What are the responsibilities and job description for the Director of Financial Aid position at Minnesota State College Southeast?
Position Details
Position Information
Classification Title
MnSCU Academic Professional 2
Working Title
Director of Financial Aid
Hire Types
Supervisor/Manager
Division
Branch
Department
Minnesota State College Southeast
Unit
Student Services
Location
Red Wing, MN or Winona, MN
FLSA
Exempt
Full/Part Time
Full Time
FTE
1
Employment Condition
Unlimited
Work Shift
8:00am-4:30pm
Work Schedule/Hours/Days
Monday-Friday
Posting Details
Salary Minimum
48,899
Salary Maximum
69,530
Salary Type
Annual
Bargaining Unit/Plan
214, MAPE
Job Description
This position acts as a leader in the Financial Aid office. The Director provides leadership for all key functions, administrative, technical, and logistics of the Financial Aid office along with budget responsibilities. This position also serves on key leadership teams across campus, including the Vice President of Student Success’s leadership team, as an authority on issues, concerns, and functions of the Student Success Division. The Director manages all federal/state programs (ie. grants, federal and state work-study, state aid programs, etc.) in accordance with federal/state regulations. This position advises and counsels students and families regarding application procedures and awarding, including types of aid available, cost, financing options, referring scholarship opportunities, eligibility requirements, and student loan debt management.
RESPONSIBILITIES AND RESULTS
Manage, coordinate and administer all functions of the financial aid office.
- Primary responsibility for managing, training, and setting work direction for financial aid staff.
- Continue to stay informed of federal, state and institutional rules, regulations and policies by reading appropriate communications and attending pertinent webinars, meetings, conferences, and workshops.
- Support the development and review of policies and procedures applicable to financial aid transactions.
- Conduct financial aid workshops at the request of MSC Southeast faculty and local high schools to inform students and families of the financial aid process.
Provide leadership, work direction, and strategic decision-making as part of the Student Success Leadership Team.
- Work collaboratively with deans, vice presidents, and college faculty and staff to implement the college’s strategic plan and Minnesota State goals in support of college and student success. Participate in college planning processes.
- Participate as a representative of the college between and among appropriate institutions and agencies.
- Serve on key councils and committees, including but not limited to: the Student Success Leadership Team; and the Emergency Scholarship Committee
- Participate in professional organizations and professional development activities to stay current with national trends, best practices, and emerging strategies.
- Participate in leadership of all efforts to support student success and retention, including serving on the academic/financial aid appeal committee.
Administer and manage all federal and state and local programs requiring reporting and reconciling. Manage and administer all the veteran program student files and the MN GI Bill program. Serve as the campus expert in all student grant and scholarship programs to ensure that the institution is and remains in compliance at all times.
- Act as the campus-designated authority by making final decisions on awards for these programs.
- Implement federal rules and regulations regarding the awarding, disbursement and adjustment of awards.
- Generate reports, reconcile, and verify the final award for the Department of Education, Minnesota Department of Higher Education, and the Office of Veteran Affairs coincides with the distribution of monies by the college business office and the awarding of monies through the financial aid office.
- Assist students to complete the necessary paperwork and verify and enter in the appropriate system.
Analyze student financial aid FAFSA, data, and verification to determine financial aid eligibility within all Federal and State financial aid programs and communicate with students. Manage yearly financial aid rollover in ISRS (student information system) to begin awarding process for the academic year. Manage and administer the Return to Title Four (R2T4) Aid Process and Satisfactory Progress Program that applies to all financial aid.
- Review FAFSA results, interpret tax forms and schedules, and verify the information provided on the FAFSA application. Identify and apply specified federal regulations to data required for verification.
- Identify conflicting information and interpret guidelines for resolution. Efficiently and accurately award all federal and State to all eligible students.
- Manage and set up financial aid rollover for each academic year to be able to award students. Coordinate aid applied and funds applied procedures by working closely with the Business Office.
- Manage and administer the summer financial aid award process and aid disbursement.
- Collaborate with the college Business Office to ensure all student accounts are adjusted correctly.
- Managing the Return to Title IV Policy Program (R2T4). A list of students on the R2T4 list is to be reviewed weekly to calculate and determine changes to aid and relay communication to students.
- Prepares and processes suspension notification materials for students judged in non-compliance.
- Counsel and advise students on requirements for returning to good standing and then make independent judgments based on student transcripts regarding the reinstatement of financial aid.
- Serves as a financial aid representative on the appeals committee as well as on the tuition refund appeals committee.
