POSITION IDENTIFICATION
TITLE Director, Financial Aid
CLASSIFICATION NUMBER 1850
GRADE 47
CLASSIFICATION Exempt
IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management and
Services
MAJOR ADMINISTRATOR Vice President for Student Affairs
GENERAL FUNCTION
The Director, Financial Aid serves as chief administrator for the offices of Student Financial Aid and Student Employment Services and administers a student financial aid program consisting of federal, state, and local funds exceeding $140 million annually. The Director, Financial Aid supervises the receipt, evaluation, and approval of requests for all programs, establishes procedures for and keeps records on transactions with students, ensures effective and efficient use of automated financial aid management systems, prepares or supervises the preparation of all required and ad hoc reports related to the operation of the offices and ensures that the University's use of funds is in compliance with applicable state and federal regulations.
MINIMUM ACCEPTABLE QUALIFICATIONS
Education: A Master's degree in an appropriate field such as Business, Communications, Public Administration, or Guidance and Counseling is required.
Experience: Five or more years of experience in all aspects of college student financial aid administration are required. Experience as Director, Associate, or Assistant Director of a program of similar complexity and scope is required. Experience with a highly automated financial aid management system is required.
Skills: A thorough knowledge of federal regulations as they pertain to the programs administered by the office is required. Knowledge and understanding or the ability to learn applicable state regulations and regulations regarding administering financial aid for a NCAA Division I program are required. The ability to communicate effectively both in writing and verbally, with students, parents, auditors, high school counselors, employees, college administrators, and other constituents of the financial aid office is required. Personnel management skills, including interviewing, hiring, training, coaching, evaluating, and other skills necessary to manage a staff of approximately 25 full-time employees organized into four functional units with a coordinator over each unit, are required. The ability to develop knowledge of, respect for, and skills to engage with those of other cultures or backgrounds is required.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Ensures that the University has exception-free audits and program reviews by remaining current on all federal and state laws and regulations that pertain to the programs administered by the office, implementing and/or modifying office procedures to comply with those laws and regulations, making certain that all required reports are prepared accurately and in a timely manner, and serving as a liaison to the financial aid audit team.
2. Ensures that the automated financial aid information system (Banner Financial Aid module) and student employment management systems are used efficiently and effectively and serves as liaison between office personnel and software vendors, Computer Services, other service providers, and other offices within the University.
3. Contributes to the accomplishment of the enrollment management objectives of the
University by recommending data-driven financial aid strategies within the framework
of federal and state regulations that are consistent with those objectives and by
administering financial aid, scholarship, and student employment programs that support
student recruitment and retention.
4. Contributes to student satisfaction through delivery of quality customer service
in all
aspects of the administration of financial aid and student employment services.
5. Develops a competent, productive and effective departmental staff by hiring, training,
and supervising unclassified, classified, graduate assistant, and student employees
both directly and through delegation.
6. Maintains open and effective communication among all supervised areas through the use of staff meetings, ad hoc meetings, email, and one-on-one meetings with employees.
7. Ensures that students are informed about their eligibility for financial aid by directing a system for collecting and evaluating applications, and for the timely and effective awarding of all types of financial aid.
8. Ensures that students and parents are well informed about the availability of financial aid by directing a program of public information which includes written materials, personal interviews, and workshops.
9. Ensures that the Office of Student Employment Services runs efficiently and that the University maximizes employment students, both on campus and in the community, by delegating authority to manage this office to the Assistant Director, Student Employment Services.
10. Ensures compliance with NCAA and federal and state aid regulations by coordinating administration of NCAA Division I financial aid programs with the Office of Athletics.
11. Adheres to National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) rules as communicated by the Associate Director of Athletics, Compliance related to dealings with student-athletes and/or Athletics Department personnel and reports any concerns or possible violations of those guidelines to the immediate supervisor.
12. Ensures that the University community has an understanding of and appreciation for the work accomplished by Financial Aid and Student Employment by representing these offices on various university committees and by reporting accomplishments to a wide constituency.
13. Helps to ensure that operations funds are spent properly by preparing and administering the budgets for Financial Aid, Student Employment, Scholarship Operations, and the various scholarship accounts.
14. Contributes to the development of good financial aid policy at the state and federal level by taking advantage of opportunities for input provided by the U.S. Department of Education, Missouri Department of Higher Education, and various professional associations.
15. Facilitates a work environment that encourages knowledge of, respect for, and development of skills to engage with those of other cultures or backgrounds.
16. Remains competent and current through self-directed professional reading,
developing professional contacts with colleagues, attending professional development
courses, and attending training and/or courses as required by the Associate Vice President
for Enrollment Management.
17. Contributes to the overall success of the Student Financial Aid Office by performing all other duties as assigned by the Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management and Services.
SUPERVISION
The Director, Financial Aid supervises the personnel within the area of Student Financial Aid and Student Employment Services. The Director is supervised by the Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management and Services.
OFFICE OF HUMAN RESOURCES
REVISED OCTOBER 2018
