Equitable Funding Support Navigator

Columbia Gorge Community College • The Dalles, OR

4d

About The Position

A collaborative, equity-minded leader to serve as Equitable Funding Support Navigator. The Equitable Funding Support Navigator is responsible for creating, assessing, and continuously improving the policies, processes, and practices necessary to facilitate equitable student learning and success; deliver excellent service; and accomplish the work of the Student Services division. The Student Services division includes financial aid, enrollment, outreach, and student life and student support services. This role reports directly to the Director of Financial Aid and serves as an integral member of the Financial Aid team who, in addition to responsibilities for coaching students through financial processes to ensure continued aid eligibility during their educational journey at CGCC, will also be cross-trained to support financial aid processing and communication functions and serve as a back-up to the Financial Aid Coordinator. The successful candidate will work collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders and be driven by a genuine desire to advance the College’s Mission and Priorities. Accordingly, the Equitable Funding Support Navigator will provide excellent service with a focus on closing equity gaps in educational access and attainment, and will work to promote inclusive prosperity throughout the Columbia Gorge region.

Requirements

• Associates Degree required in liberal arts, accounting or business or related field from an accredited college or university.
• Ability to welcome, nurture and value people of all backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences, as well as promote an environment that values differences.
• Formal training or experience in best practices and programming that improves the persistence, academic standing, and graduation rates of underrepresented and first generation college students.
• Ability to engage, support, and mentor students from equity-seeking populations with an emphasis on race equity.
• Communicate effectively with students and a variety of campus offices to achieve grant objectives.
• Practical knowledge of retention strategies and data-driven methods of identifying students who may be at risk of not continuing their education and skills for applying information to initiate direct student contact resulting in achievable results.
• Must have excellent computer skills utilizing a variety of computer software and experience with database management or developing and maintaining data tracking.
• Commitment to a student-centered learning environment and student success.
• Ability to work with an insight into the needs of first-generation and/or underrepresented college students.
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public.

Nice To Haves

• 1+ years of experience supporting and fostering inclusion among culturally diverse college student populations.
• 2 years of experience, preferably within a community college setting.
• Experience supporting student veterans and their dependents.
• Experience helping students navigate college environments and career paths.
• Knowledge of data-driven retention strategies and proactive outreach for at-risk students.
• Knowledge of financial aid programs, including needs analysis, verification, and packaging.
• Strong ability to plan, coordinate, and organize group activities and initiatives.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) strongly preferred.
• Bachelor's degree preferred.
• Any combination of education and experience equivalent to a Bachelor’s degree AND evidence of promoting equity-minded and diversely represented communications and materials, AND experience and evidence in responsiveness to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, and ethnic backgrounds of community college students and employees as these factors relate to the need for equity-minded practices.

Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive coaching and navigational support to help new and continuing students create financial plans, address the cost of attendance (tuition, housing, transportation), and navigate the Student Portal.
• Assist students with applying for and maintaining financial aid; review applications, Institutional Student Information Records (ISIRs), and exceptional circumstances to ensure compliance with Department of Education Title IV and state requirements.
• Serve as a dedicated resource for independent students, those with unusual financial circumstances, and veteran students, including managing veteran certification with the Department of Veterans Affairs.
• Assess students’ accounts to determine financial obligations, guide them through CGCC payment plans for out-of-pocket balances, and provide financial impact counseling for course withdrawals or pauses.
• Support the regular assessment of Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP), exercise professional judgment on appeals, conduct timely check-ins, and refer at-risk students to the Advising and Counseling teams.
• Facilitate financial literacy education and collaborate with K-12 partners and Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) to coordinate outreach activities, financial aid nights, and awareness events.
• Partner with recruitment and advising teams to utilize retention, completion, and tuition data to implement initiatives that significantly improve on-time graduation and transfer rates.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Associate degree