Position Title: Financial Aid Advisor,Univ

Employee Classification: Financial Aid Advisor,Univ

College/Division: Student Success & Enroll Management

Department: 521040-UNIV FIN AID & SCHOLARSHIP SVCS

Internal or External Search: External - Open to all applicants

Location: Las Cruces

Offsite Location (if applicable):

Target Hourly/Salary Rate:  43,908.80

Appointment Full-time Equivalency:  1.0

Exempt or Non-Exempt:  Exempt

Summary:  The NMSU University Financial Aid and Scholarship Services department is seeking a (Work Study) Financial Aid Advisor, Univ. to join our team to manage the work study program and ensure compliance with all applicable local, state and federal laws and regulations.

Classification Summary:
Provides support and guidance as a student's single point of contact for all matters related to financial aid opportunities, including but not limited to federal grants, loans, work study, and state, institutional and private scholarships. Follows federal and state regulations and NMSU policies and procedures in the review and analysis of financial aid applications. Acts as an advisor to students, potential students and families, enforces regulations and policies, serves on appeal committee, creates academic plans for students with Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) issues and recommends solutions on how to improve their status. Effectively presents federal, state and scholarship aid information to individuals, small and large groups. Leads policy research, implementation, documentation, and training for entire NMSU-system.

Classification Standard Duties:
Meets with students, prospective students, families and community groups to provide information on all available federal, state and scholarship funds, eligibility criteria for each and the application procedures. Perform need analysis according to federal Title IV methodology, review and verify accuracy of applications and complete the packaging of awards for eligible applications. Revise existing awards to reflect changes in eligibility or allowable budget adjustments. Exercise professional judgement in adjusting a student's application to accommodate documented, qualifying special circumstances. Maintains proactive contact with students and creates solutions to potential setbacks that may affect student retention and works collaboratively with other departments to address and/or resolve issues. Participates in the development, implementation, documentation and training of departmental procedures, as appropriate. Conducts student orientations, entrance and exit interviews in accordance with federal, University and agency guidelines.

Required Education, Experience, Certification/License, Equivalency
Required Education:Bachelor's degree in a related field.; Required Experience:No previous work experience required.; Equivalency:None; Required Certification/License:

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
KNOWLEDGE:Basic knowledge of financial aid programs.; SKILLS:Demonstrated skill in personal computing, including Microsoft Office products.Research and interview techniques for the purpose of recording, classifying and interpreting factual information.; ABILITIES:To utilize electronic calendaring functions, access on-line student services forms and academic programs.To provide financial aid information and advice to a diverse student, prospective student, family and community population. To interpret and apply federal, state, institutional and private rules and regulations.To build and maintain excellent working relationships with faculty, staff, administrators, students and general public. To exercise professional judgement in line with federal and state regulatory guidelines.

Job Duties and Responsibilities
Responsible for overseeing business operations support of federal, state, institutional and private funded student aid. Responsibilities may include, but are not limited to, the development and execution of management processes, training and education on standard requirements and methods, creating models to improve business decisions, personnel functions, labor and/or cost reporting, document editing, process quality control, pricing, tracking and management of documentation and/or automated processes.
Standard Duties Include:
Advising
• Communicate complex financial information and application procedures to prospective students, current students and their families in a clear, timely and professional manner.
• Resolving problems by clarifying issues, researching and exploring answers and alternative solutions, escalating unresolved problems when appropriate.
• Adjusting student eligibility upon request for student loans based on eligibility guidelines
• Participates in the development, implementation, documentation and training of departmental procedures, as appropriate.
• Participate in student orientations, entrance and exit interviews in accordance with federal, University and agency guidelines.
• As appropriate may develop or assist in the development and maintenance of business reporting and management tools/processes

Processing
• Assist in the reconciliation of information in the financial aid database with payroll.
• Monitor work-study program compliance with all applicable local, state and federal laws and regulations including conducting on-site visits to work locations to ensure integrity of program guidelines.
• Responsible for reviewing work-study agreements and approve employers for off-campus work-study opportunity.
• Responsible for identifying, reviewing and approving community service agencies.
• Responsible for providing support for off-campus agencies including hiring of students and approval of timesheets.
• Responsible for developing and maintaining all procedures, policies, manuals and forms relating to work-study
• Provide operational support for work-study supervisors both on and off campus.

Student Experience
• Utilize problem-solving skills to assist students experiencing financial difficulties to develop plans that encourage retention and on-time graduation
• Responding to high volume of request for information via email in a clear and timely manner
• Maintains proactive contact with students and creates solutions to potential setbacks that may affect student retention and works collaboratively with other departments to address and/or resolve issues.
• Utilize effective counseling skills in sometimes highly charged emotional situations.

Work-Study Program Management.
• Process work-study payroll bi-weekly, including clean-up reports and work-study reconciliation.
• Run bi-weekly reports to monitor work-study students’ payroll issues, checking for enrollment, Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP), and complete files to qualify for Title IV aid.
• Conduct bi-weekly and monthly reconciliation of reports, including work-study and scholarships.
• Manually award work-study to students from the waiting list for each semester.
• Send Community Needs Assessment contracts annually to all main campus and branch campuses.
• Send updated annual contracts to current and prospective off-campus agencies.
• Hire students for approved off-campus agencies and the financial aid department.
• Create and update off-campus packets to present to off-campus agencies.
• Audit students from different departments to ensure work-study compliance.
• Monitor and update information as changes occur for website purposes.
• Conduct training as deemed necessary for different departments for different work-study programs.

Collaboration and Communication.
• Maintain constant communication with departments regarding changes, updates, guidelines, etc.
• Maintain constant communication with students regarding changes, updates, guidelines, etc.
• Monitor students' work-study semester allocations and verify eligibility for federal and state awards.
• Facilitate trainings for departments and explain all types of work-study programs.
• Work closely with America Reads department/Crimson Honors College to verify students’ eligibility for the specific program.
• Collaborate with faculty and staff on changes and information in regard to work-study federal guidelines.

Preferred Qualifications

Special Requirements of the Position
Schedule may need to be adjusted with prior notice based on needs of the office. Limited travel, flexible hours during peak times, and occasional evening and weekend schedules.

Department Contact:  Maria Hernandez, 575-646-7598, mgh1@nmsu.edu

Contingent Upon Funding: Not Applicable

Bargaining Unit Eligibility: This is NOT a bargaining unit position with American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees (AFSCME).

Standard Work Schedule: Standard (M-F, 8-5)

If Not a Standard Work Schedule: 

Working Conditions and Physical Effort

Environment: Work is normally performed in a typical interior/office work environment.

Physical Effort: No or very limited physical effort required.

Lifting Requirements: Requires handling of average-weight objects up to 10 pounds or some standing or walking.

Risk: Work environment involves some exposure to hazards or physical risks, which require following basic safety precautions.