Financial Aid Counselor I
- 503742
- Doña Ana Community College, New Mexico, United States
- Staff
- Staff Full-time
- Closing at: Jul 10 2026 - 23:55 MDT
Department Contact: McKenna Garcia, 575-527-7550, mcgarcia@dacc.nmsu.edu
Internal or External Search: External - Open to all applicants
Advertising Summary: DACC, a responsive, accessible, comprehensive, learning-centered community college that provides education opportunities to a diverse community of learners is inviting candidates to apply for the following vacant position:
Position Details
Position Title: Financial Aid Counselor I
College/Division: DACC Dona Ana CC
Department: 941660-DACC FINANCIAL AID SVCS
Location: Doña Ana Community College
Offsite Location (if applicable): Gadsden Center and Sunland Park Center
Target Hourly/Salary Rate: $43,908.80 - $54,885.74 (Commensurate with qualifications)
Appointment Full-time Equivalency: 1.0
FLSA Status: Exempt
Bargaining Unit Announcement: This is NOT a bargaining unit position with American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees (AFSCME).
Contingent Upon Funding: Not Applicable
Standard Work Schedule: Shift: Other Shift
If Not a Standard Work Schedule: May work occasional hours beyond the standard 8-5 during peak periods or special events.
Job Duties and Responsibilities: The Financial Aid Advisor position is responsible for providing comprehensive support to students and families throughout the financial aid process, ensuring access to funding while maintaining compliance with federal, state, and institutional regulations.
• Counseling and Student Support: includes advising students and parents on financial aid options, FAFSA completion, loan borrowing and repayment, satisfactory academic progress (SAP), professional judgment requests, dependency issues, withdrawals, and financial responsibility. Advisors assist with academic plans for students facing SAP challenges, connect students to additional resources, support outreach events, and serve as a primary contact for resolving aid-related concerns.
• Award Management: involves reviewing and processing financial aid awards, performing need analysis, exercising professional judgment for special circumstances, managing appeals, adjusting awards for overpayments or eligibility changes, processing loans, and awarding specialized aid programs in accordance with regulations.
• Data Collection and Research: includes conducting research through systems such as NSLDS and COD to resolve issues related to defaults, aggregate loan limits, Pell eligibility, unusual enrollment history, bankruptcy, and other aid-related concerns. Advisors also review reports to identify and correct awarding discrepancies.
• Administrative Coordination: encompasses staff training, cross-department collaboration, policy and procedure development, presentations and outreach activities, website maintenance, student employee supervision, appeals committee participation, SAP monitoring, documentation management, and ongoing professional development to remain current on financial aid regulations.
• Compliance and Monitoring: focuses on ensuring adherence to federal, state, and institutional policies. Responsibilities include reviewing withdrawals, monitoring award accuracy, overseeing compliance procedures, supervising staff compliance efforts, completing required trainings, and collaborating with institutional partners to implement and improve financial aid policies and procedures.
Overall, the role combines student counseling, financial aid administration, regulatory compliance, outreach, and operational coordination to support student success and access to higher education.
Qualifications
Required Education and Experience:
Associate's Degree + 2 years of relevant experience or a Bachelor's degree.
Equivalent Qualifications:
Preferred Qualifications:
Preferred experience in financial aid or higher ed setting.
Demonstrated proficiency in Spanish, including verbal communication, written correspondence, and public presentations, to support effective engagement with the diverse populations served throughout southern Doña Ana County.
Special Certification/Licensure:
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: No or very limited exposure to physical risk.
Recruitment Summary
We are New Mexico’s land-grant institution and a comprehensive research university dedicated to teaching, research public service and outreach at all levels. NMSU is a welcoming community of talented faculty, staff and students who are working together to make a difference. We are a NASA Space Grant College, a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI), a minority-serving institution (MSI) and home to the first Honors College in New Mexico. We offer an accessible education that shapes bright futures.
NMSU provides learning opportunities to a diverse population of students and community members at four campuses, Cooperative Extension offices located in each of New Mexico’s 33 counties, 12 research and science centers, and through distance education.
NMSU Global Campus
Since 1888, NMSU has proudly embodied this tradition, building relationships that last a lifetime while serving students who want to earn their degree and grow in their field. Today, NMSU Global Campus provides flexible, career-focused online education that helps our students transform their lives – and the lives of the people they love – through over 70 degree and certificate programs, skill-building microlearning courses, and career and talent development.
NMSU Main Campus
Located in Las Cruces, NM, New Mexico State University's 900-acre main campus is located at the crossroads of I-10 and I-25 in the Southwestern United States. As a thriving center of higher education, deeply rooted in the regional tradition, its role as a comprehensive university is recognized throughout the state.
Doña Ana Community College
Founded in 1973 in collaboration with local school districts to support occupational education, DACC is now a leading community college that provides transformative educational opportunities that meet the workforce needs of Doña Ana County. With a focus on access, innovation and excellence, DACC offers over ninety degrees and certificates, adult education, specialized workforce training, and small business assistance.
Alamogordo Campus
Established in 1958 to serve the needs of the airmen and families stationed at Holloman Air Force Base located only 10 miles west of Alamogordo, NMSUA is a community college with a long history of excellence that is supported by a caring community of hard-working students and dedicated faculty and staff. The campus is situated “on the hill” above Alamogordo and provides inspiring views of the city and the Tularosa Basin, offering the perfect venue for creative and motivated learning.
Grants Campus
NMSU Grants was established as a branch of New Mexico State University in 1968 through the cooperative efforts of New Mexico State University and Grants Municipal Schools. As a two-year branch community college, NMSU Grants serves the local communities in Cibola and McKinley counties, including the Pueblos of Acoma, Laguna, and Zuni, as well as Tohajiilee, San Mateo, San Rafael, Cubero, the City of Grants, and the Village of Milan.
Special Instructions to Applicants
The electronic application is the *official* document that will be used to qualify applicants. Paper/email documents will not be accepted. Required documents must be attached to this application.
EEO Statement
New Mexico State University does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, military service, or other non-merit factor.
