Financial Aid Officer - Financial Aid - 21549

 

ATTENTION:

 

The Financial Aid office at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater seeks a Financial Aid Officer (AE105). 

 

JOB DETAILS:

 

This position provides excellent customer service and guidance to financial aid applicants and their families throughout the financial aid application process; completes review and verification of financial aid applications; determines financial aid eligibility within the parameters of federal, state, and institutional policies; and is responsible for the oversight of one or more financial aid programs.

 

QUALIFICATIONS:

 

 Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree required.
• At least one year of professional work experience in higher education student services.
• Knowledge of or ability to learn and understand Title IV federal financial aid regulations and related resources.

Preferred/Desired Qualifications:

• Two years of direct, programmatic experience in student financial aid administration, including knowledge of and experience working with federal and state regulations and aid programs, file review/verification, and Federal Student Aid processing systems (CPS, NSLDS, COD, etc.).
• Experience with integrated student information systems, preferably PeopleSoft Campus Solutions, and ImageNow document imaging system.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Excellent customer service and verbal/written communication skills, including the ability to exercise tact and discretion when dealing with students, families, and staff.
• Ability to work independently under moderate supervision, and also work cooperatively with others as an effective team member.
• Thorough attention to detail.
• Organized with good time management skills.
• Basic mathematical computation skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, Word, Outlook, and PowerPoint.
• Ability to interact respectfully and work collaboratively with people from diverse socioeconomic, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds, including students, parents, staff, and faculty.
• Willingness and ability to be an active participant in following applicable safety rules and regulations, including necessary training and drills.
   

RESPONSIBILITIES:

 

15% Counsel students and their families regarding the availability of, eligibility for, and application process for financial aid funds.

1. Responsible for advising in person, via phone, and email for an assigned subset of students, equating to between 15 and 35 percent of financial aid applicants/student population.
2. Each work week, serve as the walk-in counselor for half-day shift(s).
3. Develop and conduct financial aid presentations for various prospective and current student groups.

10% Complete review and verification of financial aid applications and award federal, state, and institutional financial aid.

1. Review verification worksheets, tax documents, and other forms to perform federally-regulated verification.
2. Review various documents for student eligibility, including marriage certificates, birth certificates, selective service registration confirmations, etc.
3. Review reports regarding various aspects of student eligibility, including students close to loan limits, one semester only students, changes to residency status, and others.
4. Exercise sound professional judgement, within federal guidelines, when processing extenuating circumstance requests, dependency overrides, and other professional judgement requests.
5. Revise financial aid when students receive outside funding.

40% Manage the Federal Direct Loan and Alternative Loan Programs.  This encompasses Federal Direct Subsidized Loans, Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans, Federal Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS), Grad PLUS loans, and a variety of Alternative Loans.

1. Represent the Financial Aid Office in consulting with guarantee agencies, state agencies, and lenders in order to ascertain when new laws and mandates dictate changes in the management of these Loan Programs in the Financial Aid Office.  Coordinate the implementation of such.
2. Write and revise procedures for the complete administration of the Federal Direct Loan Program; including such areas as application processing, form development, problem solving, and public relations.  Supervise implementation of such procedures.
3. Promote better understanding of Direct Loans by counseling parents and students regarding the distribution of their funds.
4. Represent the Financial Aid Office in communicating with Student Financial Services regarding the disbursement of Federal Direct Loan Program funds; the development of procedures to produce efficient interaction with other offices and students; and the refund of Direct Loan funds, when necessary.
5. Supervise the processing of all PLUS and Alternative loan applications including: determining eligibility; ensuring the accuracy of the application; initiate the correct correspondence that may be required; and composing correspondence as deemed necessary by the nature of each individual application for clarification of information.
6. Verify eligibility for a specific loan based on current Federal law and other compliance concerns; default certification; and eligibility based on university academic progression regulations.
7. Represent the Financial Aid Office in communicating pertinent information to clarify questions or problems per inquiries from private lenders and guarantee agencies concerning individual loan applications.
8. Represent the Financial Aid Office at all Federal Direct Loan and/or state training/informational seminars.
9. Instruct the Financial Aid Office Business Analyst as to the proper reports needed to comply with Federal, state, and local reporting mandates.
10. Maintain accurate loan information on website and brochures.
11. Maintain ScholarNet, the online Alternative Loan processing site.
12. Process Entrance Counseling Reports.  

25% Manage the revision and reconciliation process of waivers and private scholarships.

1. Work with administrative offices responsible for awarding non-financial aid item types; private scholarships, grants, Academic Non-Resident Fee Remissions, Resident and Campus Assistant benefits. Process includes adding, deleting, or referring to administrators
2. Revise financial aid awards. Analyze each individual situation. Determine the proper revision procedures to use.
3. Write, revise, and develop revision procedures as dictated by changes to Federal law, university policies, or Financial Aid Office procedures.
4. Interpret and verify the correctness of the monetary value of the revision to the student's financial aid award.
5. Consult with appropriate university departments in the verification of dollar amounts to be debited or credited to the student's account.
6. Officially notify students in writing of any changes in their financial aid awards.
7. Direct the Administrative Assistants and student staff as to the correct information to be given to students and parents regarding revisions in progress.
8. Re-package financial aid awards when original aid has been cancelled. Send appropriate correspondence after documenting revision.
9. Supervise the creation of new financial aid biographic records based on knowledge of the PeopleSoft System.
10. Request from the Financial Aid Office Business Analyst the proper reports needed to conform with Federal, state, and local reporting mandates

5% Monitor and process office email box as back up.

