Financial Aid Advisor I

Texas A&M University System • College Station, TX

10d • Onsite

About The Position

The Financial Aid Advisor I learns to advise and counsel students about financial aid under close supervision and to support financial aid processing, scholarship administration, and compliance activities. The position learns to review student files and make adjustments, assist students with appeals, and award, revise, or approve aid according to program policies and guidelines. It also learns to monitor non-resident tuition waivers, create AggieBuy vouchers to return outside scholarship funds to donors, coordinate Gates Millennium Scholars and Gates program awards, support the annual scholarship reception, and assist with compliance reviews and self-audits.

The role supports departmental events and outreach, responds to financial aid questions that may require research and data consolidation, attends workshops and conferences, and may assist with presentations. Work is performed under close supervision, and the position may involve occasional travel and work outside regular business hours during peak periods, including weekends or holidays.

Scholarships & Financial Aid serves students and families by providing information, financial resources, and support programs. The office administers scholarships and aid—including grants, student loans, student employment, veteran educational benefits, athletic aid coordination, short-term loans, and emergency tuition and fee loans—and processes aid for Texas A&M locations in College Station, Galveston, and Health Science Center sites.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• No experience required.
• Ability to meet deadlines while maintaining accuracy, professionalism, and customer service.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office software.
• Ability to work individually and as part of a team in a dynamic organization.
• Good interpersonal communication skills.
• English literacy and ability to comprehend, give, and follow written and verbal instructions.
• Ability to organize and make decisions.
• Ability to work well under pressure.
• Ability to use tact, diplomacy, and judgment when dealing with customers.
• Attention to detail.
• Must comply with Texas A&M System Policy 07.02, Texas Higher Education Fair Lending Practices.
• Must be in good standing on all Federal Student Loans; must rectify any default status within three months of employment and maintain good standing for continued employment.
• Must be able to meet occasional travel requirements.
• May be asked to work weekends, holidays, and outside regular business hours during peak periods.

Nice To Haves

• A cover letter and resume are strongly recommended.

Responsibilities

• Advise and counsel students on financial aid under close supervision.
• Learn to collaborate with campus representatives regarding students’ financial aid concerns.
• Assist with reviews of student files and make adjustments as needed.
• Learn the student financial aid appeal process and shadow team members.
• Award, revise, and/or approve financial aid under program policies, guidelines, and controls.
• Learn and maintain knowledge of federal, state, and institutional financial aid policies, procedures, and regulations.
• Ensure processing activities adhere to established policies and procedures.
• Learn how staff support students as they transition from prospective to enrolled status.
• Monitor non-resident tuition waiver processes.
• Create AggieBuy vouchers to return outside scholarship funds to donors or organizations.
• Coordinate and process awards for Gates Millennium Scholars and Gates programs, including serving as a GMS portal manager.
• Provide input for planning and organizing the annual scholarship reception.
• Assist with university department compliance activities and self-audits.
• Participate in planning and executing departmental initiatives and events, including financial aid awareness programs, Aggieland Saturday, and outreach efforts.
• Respond to varied questions that may require researching and consolidating financial aid data.
• Attend local, state, and national workshops and conferences.
• May assist with presentations.

Benefits

• Medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, life and AD&D, flexible spending accounts, and long-term disability insurance; Texas A&M contributes to employee health and basic life premiums.
• 12–15 days of annual paid holidays.
• Up to eight hours of paid sick leave and at least eight hours of paid vacation each month.
• Automatic enrollment in the Teacher Retirement System of Texas.
• Free exercise programs and release time.
• Free LinkedIn Learning training, webinars, and limited financial support for conferences, workshops, and other professional development.
• Educational release time and tuition assistance for completing a degree while employed at Texas A&M.
• Living Well employee wellness program.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level