Financial Aid Specialist I - Term*

Financial Aid Specialist I

Primary Responsibility

Under the supervision of the Assistant Director of Financial Aid, the Financial Aid Specialist I perform various services to successfully guide students through the financial aid process including outreach, completion of financial aid forms, monitoring, serve as Work Study liaison and provide effective communication with students. This Financial Aid Specialist will be one of the first points of contact for prospective students and families and is instrumental in establishing an understanding of all financing options available to make CMC viable and affordable.

*This is a term position that ends 10/31/2026.

Essential Duties

• Effectively communicate/explain all necessary steps of the Free Application of Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) process, student responsibilities, and assist students and families with any questions concerning the completion of the FAFSA process.
• Possess a basic understanding of federal student aid processes such as ISIR review, federal Direct and plus loan eligibility, entrance and exit counseling requirements, verification process and awards, work study, as well as government policies, procedures, regulations, and laws.
• Awareness of R2T4 process to facilitate calculations.
• Ability to perform SAP appeals and Professional Judgment.
• Knowledge of Veterans benefits.
• Conduct workshops and presentations to students, campus faculty, staff, high schools and community members concerning financial aid either in person or virtually.
• Educate prospective families on the various ways to pay for college, including but not limited to federal financial aid programs, Colorado grants and scholarships, external scholarships, and loans.
• Deliver outstanding customer service to prospective and re-entering students and families through various remote platforms, e.g., Zoom, Microsoft Teams, phone to discuss financial aid processes and options.
• Provide extensive student-focused, solution-oriented communication and support to ensure all students are comfortable and sufficiently informed/prepared.
• Works closely with various departments, such as admissions, student accounts, registrars, and advising, to assist when and where needed.
• Promptly respond to all student questions, concerns, and needs regarding the financial aid process within an established timeframe.
• Perform data entry of students' financial aid information and all comments in our databases related to students' status to ensure full and proper documentation.
• Counsels' students with financial literacy.
• Participates in student registration activities and development activities designed to promote student awareness, retention, and success.
• Uses a database and various computer software to maintain and monitor confidential and other student records and files.
• Attend financial aid training activities as appropriate.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Supervision Received

Position reports to the Assistant Director of Financial Aid. Position usually works within the framework of responsibilities but may require guidance at times.

Supervisory Responsibility

This position may serve as a lead/supervise on projects and/or for other team members/work study.

Special Conditions of Employment

Position will have a username, password and encryption-token access to sensitive and confidential U.S. Department of Education records. Access includes the National Student Loan Data Service (NSLDS), FAA Access to CPS and may also be granted access to Common Origination & Disbursement (COD).

Successful completion of a background check including motor vehicles records report will be required. Incumbents in this position will adhere to all safety and compliance policies of Colorado Mountain College while performing all duties assigned.

Travel within Colorado, the College district/service area, altered work schedules and/or evening and/or weekend hours. The position is expected to travel to financial aid related events, quarterly face-to-face meetings and other training opportunities as directed. Hours can vary based on time of year and student needs. This position will be required to visit our campuses in Western Colorado for certain events or meetings, including new student orientations, visit days or other occasions deemed important by the employee's supervisor.

Working Conditions

This position requires constant sitting, occasional walking, standing and driving; occasional handling objects, pushing/pulling; frequent reaching with hands/arms, and use of finger movements; occasional lifting, carrying, pushing or pulling objects up to 50 lbs. Constant written and oral communication and the ability to reason and analyze and perform calculations occasionally. Work is performed using a computer and standard office equipment daily and driving a vehicle occasionally.

CMC is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, the College will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment, including completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or to perform essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to our ADA Coordinator, Human Resources, View email address on click.appcast.io

NOTE: This position description is intended to indicate the basic nature of positions allocated to this class and provide examples of typical duties that may be assigned. It does not imply that all positions within the class perform all of the duties listed, nor does it necessarily list all possible duties that may be assigned. Employees may perform other related duties as required to meet the ongoing needs of the organization.

Each role at Colorado Mountain College contributes to the institution's sustainability initiatives by fostering environmental stewardship, supporting sustainable practices in daily operations, and advancing a culture of ecological responsibility that aligns with our commitment to balance the needs of current generations not to compromise the needs of future generations.

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