Financial Assistance Specialist

General Position Description

Financial Assistance Specialists are responsible for providing individualized service to prospective and current students regarding options for financing their educational goals. This requires current knowledge of all types of Financial Assistance including federal, state, tribal, local, institutional, and private programs. Specialists also have administrative responsibilities for a student aid program and/or process. This position reports to the Director of Financial Assistance Services.

Job Duties of the Financial Assistance Specialist include but are not limited to:

Collegiality

• Professionally and efficiently execute Cameron University’s commitment to student success
• Work collaboratively with all university departments to ensure efficient delivery of services and productive use of resources to meet university expectations with regard to student Financial Assistance
• Assist students and supporters with accessing resources to make college attendance affordable
• Provide community outreach and presentations relating to financial aid
• Advise the Director on significant matters, and support other members of the Financial Assistance Services team in achieving department goals

 Compliance

• Ensure full compliance with federal, state, university, and departmental policies
• Maintain clear understanding of federal methodology of student need analysis
• Maintain current working knowledge of federal, state, and institutional regulations and procedures
• Assist with the submission of federal, state, and institutional reports as required
• Maintain student rights under the Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

Service

• Ensure that students are served efficiently with courtesy and respect
• Assist students to complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid as necessary
• Provide accurate and timely Financial Assistance information to students, supporters, and members of the public about financial aid eligibility, application procedures, aid programs and costs of attendance with emphasis on the particular need and situations of individual students
• Work to address student eligibility, federal needs analysis, the Cameron University student aid process, including scholarship programs, and cost of attendance concerns
• Analyze Financial Assistance data and documentation to determine eligibility based on individual needs and qualifications
• Review and maintain student records to ensure continued eligibility
• Apply Financial Assistance awards to student accounts in compliance with federal, state, institutional, and endowment guidelines
• Correspond with students offering advice, resources, or referral to other campus resources
• Participate in professional development programming

Minimum Education/Experience

• An earned bachelor’s degree
• Minimum of two years responsible employment
• Demonstrated commitment to excellent customer service

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with diverse and varied student populations including low socioeconomic (SES), first generation, and other groups traditionally underrepresented in higher education
• Two or more years’ working in financial aid
• Two or more years’ experience with higher education/student aid software programs
• Bilingual – Spanish

Salary Range: 
$30,000/annually

BENEFITS:  

Cameron University offers a wide variety of comprehensive programs to benefit our employees. We are proud to offer such benefits as paid medical coverage for our employees, ample time off and opportunities and employee tuition waiver programs. To view all benefits available to employees, visit: http://www.cameron.edu/hr/staff-benefits-summary.

INSTITUTION: 
Cameron University (www.cameron.edu) is a state-supported regional institution located in Lawton, Oklahoma, that offers undergraduate and graduate degrees. Dedicated to excellence, the university provides a wide range of economic, cultural, and educational opportunities for the betterment of all citizens. Master's-level graduate degrees are offered in business, behavioral sciences, and education; baccalaureate programs are offered in more than forty disciplines, and associate degrees are offered in many other studies. The close proximity of Fort Sill contributes to an area rich in cultural diversity and provides the opportunity for frequent cooperative efforts. The combined community of Lawton/Fort Sill has a population of more than 100,000 and is located adjacent to the picturesque Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge. A copy of the University’s Annual Security Report, listing crime statistics and university policies, is available by cont! acting the Office of Public Safety or by accessing the report online at www.cameron.edu/ops.

APPLYING:
Attachments should include a cover letter indicating experience applicable to position, resume, transcripts (unofficial are acceptable at this point), names, addresses, and telephone numbers of three professional references. Incomplete applications may not be considered.

DEADLINE:
Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.  

EEO/AA Employer/Vets/Disability