Director of Financial Aid

Required:

• A Bachelor’s degree and at least three years’ experience in higher education, specifically in a financial aid coordinator or higher role or a related area such as student development, counseling, or an equivalent field.

• Proven ability to collaborate effectively with diverse college departments, including but not limited to the registrar’s office, student success initiatives, academic and workforce development programs and institutional effectiveness units.

• Strong Communication skills and a demonstrated ability to establish and maintain productive working relationships with students, faculty, staff and administrators.

• A positive, team-oriented attitude and the ability to adapt to new technologies.

• Exceptional attention to detail, dependability and discretion in handling confidential information.

• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills.

• Knowledge and ability to interpret and apply local, state, regional and federal policies, regulations and compliance standards in a student-centered context.

Preferred:

Master’s degree in Higher Education, Counseling, or equivalent with 5 years or more experience.

1. Provides advising service to students:

a. Provides students with pertinent information concerning curriculum programs and acceptance into those programs.

b. Counsel’s students regarding availability of financial aid for selected curriculum.

2. Supervises and administers the comprehensive Student Financial Aid Program:

a. Is familiar with all rules and regulations for the Federal and State Financial Aid programs.

b. Advises students concerning financial aid availability and provides students with appropriate forms to be completed for financial aid.

c. Maintains accurate records of students receiving financial assistance.

d. Is familiar with all scholarships and other methods of financial aid for students.

e. Develops policies and procedures for administering an effective financial aid program.

f. Maintains contact with students receiving financial aid and monitors the student’s satisfactory academic progress.

g. Awards internal scholarships based on need and availability.

h. Interviews and hires students assigned to Federal Work Study positions within MTCC.

i. Budgets Federal Work Study funds and maintains monthly records.

j. Coordinates default management process.

k. Updates and maintains the Federal Student Aid Eligibility and Certification Approval.

l. Collaborates with FA Advisor and marketing team to create materials and content for office website and social media platforms and develop a detailed campaign to market information to where students and parents are obtaining electronic information.

m. Creates a branded, dynamic, multi-faceted financial literacy campaign that focuses on developing the skills needed for financial planning, creating a budget, tracking spending, learning techniques to pay off future debts and understanding/calculating interest on loans through the use of education/interactive tools, guides, and resources focused on understanding true costs.

n. Engages with Development Director and MTCC Foundation Board regarding scholarship needs and uses.

3. Serves as a Designated Certifying Official for approvals between MTCC and the Department of Veterans Affairs. Supervises the process to ensure the following takes place, in collaboration with the FA Advisor:

a. Certifies the catalog annually for the North Carolina State Approval Agency.

b. Meets annually with federal and/or state auditors to ensure compliance with the DVA guidelines.

c. Familiar with the benefits distributed by the DVA and interprets the policies to prospective recipients and recipients enrolled in the college.

d. Assists the student in making initial application to determine VA eligibility.

e. Evaluates DD214’s and school transcripts and determines if the recipient’s file is complete.

f. Electronically certifies the recipients for DVA benefits using Enrollment Manager.

g. Tracks the recipient’s progress through the semester, updating veteran’s eligibility status if necessary.

h. Verifies the veteran’s status with the state of North Carolina National Guard for tuition assistance (TAP).

i. Verifies the student’s status with the state for the North Carolina State Scholarship for dependents. Division/Department Student Services

j. Contacts the DVA when the recipient does not appear to be receiving the appropriate benefits or is not receiving the benefit in what appears to be a timely manner.

4. Other Assigned Responsibilities:

a. Assists with recruiting for curriculum programs, attending college days, etc.

b. Assists in pre-registration and peak periods during registration.

c. Assists with graduation.

d. Assists with any other duties within the Student Services Department as assigned.