Financial Aid Officer
Job Description
Department
Financial Aid
Position Category
Staff - NonClassified
About CCRI
The Community College of Rhode Island is New Englands largest community college, and a nationally-recognized leader in catalyzing student success and achievement for recent high school graduates and returning adults alike.
We provide affordable, open access to higher education, and we deliver on our mission to offer all students the opportunity to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary for intellectual, professional and personal growth.
Diversity is our strength. We champion equity, and we celebrate, support and thrive on the diverse experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives that are represented across our four campuses.
Diversity is our strength. We champion equity, and we celebrate, support and thrive on the diverse experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives that are represented across our four campuses.
We strive to hire and retain culturally competent faculty and staff whose demographics are reflective of our diverse student body. To learn more about our employees values and what it means to work here, learn about our Guiding Principles here.
Job Summary
The Financial Aid Office provides access to higher education by removing financial barriers for students through the availability of federal, state, institutional and private assistance programs. Our mission is to provide excellent service to students and their families while helping them to navigate the application process while remaining in compliance with applicable regulations.
The Financial Aid Officer will assist with the accurate processing of federal, state and institutional financial aid programs in a highly automated environment. The individual will provide student service in person and via phone, email and text to assist with all aspects of the financial aid process. This position requires regular interaction with other Student Affairs and College departments as well as outside agencies.
Duties and Responsibilities
Commitment to CCRIs Mission:
- Demonstrate a commitment to the philosophy and mission of a comprehensive community college.
- Work collaboratively with others in a diverse and inclusive environment.
- Work collaboratively in a diverse, inclusive and student-centered environment, with students of various learning styles, cultures, identities, and life-experiences.
Dedication to Student Service:
- Provide excellent service to students, their families, outside agency personnel and members of the college community.
- Assist students with the completion of all aspects of the application for financial aid, ensuring completion through the receipt of a financial aid package.
- Respond to student inquiries in person, by phone, email and text message and place outgoing outreach calls to offer assistance with enrollment steps.
- Facilitate in person and online workshops to assist with FAFSA completion, provide financial literacy information and other topics. Represent the Financial Aid Office at internal and external events.
- Conduct ongoing outreach to remind students of missing financial aid requirements.
Reporting and Data Management:
- Determine student eligibility for federal, state, and institutional financial aid programs. Post third party and outside scholarship awards.
- Recalculate aid eligibility based on changes in family income, changes in enrollment, withdrawal
from the college, etc.
- Review and process requests for change in dependency status.
- Originate and process federal loan applications, transmit to the federal COD website and resolve errors and rejects.
- Reconcile disbursed funds on an ongoing basis, ensuring balances match Business Office records.
- Import all federal financial aid data files, effectively monitoring data to ensure accuracy.
- Review verification documents, including tax returns to determine file completion.
- Run ARGOS reports and track student data within Excel spreadsheets.
- Complete reports for outside agencies as needed.
- Read and interpret federal and state financial aid regulations and guidance.
- Process work study authorizations and monitor payroll earnings and complete reporting requirements.
Departmental Support:
- Attend college meetings and other external financial aid conferences and trainings to maintain up-to-date knowledge of the higher education environment.
- Communicate effectively with supervisor and co-workers to ensure successful departmental operations.
- Assist in special projects and other duties as required.
Minimum Requirements
- Bachelors Degree, required.
- At least one year of experience in the administration of student financial aid services at an institution of higher education, required.
- At least one year of customer service and/or student service experience, required
Competencies and Desired Qualifications
- Strong organizational and analytical skills.
- Experienced user of a Student Information System, preferably Banner.
- Proficiency with office technology such as Word, Outlook, Excel, etc.
- Ability to communicate effectively, verbally, and in writing.
- Bilingual language skills
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