Graduate Student Financial Aid Counselor/Disbursement Coordinator

About American International College:

American International College is a private, coeducational institution of higher education located on a 88+ acre campus in Springfield, Massachusetts. The campus has 42 buildings on two sites approximately 1/2 mile apart. Included in the inventory of buildings are student residences for a resident population of 900 students. Founded in 1885, the College has approximately 2200 graduate and undergraduate students. AIC offers a variety of undergraduate and graduate programs through the Schools of Business, Arts and Sciences; Health Sciences; and Education. The mission of the College is to transform student lives through career focused learning, with a strong foundation in the liberal arts, a commitment to serving the community, and a high level of involvement in the global economy.

AIC strives to create a diverse and inclusive campus community that is representative, at all job levels, of the students we serve. We are an EEO employer and we welcome applications from individuals for positions where they are underrepresented.


Job Description:

The Graduate Student Financial Aid Counselor/Student Loan Coordinator is responsible for correctly processing applications, verifying application data, determining eligibility, management, and processing of all federal, state, institutional and outside awards for all graduate students. They must be knowledgeable of federal, State and Institutional rules, regulations and procedures related to student aid. This position will entail frequent use of computer programs. The Graduate Student Financial Aid Counselor/Student Loan Coordinator position entails multiple areas of responsibility, decision making, and reports to the Director of Financial Aid.

• Assists graduate students with the application process for all types of financial aid.
• Provides counseling to prospective students and is responsible for day-to-day communications
• Monitors graduate student enrollment, recalculating awards when necessary
• Processes and awards financial aid applications and related documentation for determination of eligibility for aid for graduate students.
• Follow up with students who have missing documents needed to award financial aid packages through a coordinated plan that includes email, telephone calls and surface mail.
• Disburses/posts all aid received by the college.
• Ensures that all federal financial aid credits are applied to student accounts on a timely basis and notifies students of the availability of student loan funds and their right to return such funds
• Performs data transfers and reconciliations between databases and student information systems at the College and the Department of Education
• Prepares Title IV Federal calculations, and refunding to appropriate programs
• Maintains all records pertinent to program disbursements and provides to external auditors when requested.
• Assists the Director in the establishment of student loan processing policies and procedures to ensure compliance with regulations
• Manages the daily load process and analysis for QA verification criteria and C code resolution, R2T4, etc. under supervision and review by the Associate Director or Director
• Coordinates the importing and exporting of Direct Student Loan records via the financial aid delivery system and COD to assure the accuracy of each student loan record.
• Administers the SAIG (Student Aid Internet Gateway) mailbox regarding student loans, exception reports, MPN (Master Promissory Note) reports, and the import & export of new loan data and adjustments to a student's loan
• Coordinates annual ELM system updates for Private loan lenders
• Assists the Director in system set-up for the loan component.

Requirements:

• Education; bachelor's degree required.
• Experience: At least four years progressively responsible financial aid experience preferred.
• Must have exceptional communication (written and verbal), interpersonal and organizational skills.
• Effective skills in research, planning, analytics, and problem solving.
• Proven ability to manage multiple tasks and communicate project status to institutional leadership.
• Working knowledge of federal, state, and college regulations that govern the administration of the financial aid programs, and ability to use tools in conjunction with databases.
• Working knowledge and effective use of computer applications such as Google, Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, and relational database reporting tools.
• Working knowledge and effective use of college financial aid or student accounts software applications highly desirable
• Some accounting knowledge or skills and counseling skills required for sensitive treatment of confidential family information.
• Ability to deal effectively and tactfully with students, parents, faculty, staff, and the public; proven ability to deal with and maintain effective working relationships with a diverse population are required

Additional Information:

AIC reserves the right to fill this position at a level above or below the level included in this posting.

AIC is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.


Application Instructions:

Qualified applicants should save and submit the following documents with the online application.

• Brief cover letter
• Current resume
• Contact information for three professional references (one of which must be a current or prior supervisor)

Review of applications will continue until the position has been filled.