Financial Aid Advisor - Financial Aid Student Services

Metropolitan State University of Denver • Denver, CO

70d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Enrollment Management Division at Metropolitan State University of Denver (MSU Denver) brings together the functions of Admissions, Registrar, Testing Center, Orientation, and Financial Aid offices. Together, we recruit, admit and support current undergraduate and graduate students from various multicultural backgrounds. Our offices strive to support every student with quality and intentional services during their college career. Our vision is rooted in a commitment to attract, enroll, retain, and graduate an empowered student body. We are a student-centered, evidence-based, technology-driven division that collaborates with internal and external partners to support the university's mission and commitment to access, academic quality, diversity, equity, and inclusion. The Financial Aid Advisor develops a thorough knowledge of federal, state, and institutional financial aid topics to professionally advise students and parents about receiving financial aid at MSU Denver. The Advisor also administers a student portfolio to ensure timely processing of Verification, C-Codes, Professional Judgement and Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeals, Dependency Overrides and other key processes to help students finance their education. The Enrollment Management Division supports and engages in Anti-Racism efforts to increase equity and access to an MSU Denver education. IND208

Requirements

• Demonstrated skills in conflict resolution, verbal and written communication, time management, and human relations
• Proficiency with standard MS Office software applications
• Bachelor's Degree
• One-year higher education experience

Nice To Haves

• One-year financial aid and/or scholarship experience
• General Knowledge of financial aid processes, guidelines, and procedures
• Knowledge of Banner or similar financial aid software
• Experience resolving data integrity issues in and discrepancies within Banner

Responsibilities

• Provides professional advising services: The Financial Aid Advisor works with prospective students, continuing students, families, and members of the MSU Denver community in a personalized way on the financial aid application process, eligibility, need analysis, awards, disbursement, federal/state institutional policy, and the rights and responsibilities of receiving financial aid.
• Requires a thorough knowledge of financial aid topics including: cost of attendance, federal and institutional need analysis, award packaging, types of aid offered, how to apply for outside and internal scholarships, receiving outside resources, payment options, financing options, completing loan applications, loan certification, billing, disbursement dates, reapplying for aid, withdrawal, stop-out, re-admit, timelines/deadlines, financial aid policy and procedures, and the responsibilities of receiving financial aid.
• Routinely deals with problems and issues of a highly sensitive financial and personal nature, and therefore must exhibit independent judgment, tact and diplomacy, maintain strict confidentiality, and adhere to data sharing regulations. Maintain active, positive relationships with the graduate departments on campus. Participate in financial aid and scholarship outreach events, FAFSA completion events and other on- and off-campus outreach events.
• Assesses the student's ability to pay for education expenses by evaluating income and household reported on the FAFSA or CASFA, federal tax returns, and other financial documents. Must be able to explain complex financial aid calculations and the results and rationale behind financial aid awarding in a simple and easy to understand manner to students. When requested the Financial Aid Advisor assesses documented changes in financial circumstances that occur in a student's situation during the course of an academic year and exercises professional judgment in making adjustments to data elements in the formula that determines the student's ability to pay for the cost of attendance. Problem solving for aid applicants include reviewing Professional Judgement and Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeals, resolving FAFSA comment codes and rejects, verification review, packaging aid revisions, adjusting student budgets, correcting over awards.
• The Financial Aid Advisor must actively keep up to date on state and federal regulations and internal policies and procedures in order to ensure accurate and efficient interpretation of information and to ensure program compliance. They must be able to handle numerous complex tasks with attention to detail in a fast-paced environment. The Financial Aid Advisor works as a team member to deliver high quality service to students and their families. Support and engage in Anti-Racism efforts pursued by the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships and the Enrollment Management Division.
• Assist in the creation and management of office initiatives, including special projects.

Benefits

• The University's benefits package is comprehensive and offers medical, vision and dental, free RTD pass, tuition reimbursement, as well as a life and supplemental insurance plans, retirement plans and other programs, such as access to a long-term disability (LTD) plan.
• Visit MSU Denver's benefits website to learn more.
• https://www.msudenver.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/MSU-Benefit-Summary.pdf.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Industry: Educational Services