Student Services Specialist

Position Details

Position Information


Division
Enrollment Management


Department
Financial Aid


Working Title
Financial Aid Counselor


Vacancy Type
Probationary Permanent Full Time


Min T/E Requirements


Bachelor's Degree; or equivalent combination of training and experience. All degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions.

FTE
1


Position Overall Competency Level
J


Recruitment Range
$40,047 - $42,397


Anticipated Hiring Range
$42,397


Position #
2912


FLSA Status
Non-Exempt


Months per year
12


Work Schedule =e.g. 8-500
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.


Work Schedule Type
Monday - Friday


Is this a grant funded position?
No


If yes, please indicate the end date of the grant.(if applicable)


N/A

Primary Purpose of Organization Unit


To assist students and parents in obtaining the financial assistance necessary for a college education at UNCP.

Primary Purpose of Position


Primary Purpose of the Position:

The counselor will be responsible for counseling students about the amount of financial aid that they can receive, including eligibility for federal, state and institutional grants and loans. Each counselor will be responsible for counseling a portion of the student population on aid which is divided by alphabet. Part of this job includes counseling student about Satisfactory Academic Progress. The counselor will be familiar with both the academic and financial aid policies regarding satisfactory academic progress and be able to communicate those clearly to students and parents. Similarly, the counselor will be able to advise students on a number of other issues which may impact their ability to receive financial aid. This include information on how to resolve citizenship issues with the Department of Homeland Security, issues regarding Selective Service Registration, issues regarding Social Security numbers as well as issues regarding Title IV over payments and exceeding Federal loan limits. Counseling can take place in person, over the phone or
by the students verified email address. The counselor will also explain to a student the circumstances when an aid ward is reduced and why. The counselor will also know how to determine the amount of loan and grant that a student can receive as a well as how to determine the amounts of both subsidized and unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loan.

The person in this position must work with various software applications including Banner, Microsoft Office, Campus Logic and I-9 Software. In addition, the position will access the FAFSA website, including FAFSA on the web for Financial Aid Professionals, to view, change and enter information on a student's aid application. The counselor will also utilize NSLDS, which is a Federal Database used for tracking the total amount of Title IV loans and grants that a student has received over the course of their academic career.

Awarding: The counselor will be responsible for awarding financial aid according to state and federal guidelines. The counselor will have to make independent decisions about aid eligibility and must be familiar with the rules governing each federal or state program. These include but are not limited to rules for Pell, SEOG, TEACH, SMART and ACG grant awarding, as well as the rules for Federal subsidized and unsubsidized, parent and alternative loan awards. The counselor needs to be familiar with the rules governing all of the state grant programs including the SSIG, EARN, NC Scholarship, Golden Leaf, Teaching Fellows, Merits Scholarships, Prospective Teacher and Prospective Nursing Scholarships. The counselor will also be familiar with institutional endowed scholarships and awards.

Professional judgment: Each counselor will have the discretion to make independent judgments regarding a student's financial aid. The counselor has the ability, under Federal law, to alter a student's FAFSA form, if they feel there are extenuating circumstances which warrant that decision. These include family emergencies such as the loss of a job or out-of-the ordinary medical bills which insurance does not pay. The counselor will gather the documentation from the student regarding these circumstances and make a decision about aid eligibility and process the decisions both in Banner and on the FAFSA on the Web website.

Any other duties assigned by the Director.

Job Description


The counselor will be responsible for counseling students about the amount of financial aid that they can receive, including eligibility for federal, state and institutional grants and loans. Each counselor will be responsible for counseling a portion of the student population on aid which is divided by alphabet. Part of this job includes counseling student about Satisfactory Academic Progress. The counselor will be familiar with both the academic and financial aid policies regarding satisfactory academic progress and be able to communicate those clearly to students and parents. Similarly, the counselor will be able to advise students on a number of other issues which may impact their ability to receive financial aid. This include information on how to resolve citizenship issues with the Department of Homeland Security, issues regarding Selective Service Registration, issues regarding Social Security numbers as well as issues regarding Title IV over payments and exceeding Federal loan limits. Counseling can take place in person, over the phone or
by the students verified email address. The counselor will also explain to a student the circumstances when an aid ward is reduced and why. The counselor will also know how to determine the amount of loan and grant that a student can receive as a well as how to determine the amounts of both subsidized and unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loan.

The person in this position must work with various software applications including Banner, Microsoft Office, Campus Logic and I-9 Software. In addition, the position will access the FAFSA website, including FAFSA on the web for Financial Aid Professionals, to view, change and enter information on a student's aid application. The counselor will also utilize NSLDS, which is a Federal Database used for tracking the total amount of Title IV loans and grants that a student has received over the course of their academic career.

Awarding: The counselor will be responsible for awarding financial aid according to state and federal guidelines. The counselor will have to make independent decisions about aid eligibility and must be familiar with the rules governing each federal or state program. These include but are not limited to rules for Pell, SEOG, TEACH, SMART and ACG grant awarding, as well as the rules for Federal subsidized and unsubsidized, parent and alternative loan awards. The counselor needs to be familiar with the rules governing all of the state grant programs including the SSIG, EARN, NC Scholarship, Golden Leaf, Teaching Fellows, Merits Scholarships, Prospective Teacher and Prospective Nursing Scholarships. The counselor will also be familiar with institutional endowed scholarships and awards.

Professional judgment: Each counselor will have the discretion to make independent judgments regarding a student's financial aid. The counselor has the ability, under Federal law, to alter a student's FAFSA form, if they feel there are extenuating circumstances which warrant that decision. These include family emergencies such as the loss of a job or out-of-the ordinary medical bills which insurance does not pay. The counselor will gather the documentation from the student regarding these circumstances and make a decision about aid eligibility and process the decisions both in Banner and on the FAFSA on the Web website.

This role serves as the primary liaison between the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships and New Student and Family Connections. The liaison is responsible for developing and delivering clear, timely communication to parents and families regarding financial aid. Key duties include creating monthly financial aid updates, coordinating messaging across departments, and ensuring families receive accurate information to support students' financial readiness.

This position will also answer phone in the phone que and also assist families and students in the FA Service Center

Any other duties assigned by the Director.

Work schedule may include evenings and weekends as necessary to support enrollment management initiatives, recruitment events, student services, and other departmental operational needs.

Management Preference


Customer Service Experience (Preferred)

Lic or Certification required by statute or regulation


None

Posting Information


Job Opening Date
08/25/2026


Job Closing Date
09/09/2026


Posting Category
Administrative Support


Posting Number
SPA00752


Quick Link to Posting




Special Instructions to Applicants


This position is subject to the successful completion of an employment background check. An employment background check includes a criminal background check, employment verification, reference checks, license verification (if applicable) and credit history check (if applicable). 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. New employees are paid only by direct deposit to the financial institution of their choice. Candidates claiming Veterans Preference must attach a copy of their DD-214 as a part of the online application process.

UNC Pembroke is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The University prohibits discrimination against qualified individuals based on their status as protected veterans or individuals with disabilities, and prohibits discrimination against all individuals based on their age, race, color, genetic information, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression and national origin. UNC Pembroke is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor and seeks priority referrals of protected veterans for our openings.