Financial Aid Counselor

The Evergreen State College Portal•Olympia, WA

3d•Onsite

About The Position

Provide financial aid counseling to students, their families, and others. Maintain counseling load for designated populations of students, which includes performing all the necessary processes to evaluate financial aid applications, verify data, award aid, and make adjustments to previous awards via automated systems. Serve as the primary financial aid counselor for students enrolled in the Evergreen Prison Education Program ( EPEP ) at Stafford Creek Corrections Center ( SCCC ). Provide training and instruction regarding financial aid policy and procedures to EPEP staff. Develop and maintain systems to monitor EPEP student financial aid eligibility, keeping an up-to-date list of students needing support and identifying cases requiring targeted follow-up. Travel to SCCC regularly to provide financial aid advising and program support. Coordinate on-site visit logistics, including identifying students who require follow-up, managing clearance and room reservation processes, drafting recommended student communications (e.g., meeting details, instructions, reminders) for the EPEP Assistant Director to review and send, and maintaining consistent communication with EPEP staff throughout. Assist incarcerated students with completing FAFSA and WASFA applications and resolving verification requirements. Package and manage financial aid awards for EPEP students, including Pell Grants, Washington College Grant/State Need Grant, scholarships, and tuition waivers. Coordinate with EPEP staff, Department of Corrections staff, and campus offices to ensure timely financial aid processing and compliance for incarcerated students. Adapt Evergreen, U.S. Department of Education, and Washington Student Achievement Council processes to the constraints of carceral settings, ensuring workflows function effectively for students without internet access, Evergreen accounts, or access to standard timelines and communications. Maintain accurate paper-based records and audit trails for EPEP students, ensuring documentation integrity in the absence of standard digital workflows. Participate in and support efforts to develop an online financial aid application pathway for students at SCCC , collaborating with Department of Corrections partners, Evergreen IT, and EPEP staff to reduce reliance on paper-based processes and improve processing timelines. Process and monitor satisfactory academic progress standards and SAP appeals for EPEP students. Manage, award, and process all 3rd party and external scholarship payments. Award all Veteran waivers and benefits as provided by the College’s Veteran Affairs Center. Manage, award, and process all tuition waivers for which Financial Aid is responsible. Interpret, apply, and disseminate changes in federal, state, institutional, and external financial aid programs. Maintain a commitment to excellent student-centered service. Review, approve, and deny emergency short-term loans. Prepare ad hoc reports. Lead the work of student employees. Represent the Financial Aid Office during outreach and recruitment events. Assist with development and implementation of financial aid processes related to EPEP . Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
Thorough knowledge of major financial aid programs.
At least one year of recent full-time work experience in student financial aid counseling and administration.

Responsibilities

Provide financial aid counseling to students, their families, and others.
Maintain counseling load for designated populations of students, performing processes to evaluate financial aid applications, verify data, award aid, and make adjustments to previous awards.
Serve as the primary financial aid counselor for students enrolled in the Evergreen Prison Education Program (EPEP) at Stafford Creek Corrections Center (SCCC).
Provide training and instruction regarding financial aid policy and procedures to EPEP staff.
Develop and maintain systems to monitor EPEP student financial aid eligibility.
Travel to SCCC regularly to provide financial aid advising and program support.
Coordinate on-site visit logistics for SCCC, including identifying students for follow-up, managing clearance and room reservations, drafting student communications, and maintaining communication with EPEP staff.
Assist incarcerated students with completing FAFSA and WASFA applications and resolving verification requirements.
Package and manage financial aid awards for EPEP students, including Pell Grants, Washington College Grant/State Need Grant, scholarships, and tuition waivers.
Coordinate with EPEP staff, Department of Corrections staff, and campus offices to ensure timely financial aid processing and compliance for incarcerated students.
Adapt financial aid processes to the constraints of carceral settings for students without internet access, Evergreen accounts, or access to standard timelines and communications.
Maintain accurate paper-based records and audit trails for EPEP students.
Participate in and support efforts to develop an online financial aid application pathway for students at SCCC.
Process and monitor satisfactory academic progress standards and SAP appeals for EPEP students.
Manage, award, and process all 3rd party and external scholarship payments.
Award all Veteran waivers and benefits.
Manage, award, and process all tuition waivers for which Financial Aid is responsible.
Interpret, apply, and disseminate changes in federal, state, institutional, and external financial aid programs.
Maintain a commitment to excellent student-centered service.
Review, approve, and deny emergency short-term loans.
Prepare ad hoc reports.
Lead the work of student employees.
Represent the Financial Aid Office during outreach and recruitment events.
Assist with development and implementation of financial aid processes related to EPEP.
Perform other duties as assigned.