Financial Aid Counselor

Fort Valley State University • Fort Valley, GA

7d • Onsite

About The Position

FORT VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY (FVSU), a state and land-grant institution of the University System of Georgia, invites applications for the position of Financial Aid Counselor. Fort Valley State University, the only 1890 land-grant university in Georgia, is a comprehensive institution that provides an education to over 2,800 students including graduate students. The university is located in the town of Fort Valley in Peach County, the original site of the state's peach industry. Its 1,365-acre (5.52 km2) campus is Georgia's second-largest public university in area. Fort Valley State University is an equal opportunity employer. The University does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or University System of Georgia policy.

Requirements

• Equivalent to a Bachelor's Degree in Business, Public Administration, or a related field from an accredited college/university, OR three (3) or more years of experience may substitute degree requirements.
• Application of Title IV funding.
• Application of financial aid packaging.
• Proven success in customer service and higher education.
• Excellent written and oral communications.
• Computer proficiency.
• Organizational skills.
• Experience working with a student/business information system and database.
• Professional demeanor and ability to work effectively with various constituencies including potential/incoming students and their families, current students and their families, faculty, administrators, and the public.
• Knowledge of all regulations, policies, and procedures governing financial aid programs always ensuring institutional compliance.
• Knowledge of departmental policies and procedures.
• Knowledge of University policies and procedures.
• Knowledge of external funding criteria for each scholarship.

Nice To Haves

• Assisting the director and assistant director with certification.
• Assisting in the training of new hires.
• Assisting in the updating of the training manual and policy and procedures manual as assigned.
• Assisting with the disbursement of funds as directed by the director and/or assistant director.

Responsibilities

• Administering and awarding financial aid to students.
• Advising students and parents regarding financial aid matters.
• Counseling students and parents/guardians on all aspects of the financial aid process.
• Preparing financial aid packages for undergraduate and graduate students by federal, state, and institutional guidelines.
• Administering assigned federal, institutional, private, and/or state financial aid programs or programs.
• Utilizing databases to extract and provide a variety of reports and information.
• Collecting and analyzing data to determine eligibility within guidelines of federal, state, and institutional programs.
• Assisting with the collection and arrangement of data and requests for additional documentation from students and parent(s).
• Disseminating confidential records on all information collected.
• Conducting campus and community workshops and/or presentations for students and the University community.
• Counseling and advising applicants and/or family members on financial aid options, award packages, cost and obligations, including FAFSA completion, verification, and loan processes.
• Allocating millions of dollars of financial aid funds among qualified students within established eligibility criteria accurately and timely.
• Managing relationships with students in the assigned caseload group.
• Complying with federal, state, and institutional policies and regulations.
• Ensuring communication and delivery of all award letters, missing form letters, and loan disbursement letters, etc. for students and/or parents.
• Completing all data entries for the assigned caseload.
• Completing all records of all federal, state, and/or institutional funds for assigned caseload.
• Completing folder setup, awarding, and packaging for all students within the assigned caseload.
• Maintaining orderly files with organized and timely filing procedures for the caseload assigned.
• Processing all drops, withdrawals, re-admits, and re-packaging as appropriate.
• Completing all verification, satisfactory progress and special circumstance forms timely and accurately.
• Ensuring accurate reporting for all loans on the package.
• Responding to all phone calls, emails, and other correspondence timely and accurately, researching each case thoroughly.
• Representing the University at all open houses, registration, FAFSA day, and other related events on or off campus.
• Awarding all institutional scholarships according to eligibility and so that no deadlines are missed.
• Assisting the director and assistant director with certification.
• Assisting in the training of new hires.
• Assisting in the updating of the training manual and policy and procedures manual as assigned.
• Assisting with the disbursement of funds as directed by the director and/or assistant director.

What This Job Offers

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