1. Respond to and forward email to students and staff.
2. Image and link documents sent via email.

5% Miscellaneous duties as assigned; may include but not limited to:

1. Prepare for and actively participate in staff meetings.
2. Participate in professional development opportunities to maintain professional knowledge and share this knowledge with the entire office staff.
3. Maintain operational knowledge of financial aid systems, including NSLDS, COD, FAA Access to CPS Online, etc.
4. Create, update, and maintain policies and procedures.

 

UNIVERSITY INFORMATION:

 

UW-Whitewater is a thriving public university located in southeastern Wisconsin. It leads the way in providing world-class, affordable higher education programs to more students than neighboring regional comprehensives in the University of Wisconsin System. A collaborative team of 1,300 faculty and staff are devoted to the success of the university's 11,000 students at its main and Rock County campuses. The team provides high-impact practices and academic programs - online and in person - from associate to doctoral levels. Recognized nationally for affordability, inclusion, and career development, UWW has approximately one-third first-generation students and boasts strength in many areas, especially business and education. The campus and community embrace the Warhawk Family spirit, supporting the university's arts and nationally recognized NCAA Division-III level championship athletics. As a proud institution of access, more than 10 percent of undergraduate students use the acclaimed Center for Students with Disabilities - a priority mission since the 1970s.

UW-Whitewater's campuses are located centrally near Milwaukee, Madison, and Chicago, offering easy access to the cultural and commercial opportunities of major metropolitan areas. Near both Lake Geneva and the Wisconsin Dells, the area attracts numerous visitors from across the country. Whitewater is a vibrant college community near the Kettle Moraine State Forest offering area residents seasonal outdoor enjoyment. The nearby Rock County campus is located in Janesville, a town of 60,000 located on the Rock River and known as Wisconsin's Park Place.

Belonging and mattering are central to the university's culture, and UW-Whitewater strives to maintain an environment where individual and collective efforts are valued and celebrated. The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer, and actively seeks and encourages applications from women, people of color, persons with disabilities, and veterans.

 

ORGANIZATION INFORMATION:

 

The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater is part of the 13-campus University of Wisconsin System (https://www.wisconsin.edu).

Wisconsin Statute 19.36(7)(b) provides that applicants may indicate in writing that their identity should be kept confidential. In response to a public records request, the University will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful final candidate will be released. See Wisconsin Statute 19.36(7)(a).

Per Regent Policy Document 20-19, University of Wisconsin System Criminal Background Check Policy and UW System Administrative Policy 1275 Recruitment Policies, UW-Whitewater requires criminal background checks as a contingency to employment. A criminal background check will be conducted prior to an offer of employment. All final candidates must be asked, prior to hire, whether they have been found to have engaged in, are currently under investigation for, or left employment during an active investigation in which they were accused of sexual violence or sexual harassment. When obtaining employment reference checks, these same sexual violence or sexual harassment questions must also be asked.

The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater requires that all employees be active participants in following applicable safety rules and regulations including necessary training and drills.

For UW-Whitewater Campus safety information and crime statistics/annual Security Report, see Annual Security and Fire Safety Report. If you would like a paper copy of the report please contact the UW-Whitewater Police at 262-472-4660.

 

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

 

Well-qualified candidates can expect a starting annual salary commensurate with the candidate's education, related experience, and qualifications.

 

UW System employees receive an excellent benefit package. To learn more about the UW System's comprehensive benefit package, review the UW System Employee Benefits Brochure.

 

CONDITIONS OF APPOINTMENT:

 

University of Wisconsin-Whitewater does not offer H-1B or other work authorization visa sponsorship for this position. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of hire and maintain work authorization throughout the employment term. If you have questions regarding this, please contact Human Resources. UW-Whitewater is not an e-verify employer, therefore STEM extensions are not options for work authorization.

 

TO ENSURE CONSIDERATION:

 

Applications received by January 28th, 2025, are ensured full consideration. Applications received after that date may be given consideration at the discretion of the search committee. The most qualified applicants will be invited to participate in the next step of the selection process.

If you have questions regarding this recruitment or if you are unable to complete the application online due to a disability or system problem, please contact us at (262) 472-1024 or hr@uww.edu 

For questions regarding this position, please contact:

Melissa Walton

262-472-1385

waltonm@UWW.edu 

 

TO  APPLY:

 

Only complete application packages will be considered. This includes online submission of the following documents:

• Cover Letter
• Resume
• Name and contact information for three professional references

This Job ID is 21549.

 

Application Links: 

A potential applicant who is NOT currently employed by the University of Wisconsin System, click here:

UW-Whitewater External Applicants

A current employee of the University of Wisconsin System, click here:

UW-Whitewater Internal Applicants

Before you get started with the online application process, we recommend you preview the frequently asked questions (FAQs) by selecting the link below.

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