed financial aid information in non-regulatory language through workshops, group, or individual settings. Develop and conduct seminars, presentations, and materials to explain financial aid procedures and promote Mat-Su College. Work with students, parents, and staff to explain the financial aid process and regulations applying to the awarding of federal, state, and private sources of financial aid. Coordinate with area-wide school district personnel and presenters. Effectively promote scholarship opportunities to continuing and new students. Develop and provide content for workshops, displays, marquee, social media, flyers and online materials to promote financial aid awareness and early filing. Effectively promote scholarship opportunities to continuing and new students. Staff promotional table at outreach events and coordinate with other groups on events promoting financial aid awareness. Ensure staff is aware of adjustments, priority deadlines, and processing timeframes.
ADMINISTRATIVE:
Receive, review, record and process incoming financial aid data and subsequent paperwork adhering to university protocols and procedures to ensure compliance with federal, state and institutional policies. Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of student cost of attendance, need analysis, federal calculation, and resource allocation. Perform intake processing of professional judgement appeals and federal loans. Process in-house Department of Education verifications by ensuring accuracy on FAFSA application and using CPS, Dynamic forms, and OnBase workflow to determine eligibility for federal and institutional aid. Process scholarship checks to assign funds in student award accounts, document in Banner, and coordinate with accounting for disbursements. Initiate MSC Tuition Waivers for eligible students and coordinate with Student Services staff, recipients, Campus Cache, and directors for authorization. Serve on MSC Scholarship Committee as either a co-chair/reviewer.
Coordinate with UAA Financial Aid office and UA Statewide office regarding questions or issues with Academic Works awarding scholarships.VA: Certify Veterans Affairs Educational Benefits according to University and complex VA regulations and procedures. Ensure that documentation, eligibility, and benefits correlate for each specific benefit chapter and record into Banner and OnBase. Monitor and track appropriate changes and update VA-ONCE and student tracking spreadsheets accordingly. Daily coordination with UAA/UAF/UAS School Certifying Officials including community campuses regarding eligibility, parent letters, student eligibility inquiry.
Update certification according to students’ academic progress and submit semester reports to Veterans Affairs. Collaborate with Accounting Services department to provide assistance and resolve issues regarding VA School/student debt, deferment codes, student registration changes, grades, academic standing, exceptions, etc. Coordinate with regional VA Education Liaison Representative to troubleshoot and resolve outstanding issues. Organize and gather documents in preparation for annual VA Audits and reviews. Create and maintain online forms (Dynamic Forms/NextGen) for student submission related to Requests for Certification and Report of Changes related to educational benefits.
ADVISING:
Advise students in navigating the financial aid process by breaking down complex policies and processes into comprehensive, easy-to-understand information in person, on phone, by email, and via Zoom. Understand, interpret, and explain the rules and regulations that apply to eligibility, packaging, awarding and delivery of federal, state, institutional and private financial aid resources. Advise students regarding regulations and implications of maintaining eligibility and borrowing responsibility. Provide guidance on electronic submission of documentation for federal verifications, professional judgements, budget adjustments, loan revision requests, and other required processes. Interact respectfully with students, observing student confidentiality in compliance with FERPA and PTAC regulations to ensure the highest level of service while maintaining student privacy.
Troubleshoot problems as they arise, follow up on delayed awards and address complaints. Advise students who require financial aid reinstatement on the guidelines of academic progress and the appeal process. Knowledge of University system to refer students to appropriate area for assistance. Coordinate daily with MSC Accounting Services and UAA Office of Financial Aid. Advise veteran students applying for education benefits of procedures, expectations for certification requests, processes, and referral information.
“Opportunities start here” is more than a slogan at Matanuska-Susitna College (Mat-Su College); it is our mission. Our aim is to transform student aspirations into realities. Matanuska-Susitna College seeks applicants who possess a desire to help students succeed in reaching their goals.
Mat-Su College is a community campus of the University of Alaska Anchorage. The campus is located on 951 acres in the Matanuska-
Susitna Borough, the fastest growing region of Alaska. We serve as a major higher education hub for the communities of Wasilla and
Palmer. Our student-friendly campus offers small class sizes and state-of-the-art facilities, including paramedic classrooms with a fully
equipped ambulance bay, updated science labs, and a new 520-seat performing arts theater, the first in the Matanuska-Susitna Valley. The campus has an annual operating budget of nearly $11,000,000 and employs nearly one hundred full-time faculty and staff and more than one hundred adjunct instructors to serve approximately 2,000 students each semester.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES:
Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends, as well as occasional overtime; Demonstrated public speaking and presentation skills; Ability to work with campus-wide partners to develop and coordinate effective FA outreach program; Ability to foster excellent relationships with internal and external stakeholders; Ability to efficiently organize, make decisions, prioritize multiple tasks, meet deadlines, and work independently and as a team player within a highly computerized environment with frequent daily interruptions; Excellent analytical skills as well as written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills; Knowledge of basic accounting practices and office procedures; Experience with information technology and computing resources, especially Word and Excel.
Ability to defuse difficult, angry, or emotional situations with students and/or parents; Ability to give advice and/or problem solve; Experience working with diverse populations. Experience working in or with Alaska Native corporations, nonprofits, or entities that serve Alaska Native students. Demonstrated knowledge of federal and state financial aid and IRS regulations; Preference for applicants that have experience with Banner FAMS; Preference for applicants familiar with the UAA student experience. Candidates must not be in default on any federal student loan.
TYPICAL EXPERIENCE:
Two or more years of progressive work experience related to student services or customer services environment. Knowledge of and/or training in federal and state financial aid, accounting principles and computer applications. Experience working with diverse populations preferred.
Familiarity with Student Financial Aid, Student Affairs, Counseling, Education, or a related field.
REQUIRED EDUCATION OR TRAINING:
Bachelor’s Degree in Counseling, Education, Higher Education Administration or a related field. May substitute using a lesser degree along with a minimum of two years experience, or an equivalent combination of relevant training and similar experience.
SALARY INFORMATION:
This is a full-time, 12-month, non-exempt staff position complete with both a competitive salary and full employee benefits package. New hires will be placed on the UA staff salary schedule, Grade 78, based on education and experience.
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS TO APPLICANTS:
Please attach a resume, cover letter, and the names and contact information (email address and phone number) for three (3) professional references with your application.
The review process for applications will be begin on March 20, 2023.
*To be eligible for this position, applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States without restriction. Applicants who now or may in the future require visa sponsorship to work in the United States are not eligible.
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