Description
Department Description:
The Office of Financial Aid (OFA) is responsible for the awarding of Federal, State, and Institutional financial aid to Undergraduate and Graduate students at the University of San Diego. The OFA is also responsible for maintaining Federal, State, and Institutional compliance to ensure proper delivery of financial aid. This includes scholarships, grants, work-study, and loans. The OFA determines student eligibility using the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the CA Dream Act Application, and the USD Dream Act Application. 76% of USD students receive some type of financial aid.
University Description:
The University of San Diego, an engaged and contemporary Catholic institution, was founded by the Diocese of San Diego and the Society of the Sacred Heart in 1949. Governed by an independent board of trustees since 1972, USD remains committed to a liberal arts education grounded in the Catholic intellectual tradition and the pursuit of truth, goodness and beauty. Inspired by this centuries old tradition of Catholic higher education, the University welcomes people of all faith traditions and any, or no, religious background. The future success of USD relies on the contributions of those who seek to foster the development of engaged global citizens and an earnest confrontation of humanity’s urgent challenges.
Detailed Description:
The Financial Aid Counselor & Scholarship Coordinator will:
- Coordinate awards of USD Endowed & Restricted Scholarships
- Process private/outside scholarships
- Counsel and advise on financial aid matters
- Process financial aid files
Duties and Responsibilities:
Scholarship Program Coordinator:
- Coordinate Banner Fund Code requests when a new Endowed/Pooled or Annual/Restricted/Spendable account is opened.
- Serve as a resource for Development Officers on campus when they are establishing new scholarships.
- Select and award USD endowed and annual scholarships to students according to donors’ criteria, coordinating information from Workday and USD Development, and using technical knowledge of USD’s computer system and USD award process.
- Determine appropriate scholarship awards for students whose appeals for additional funds have been approved.
- Serve as a resource using professional judgment and decision-making skills interacting with academic departments to resolve issues regarding different types of student awards.
- Process all external scholarships from private sources using knowledge of federal regulations and USD packaging policies, and adhering to all donor specifications.
- Maintain regular interface/communication with the Office of Development.
- Maintain regular interface/communication with Accounting.
- Processes departmental/direct awards when a re-evaluation is needed, requiring extensive knowledge of Federal and other agency regulations. Including but not limited to: USD Work Service Awards, Choral Scholarships, University Ministry Scholarships.
- Coordinate and award all Tuition Remission Scholarships and Tuition Exchange Scholarships for USD undergraduate and graduate students for fall, spring, intersession and summer session.
Application and File Processing:
- Determine student financial aid eligibility based on Federal Methodology and USD guidelines, using professional judgment and knowledge in “gray areas”.
- Process corrections through ANA/INAS system and determine new need/eligibility.
- Determine students’ financial aid package using USD, federal, and state guidelines, demonstrating flexibility, yet adhering to guidelines; identify/request exceptions based on professional judgment.
- Perform re-evaluation of packages.
Applicant Advising:
- Counsel students and parents who have complicated situations on financial aid/personal matters with sensitivity.
- Provides accurate and prompt information ensuring excellent customer service by serving as part of the Financial Aid Counselor of the Day rotation. This occurs primarily by phone and email with occasional face-to-face meetings.
- Acts as liaison with other USD offices regarding student issues.
- Collaborates with partner offices to assist families with questions and concerns.
Other:
- Represent USD by creating/making presentations on Financial Aid at fairs and forums.
- Serve as integral part of financial aid team in formulating and implementing policies and procedures for office management and modifications to packaging and processing guidelines.
- Attend state/federal training workshops and state/regional conferences relating to financial aid and/or scholarships.
- Serve on university committees relevant to Financial Aid issues.
- Complete Financial Needs Analysis Forms on portals and paper forms for outside scholarship donors as necessary.
- Train, supervise, and evaluate two full time staff members.
Background check: Successful completion of a pre-employment background check.
Degree Verification Requirement: Persons offered employment in this position will be required to provide official education transcripts for degree verification purposes.
Requirements
Minimum Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s Degree
- Four years full time experience in financial aid
Performance Expectations - Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
- Knowledge of need analysis and student aid
- High degree of mathematical accuracy
- Effective oral and written communication skills
- Effective organizational skills
- Ability to make independent decisions
- Ability to make difficult and critical decisions
- Ability to adjust to changing environment
- Capacity to listen and respond with knowledge and understanding to student and parent situations
- Word processing skills
- Extensive knowledge and understanding of Title IV Regulations
- Maintain diplomacy in difficult situations
- Demonstrated supervisory skills
- Ability and availability to work additional hours during peak processing times and/or during times of staff transition
- Public Speaking skills
Posting Salary:
$5720-5834 per month; Excellent Benefits
The University of San Diego offers a very competitive benefits package including; medical, dental, vision, a retirement contribution given to you by the University, and access to on-campus Fitness Centers. Please visit the benefits section of our website to view all of the perks and benefits that USD has to offer. USD: Human Resources: Benefits
The salary range provided in this posting reflects what we reasonably expect to pay for this position. Actual compensation offered or earned is dependent on experience, education and other factors including departmental budget.
Special Application instructions:
Resume and Cover Letter Required
Click the 'Apply Now' button to complete our online application. In addition, please upload a cover letter and resume to your application profile for the hiring managers’ review. If you have any questions or difficulties please contact the Employment Services Team at jobs@sandiego.edu.
Additional Details:
Hours: 37.5 hours per week
Closing date: Open until filled
Note: External job postings will be up for at least three days. After that time, applications will be reviewed by the hiring manager/committee throughout the posting period. A candidate may be selected at any time which could then close this posting on a date earlier than listed.
The University of San Diego is a smoking and tobacco-free campus. For more information, visit www.sandiego.edu/smokefree.
