Financial Aid Advisor

Position Summary The Financial Aid Advisor is responsible for advising students, parents, and campus partners on the application, eligibility, and administration of federal, state, and institutional financial aid programs. This role reviews and evaluates financial aid applications for accuracy, completeness, and financial need using federal methodology, performs required verification and follow-up actions, and ensures compliance with all applicable federal and state regulations. Advisors must access and maintain data within federal systems, correct application information as needed, determine eligibility levels, and apply or adjust aid awards accurately within the university’s information system. In addition, the Financial Aid Advisor provides individualized and group counseling on financial aid processes, deadlines, rights and responsibilities, appeals, and eligibility decisions. The position may include specialized administrative responsibilities such as Pell Grant processing, Texas Education Grant administration, veterans’ benefits, satisfactory academic progress appeals, or Return of Title IV aid calculations. Advisors are expected to stay current on regulatory changes, support continuous improvement of forms and procedures, communicate updates to staff, and assist with outreach and presentations to students and families. The role requires a high level of professionalism, regulatory precision, and commitment to student service in a compliance-driven environment. Essential Duties and Responsibilities - Advising students, staff, and peers about how to apply for Federal Student Aid. – Financial Aid Advisors must be able to follow Federal and State regulations.

• Applicant cannot be in Default on any Federal Student Loans.
• This position requires staff to have access to Federal databases.
• Reviews and evaluates financial aid applications to determine accuracy, completeness and financial need level.
• Uses federal methodology need analysis criteria for review.
• Performs any required follow-up procedures to get additional information, correct errors or elicit more in-depth data from applicants.
• Performs verifications.
• Compares FAFSA data with verification documents (1040’s, Worksheets, W-2s, etc.). – Corrects information on data base, performs needs analysis, and prepares computer files for reprocessing.
• Evaluates satisfactory academic progress student suspension appeals and determines future aid eligibility based on appeal results.
• Applies financial aid awards in the computer system. Determines need levels, confirms resources and awards funds within parameters. Uses computer to automatically “package” available aid, or manually inputs awards on an individual student by student basis.
• Provides one-on‑one or small group counseling for students, parents or others regarding financial aid issues, procedures to award, reasons for denial or lack of eligibility, deadlines, petition processes and other relevant issues.
• May perform tuition refund/repayment calculations according to return of Title IV aid guidelines. Determines amounts of aid that must be refunded to a federal program and amounts student must repay.
• Conducts presentations of FAFSA application procedures, aid eligibility and availability, rights and responsibilities to groups of high school seniors, parents and current students, either on campus or at local schools.
• May have specific aid program administrative responsibilities such as the Texas Education Grant ( TEG ), Pell payment and reconciliation, Veteran’s assistance, or return of Title IV aid. Stays current with Federal and State regulations and procedures.
• Informs staff of pertaining regulatory and procedural changes as they occur.
• Ensures that forms and processes are current. Makes recommendations about forms that need revision in accordance with federally required documentation.
• Other duties as assigned by The Director of Financial Aid or Assistant Director of Financial Aid.

Education, Certifications and/or Licenses Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree and two years of relevant work experience Preferred Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree and five years of relevant work experience. Additional education may be substituted for work experience. Experience Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree and 2 years of relevant work experience. Preferred Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree and 5 years of relevant work experience. Additional education may be substituted for work experience. Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Considerable knowledge of financial aid policies, procedures and operations.
• Knowledge of federal and state regulations, policies and procedures relating to awarding and administering financial aid.

– Knowledge and skill with networked financial aid computer system and Colleague software.

• Skills with and knowledge of applicable word processing and spread sheet applications.
• Ability to independently perform all of the duties of the position with efficiency, effectiveness and in strict confidence.
• Ability to analyze technical and complex information and documents and make assessments according to well established policies, procedures and mandated regulations.
• Ability to impart technical and detailed information through one‑on‑one or group presentations.
• Ability to perform data entry and database management duties and other general record keeping and file maintenance duties.
• Ability to communicate both formally and informally with a wide range of contacts both inside and outside the university setting.
• Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.
• Ability to be discrete handling confidential matters, while complying with FERPA and privacy regulations.
• Reliable judgment, trusted discretion, strong interpersonal skills to relate to numerous and varied constituencies of the university.

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