Financial Aid Specialist

Posting Details
Position Information
Position Title
Financial Aid Specialist
Full or Part Time
Full Time
FTE
1.0 FTE
Position Type
Regular
Posting Number
20110551C&A
Position Summary Information
Job Description Summary
The Financial Aid Office (FAO) at Eastern Oregon University (EOU) is currently accepting applications for a Financial Aid Specialist. The Financial Aid Specialist position is part of the SEIU Classified Staff bargaining unit at the classification title of Administrative Program Specialist (APS). This is a 12-Month, Full-Time, 1.0 FTE position that fully qualifies for all of the benefits offered.
The Financial Aid Specialist serves as the primary contact for front-line information and advice in person, via email, or via the telephone for students, parents, staff, faculty, collaborating departments, outside agencies, and the general public requesting assistance with Financial Aid or any follow-up paperwork and questions. This position assists all FAO staff as needed. This position works with a high degree of independence with the general supervision of the Assistant Director. This position requires a comprehensive understanding of all Financial Aid programs, both external and internal, in order to answer questions with confidence and accuracy. This position will interact with the public throughout the day. The position will respond to an average of 80 emails and 30 phone calls daily, more during peak times of the year.
Responsibilities

• Assist students, families, staff, faculty, and the general public in understanding and navigating the Financial Aid process by explaining the rules, processes, and procedures related to Financial Aid.
• Provide direct customer service and entry-level advice to those seeking Financial Aid, providing information for any Financial Aid problems.
• Educate students and their families about Financial Aid policies and deadlines and their rights and responsibilities as Financial Aid recipients and federal loan borrowers.
• Assist students and parents by reviewing student accounts information and fielding general questions regarding the disbursement and refunds of Financial Aid.
• Update the Banner Financial Aid system. This includes but is not limited to updating the system with documents received, retrieving information for reporting or other services and adjusting Financial Aid budgets and packages for varying enrollment levels.
• Maintain document repository, and ensure all documents are digitized and indexed in the repository for easy retrieval.
• Act as retention coordinator for Financial Aid Office documents, ensuring documents are destroyed based on the schedule.
• Maintain and update the office calendar of processes and key events. Requires coordination with IT/IS staff of specific processes to ensure timely processing.
• Coordinate with the University webmaster to maintain and update the Financial Aid web page with information as it changes, ensuring all Financial Aid forms have been uploaded to the forms page and are available for students to electronically.
• Review and post outside scholarship information weekly with updates and removals.
• Manage the flow of information with links to other EOU pages and non-EOU-linked sites. Web page maintenance involves keeping up on changes in Financial Aid regulations and creating new Financial Aid programs, reviewing all materials for accuracy in relation to federal and state regulations.
• Maintain the general office administration; order supplies, process invoices, create POs for office expenses; processes travel documents; schedule appointments and meetings for the Financial Aid staff; mail correspondence to students and others. Sort and distribute mail and other correspondence to the appropriate staff members.
• Create documents, office correspondence, forms, marketing materials, and memorandums and update as needed, usually annually. Requires being proactive and collaborative in determining what documents and information are needed by our students that will help them through the Financial Aid process. Concepts are developed and shared collaboratively with FAO staff and other stakeholders in the development of the final document.
• Assist with updating the consortium student information. This includes but is not limited to making changes to the student's record in Banner reflecting their consortium status, adding the hours from the host school to the student's record, and putting on hold for Student Accounts Office reflecting the consortium status. Requires secure access to a database shared by EOU, TVCC, and BMCC.
• Assist with Scholarship processes as needed. This includes but is not limited to making changes to the student's record in Banner as directed by the Scholarship Coordinator.
• Assist FAO staff with Satisfactory Academic Progress reports and processes at the end of each term. Review each student record and assess whether the student made academic progress in accordance with federal regulations and may continue with any future Financial Aid eligibility.
• Provide direction to student employees who maintain Financial Aid files and the office filing system.
• The FAO has several peak moments during the year. During this peak period, the FAO averages 400+ phone messages per week and 250+ emails to the main reception area. Although others can assist, this position is responsible for responding or redirecting them to the appropriate person.

Minimum Qualifications

• Two years of experience as an administrative specialist or executive support specialist which included administrative support for a project, program, or operation. Administrative support includes those duties beyond clerical/secretarial such as: interpretation of laws, rules, and regulations; administrative data collection and analysis; and evaluation of projects, processes, and operations; OR
• An equivalent combination of training and experience. One year of postsecondary education may be substituted for up to one year of the experience.
• Strong customer service orientation
• Excellent computer skills
• Ability to work under sometimes stressful situations
• Willingness to work overtime when necessary
• Web page skills - able to design and maintain office web pages
• Ability to organize and complete special projects
• This position must be able to multitask and prioritize tasks based on date sensitivity and the nature of the information.

• Must satisfactorily complete EOU criminal and credential background check. Having a criminal history is not an automatic bar to employment.
• In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire. Eastern Oregon University will not sponsor applicants for employment visas.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bilingual (Spanish)
• Prior work in the higher education industry

Special Instructions to Applicants
Applicant must provide:
1) Letter of application (which should include why this position is attractive to the applicant, how it meets the applicant's professional goals, and what attracts the applicant to EOU);
2) Resume/Curriculum vitae;
3) Submit names, emails, and phone numbers for at least three references in the reference section of the application.
Candidates are encouraged to review the values and principles of Eastern Oregon University.
Only complete files of qualified applicants will be reviewed.
Eastern Oregon University - Oregon's Rural University! - is a respected public, higher education institution of academic excellence. Brilliant faculty and staff thrive and together fulfill their career ambitions to serve students from all walks of life.
EOU is a beautiful, quaint campus nestled in a remarkably scenic, high elevation valley populated by wonderful, community-minded citizens that have balanced work-life flexibility. Take a virtual tour of Eastern Oregon University.
EOU offers a very attractive package of employee benefits including:
• Paid holidays (11 days/year)
• Paid vacation (accrues 8 hours/month)
• Paid sick time-off (accrues 8 hours/month - no limit!)
• Individual AND Family Healthcare Insurance: medical, dental and vision! (95%+ employer-paid!)
• Generous Oregon Public Employee Retirement System benefits
• Employer paid life insurance
• Discounted tuition benefits for employees and eligible dependents
• Discounted athletics facilities membership
• For more details, see Prospective Employees https://www.eou.edu/hr/prospective-employees/.
Eastern Oregon University is an EEO Employer and welcomes applications from women, members of historically underrepresented minority groups, US Veterans, and persons with disabilities. EOU is committed to providing equal opportunity in its recruitment, admissions, educational programs, activities, and employment without illegal discrimination on the basis of age, color, disability, national origin, race, marital status, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression or any status as protected by state or federal law.
Salary
$3,279 Monthly
Posting Detail Information
Open Date
11/17/2023
Close Date
Open Until Filled
Yes
First Day of Application Review
12/01/2023
Quick Link to Posting
https://eou.peopleadmin.com/postings/2829