Financial Aid Specialist-Advising

About the role

Serve as the first point of contact for students and families seeking financial aid assistance. This position provides exceptional customer service by assisting students with financial aid applications, explaining federal, state, and institutional financial aid programs, maintaining student records in Banner, managing departmental communications, supporting foreign credential evaluations, and ensuring compliance with Title IV regulations while helping students successfully navigate the financial aid process.

Required Qualifications

• Associates Degree or 60 college credit hours completed (experience may substitute for degree/college experience)
• Customer Service Experience

Preferred Qualifications

• Community College Experience
• Other Higher Education Experience
• Bilingual

Responsibilities

• Provide quality service to students, parents, campus colleagues, and others through various mediums and respond to general and complex questions regarding financial aid programs and individual funding needs.
• Assist students and parents with the completion of application forms and communicate requirements and information needed for student files.
• Manage all aspects of the financial aid email account, including uploading incoming documents, forwarding them to appropriate staff, sending daily appointment reminders, and scheduling appointments.
• Retrieve the financial aid voicemail daily and disseminate messages for appropriate follow-up.
• Track and maintain daily, weekly, and monthly student financial aid and visit traffic statistics.
• Prepare and process paperwork relative to student files, perform data entry in Banner, serve on departmental committees, conduct call campaigns when requested, and assist with student call-backs and email replies.
• Update financial aid processing form requirements in Banner, maintain and update the front desk quick reference guides and training manuals, and ensure the supply of hard-copy forms and student materials is correct.
• Assist the foreign credential evaluation process and submit documents to third-party evaluators after review by the Financial Aid Coordinator.
• Attend required meetings and applicable professional development training sessions.
• Maintain working knowledge of all Federal Title IV, state, and institutional regulations, policies, and procedures.

Pay & Schedule

• Full-time hourly, non-exempt
• Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, 40 hours per week
• No hybrid schedule available
• Starting salary range: $16.68 - $21.23, determined based on relevant years of work experience

Benefits

• Health insurance with some employer paid options
• Life insurance & AD&D (employer provided)
• Retirement plans (403(b), 457(b), and KPERS)
• Employer paid 8% contribution into a 403(b) no match required
• Paid time off (vacation, sick, personal, and floating holidays)
• 14 days of paid holidays
• Full tuition reduction for JCCC credit courses (for employee and eligible dependents)
• Tuition reimbursement / assistance for non‑JCCC courses for employee
• Free access to the Gym on campus for all employees and dependents
• Discount to the Hiersteiner Child Development Center