Financial Aid Student Support Specialist - Full-time / Part-time

Job Summary:Reporting to the Associate Director of Financial Aid, the Financial Aid Student Support Specialist engages students and the surrounding community through financial aid awareness, outreach, and technology. This position provides current and prospective students with information about financial aid processes, requirements, and regulations to receive and maintain financial aid. In addition, this position works collaboratively with other departments in the development and implementation of appropriate interventions during all aspects of the financial aid process to increase retention and support students applying for financial aid. This position will continue to promote and encourage students to complete the financial aid process each year while utilizing technology to meet the increased challenges students face while completing their academic journey. This position is a Title III Grant funded position.Duties and Responsibilities:

Provide students, parents, faculty, and staff with timely and accurate information about federal, state, and institutional financial aid programs through various forms of communication including over the phone, via email, and in person.Identify, schedule, and plan outreach programs internally and through coordination with other departments, such as TRiO and Upward Bound. Review financial aid files and perform verification when students are selected by the U.S. Department of Education (ED) utilizing the Ellucian-Campus Logic platforms.Process financial aid awards ensuring students are not over their financial need and correcting any potential over awards at the time of awarding.Assist students in completing the required paperwork to receive the different types of Direct Loans, private loans and to apply for scholarships through the FVSU Foundation.Assist the Associate Director with troubleshooting rejected Direct Loan and Pell Grant files.Calculate, update, and explain satisfactory academic progress (SAP) statuses to students.Consistently use the student information system (SIS), BANNER to monitor and track student eligibility for financial aid programs and communicates with students regarding missing information and required processes and procedures.Actively participates in all professional development activities such as trainings, project teams, and other opportunities.Remain current and provide training on the most relevant software and technology available for the administration of financial aid to enhance the student experience. Understand the functionality of the various technologies, such as the chatbot and appointment systems, currently used in financial aid and provides feedback to improve them.Maintains welcoming, clean, organized, and safe work environment.Perform other duties as assigned by the Associate Directors, Regional Executive Director or other designees.

Qualifications:Minimum:

Bachelor's Degree from an accredited institutionActively and respectfully engages in conversations regarding financial hardships faced by economically disadvantaged students. Promotes an atmosphere of professionalism, empathy and understanding when speaking with students and their families.Understands the guiding principles of supervision and can collaborate and train students, faculty, and staff, on current technologies available in financial aid.Knowledgeable about various federal and state programs, as well as the computer-based applications including COD, NSLDS, and GA Futures required to review students' eligibility.Ability to work in a team environment and collaborate with both internal and external candidates to assist with student engagement and retention.Methods and techniques of community outreach course curriculum development.Strong written and verbal communication skills to communicate with students, families, faculty, and staff through e-mail, telephone communication, and workshops. This includes using proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation to communicate effectively.Can present to groups of various sizes using appropriate language during outreach events and training sessions. Understand the principles of marketing, promotion, and recruitment to engage external stakeholders.Possess basic knowledge of office management practices, including utilizing computers, printers, and other office equipment.Capable of prioritizing workload to meet deadlines, while at the same time experiencing multiple interruptions to provide excellent customer service to students.Ability to travel to different events, some overnight.

Preferred:

Master's DegreeFive years' financial aid experience, preferably in customer relations, outreach and technology.

Guidelines:

Guidelines include the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title III guidelines, and university and Board of Regents policies and procedures. These guidelines require judgment, selection, and interpretation in application.

Working Conditions:

Some evening and weekend work are required.Work site will vary between the office and the field.

Physical Requirements:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to handle or feel and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to reach with hands and arms. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.