Student Financial Aid Counselor

Job Description

Primary Duties

Counseling/Advising

• Advise current and prospective students and families on all aspects of financial aid. This position will advise students about financial aid eligibility, application procedures, available financial aid programs; educational costs; and financial management strategies including loans, financing options, and other financial aid related matters. Counseling includes application review, advocating for utilization of Personal Access to Web Services (PAWS), entering Banner system data updates, and troubleshooting issues and conflicting information. While counseling students, the Student Financial Services Counselor will be required to adhere to federal laws, regulations and policies concerning federal student aid.
• Processing applications and forms - This position will process financial aid applications and corrections. This includes reviewing documents for accuracy, calculating and determining financial need and aid to be awarded, and generating award changes.
• Process loan adjustments, perform ISIR verification, collaborate regarding Special Circumstance Appeals.

Student Employee Supervision

• This position is responsible for recruiting, hiring, and supervising SFS work study employees to support operations in the financial aid office, ensuring compliance with federal, state, and institutional policies while providing high-quality customer service. SFS counselors will provide training materials and opportunities to encourage professional growth and skill development. Counselors are also responsible for approving student employee timesheets in accordance with payroll deadlines.

Recruitment

• Promote CSU Pueblo in schools located in Colorado, concentrating efforts in the southeastern region. This includes school visits, evening and/or weekend presentations, college fairs, and other appropriate appearances throughout Pueblo and the southern Colorado region.

Education

• Increase current and prospective student awareness of Student Financial Services policies and procedures, including the financial aid application process, Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP), and their relationship to academic and enrollment policies and procedures.
• Position will deliver on-campus presentations and will coordinate efforts toward awareness of money management and financial literacy.

Ancillary Duties

Website

• Update and maintain Financial Aid website to ensure that information is current, accurate, and that links are working properly. Review financial aid/scholarship information on other CSU Pueblo web pages and coordinate updates and corrections with page owners as needed.
• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree conferred by position start
• Willing and able to work normal hours of operation and additional hours as business
• necessitates. Hours may include some evening and/or weekend hours.
• Experience working with Microsoft Office products.
• Experience engaging in tactful and efficient customer service.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of financial aid, debt management.
• Knowledge on how to appropriately handle and maintain confidentiality of highly sensitive student and family financial information.
• Skills to identify problems including research for solutions and/or answers.
• Experience creating and delivering presentations. Experience working in higher education and/or financial aid.
• Experience working with a workforce reflective of CSU Pueblo's student population.
• Experience in credit counseling.

Additional Job Description

In addition to a standard background check, the selected hire will be subject to a fingerprint-based criminal history record check as required by HB18-1339 for individuals with access to federal tax information, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation.

Employment-Based Immigration Sponsorship is not available for this position.

Salary

$42,000 to $45,000

Applicants must attach the following documents, in order to be considered for this position:

• a letter of intent (cover letter) describing the means in which you meet the qualifications for this position
• unofficial or official transcripts showing required degree(s) conferred OR letter of completion of degree from an official university registrar's office, if unofficial transcript does not yet show degree conferred

Early submission of application materials is encouraged. Screening of applications will begin immediately, and will continue until the position is filled.


About Colorado State University Pueblo

Work Location: Unless otherwise stated in the job announcement, positions at Colorado State University Pueblo are expected to be performed in person at a University work location. Any remote or hybrid work arrangements will be explicitly identified in the position announcement.

Colorado State University Pueblo is a comprehensive state university with an enrollment of 4,000 students. CSU Pueblo provides relevant professional coursework and superior instruction with a small student-to-faculty ratio for an ever-changing global economy. Students can choose from 38 undergraduate programs with 70 fields of study in the College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics; the Hasan School of Business, the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences; and the College of Health, Education, and Nursing; and 15 graduate programs.


CSU Pueblo is dedicated to interdisciplinary learning and entrepreneurship that elevates our people and our community, creates educational opportunities, fosters unique collaborations, and supports inclusion, access, and affordability as a gateway to the world. CSU Pueblo is equally committed to serving the diverse population of the region; this emphasis is reflected in the demographic characteristics of the student body. Because more than 25 percent of our students are Hispanic, the Federal Government has designated CSU Pueblo a Hispanic Serving Institution. Besides reflecting our commitment to serve this critically important and rapidly growing segment of the student population, that designation also allows the University to compete for certain federal grant funds to support its ability to better serve all students.