Prepare and submit accurate and timely reports and applications on behalf of MSC Southeast. Compile and verify data for the annual Fiscal Operations Report for federal campus-based programs, our Federal Program Participation Agreement and internal and external audits.
- Act as the campus-designated authority in compiling and submitting data needed for Federal work-study and SEOG funding for the completion of the annual FISAP.
- Compile required data, information, and student records for internal and external requests.
- Act as the campus-designated authority by efficiently and accurately updating the college PPA
Program Participation Agreement with the Department of Education in order to remain compliant and aid eligible.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s Degree in a related field of study.
- A minimum of 3 years of experience working in a financial aid office.
- The ability to lead and provide work direction office staff without direct reporting relationships.
- Prior working knowledge of Federal and State Financial Aid eligibility processes.
- Knowledge of current Federal and State financial aid programs.
- Demonstrated ability to plan, organize, administer, and manage complex aid programs to a diverse population of students with varying degrees of financial aid comprehension.
- Advanced computer skills to manage, query, and analyze data and create reports and presentations to assist with decision-making.
- Knowledge of data practices and FERPA policies and laws and to be able to handle sensitive, confidential information.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills to maintain positive relationships with students, parents, and colleagues; strong conflict resolution skills a must.
- Must be able to communicate complicated information clearly and to diverse audiences.
- Must possess a commitment to customer service and to serving as a team leader within a complex organization.
- Must be detail-oriented and have a high standard for accuracy, comprehension and memory ability.
Preferred Qualifications
- Documented ability to interpret and apply state and federal regulations and legal definitions as directed.
- Previous experience with R2T4, satisfactory academic Progress, and reconciliation of state and federal funds and current experience with federal and state financial aid policies.
- Knowledge and experience with processing, reporting and all other guidelines related to federal and state financial aid. Direct experience with financial aid.
- Experience using ISRS (Integrated Student Registration System) and Department of Education software including NSLDS, COD, EdConnect and EDExpress systems, web-based programs which include FASTER along with Image Now, Microsoft Teams, Word, Excel, and Zoom.
- Experience in accounting and tax preparation to review and understand student verification process.
- Ability to multi-task, prioritize, ability to manage, plan, work under pressure and meet deadlines to comply with regulatory standards.
- Must be dependable, organized and extremely accurate.
About
Minnesota State College Southeast is a two-year technical and community college that prepares students for a lifetime of learning by providing education for employment, skill enhancement, retraining, and transfer, to meet the needs of students and the community. The Winona campus opened in 1949, merging with the Red Wing campus in 1992 and updating its name to Minnesota State College Southeast in 2016 with the change of mission to offer both technical training and the associate of arts degree. Minnesota State College Southeast is a member of Minnesota State. For more information, visit www.southeastmn.edu.
Other Requirements
Benefits Info
As an agency of the State of Minnesota, MSC Southeast offers a comprehensive benefits package including medical and dental insurance, short and long-term disability, generous vacation and sick leave, 11 paid holidays each year, employer-paid life insurance, pre-tax flexible spending accounts, retirement plans, and tax-deferred compensation. Additional benefits include tuition waivers available to the position, their spouse and dependent children up to age 26.
Posting Detail Information
Posting Number
F065P
Number of Vacancies
1
Re-posting
No
Desired Start Date
07/24/2023
Position End Date (if temporary)
Open Date
05/24/2023
Close Date
06/14/2023
Open Until Filled
No
Special Instructions Summary
Accept Applications
Yes
Posting Contact
Alecia Spagnoletti
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
The college is committed to honoring human differences. We expect and foster tolerance of different values and ideas. We are committed to the principle that all individuals are to be treated with equality and dignity.
Minnesota State Colleges and Universities is an Equal Opportunity employer/educator committed to the principles of diversity. We prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their race, sex, color, creed, religion, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or membership in a local commission as defined by law. As an affirmative action employer, we actively seek and encourage applications from women, minorities, persons with disabilities, and individuals with protected veteran status.
All applicants must be able to lawfully accept employment in the United States at the time of employment. For TTY, call Minnesota Relay Service at 7-1-1- or 1-800-627-3529.
Minnesota State Colleges and Universities is an Equal Opportunity employer/educator committed to the principles of diversity. We prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their race, sex, color, creed, religion, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or membership in a local commission as defined by law. As an affirmative action employer, we actively seek and encourage applications from women, minorities, persons with disabilities, and individuals with protected veteran status.
All applicants must be able to lawfully accept employment in the United States at the time of employment. For TTY, call Minnesota Relay Service at 7-1-1- or 1-800-627-3529.
Salary : $48,899 - $0