Among its unique features, CSU Pueblo is one of seven schools in the nation to offer a degree in mechatronics, which combines electrical and mechanical engineering. The Hasan School of Business ranks among the top 15 percent of all business schools internationally with graduate and undergraduate programs in business administration accredited by the AACSB International Board of Directors. The College of STEM houses an undergraduate engineering program that was ranked in the nation's top 100 by U.S. News and World Report. CSU Pueblo has an ever-changing campus landscape that features a newly renovated Library, a new general academic classroom building, and a newly renovated and expanded student center.


At CSU Pueblo, Student Life offerings have increased significantly with the transition of the campus from a commuter environment to a more traditional collegiate experience. Competing at the NCAA Division II level, CSU Pueblo is a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference and offers 22 varsity intercollegiate sports and also has active intramural and club sports teams that allow students to get involved in campus life.

Colorado State University Pueblo offers a comprehensive benefits package including:

• Medical and prescription insurance
  
• Dental insurance
  
  
• Vision insurance
  
  
• Flexible benefit plan
  
  
• Basic term life insurance
  
  
• Voluntary term life and AD&D Insurance
  
  
• Long-term disability insurance
  
  
• Employee assistance program
  
  
• Travel accident insurance
  
  
• Voluntary critical illness and accident insurance
  
  
• Annual and sick leave
  
• Retirement plans
  
• Employee and dependent tuition discounts
  
• State employee discounts via BenefitHub
  
  
  
  

Other incentives include various on-campus event, recreation, and meal discounts.

About Pueblo, Colorado

The city of Pueblo is a historically and culturally rich, diverse city of more than 100,000, located in the southern part of the state along the Arkansas River near the Wet Mountains and the majestic Sangre de Cristo range. Pueblo enjoys ideal year-round climate with four distinct mild seasons, crisp mountain air, and 300+ days of sunshine per year. Pueblo attracts outdoor enthusiasts to a full slate of summer and winter recreational activities, encompassing water sports at Lake Pueblo, biking or running along Pueblo's beautiful river trail system, golfing, tennis, hiking, or skiing in the mountains to the west. The region is heavily agricultural, with large and small-scale farming and ranching, and a diverse mix of service, manufacturing, and technology industries.


CSU Pueblo is committed to providing a safe and productive learning and living community. To achieve that goal, we conduct background investigations for all final candidates being considered for employment. Background checks may include, but are not limited to, criminal history (felony and misdemeanor), national sex offender search, and/or motor vehicle history. Candidates who are extended an offer of employment must submit to and pass a background check prior to beginning employment. Some positions depending on the job duties may be required to complete a DMV and/or credit check.


The University reserves the right to check additional references, with prior notification given to the candidate.

Note: The successful candidate must provide official transcripts of academic work completed and, under U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services regulations, be able to submit evidence of the ability to accept work in the U.S. by the day employment begins.
In compliance with the Clery Act of 1990, the University's annual security report is available at:


Colorado State University Pueblo is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or veteran status. Additionally, the University complies with all other relevant, federal, state, and local laws regarding employment practices.


It is the policy of Colorado State University Pueblo to provide reasonable accommodation for employees and applicants with disabilities. If you need accommodation, please contact the Office of Civil Rights Compliance & Title IX at View email address on click.appcast.io.

All employees of Colorado State University Pueblo (CSU Pueblo) are required to complete training on policies and procedures administered by the Office of Civil Rights Compliance & Title IX (CRC), under the supervision of the Director of Civil Rights Compliance & Title IX Coordinator. Required training includes: understanding and reporting conduct prohibited by the Discrimination, Protected Class Harassment, and Retaliation policy and the Title IX, Sexual Harassment, and Gender Discrimination policy. All employees are required to report conduct prohibited under this policy, and student disclosures of pregnancy or related conditions directly to the CRC and to provide the CRC's contact information to any student disclosing pregnancy or related conditions. More information is available at: Policies and Resolution Procedures | Office of Civil Rights Compliance & Title IX (Policies and Procedures).