Associate Director of Financial Aid – Thomas R. Kline School of Law

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Duquesne University–Thomas R. Kline School of Law Associate Director of Financial Aid position directs the planning, administration, customer service, regulatory compliance, and daily operations for financial aid for the law school and the Paralegal Institute, and will work cooperatively with the Duquesne University Office of Financial Aid.

The position reports to Duquesne University’s Assistant Vice President of Financial Aid and School of Law’s Director of Admission, and is based at the law school.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Oversee the accurate, ethical, complete, and timely awarding and disbursement of scholarship funds and loans to eligible students.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and institutional regulations by maintaining audit-ready files and staying current on all Title IV and VII updates and changes. Ensure that the law school and its students meet all American Bar Association and U.S. Department of Education requirements related to scholarship awards.
• Provide individualized financial aid counseling to prospective and current students on financial aid options, financial planning, and debt management. Assist students in understanding the process, requirements and deadlines associated with the FAFSA, loan applications and scholarship awards.
• Develop, update, and maintain written materials and website content related to financial aid policies and procedures, cost of attendance, loan options and terms, and scholarship opportunities and requirements. Ensure all communication is accurate, current, complete, and easy to understand.
• Deliver financial aid workshops and presentations for prospective and current law students, both in-person and virtually.
• Collaborate with the Assistant Vice President for Financial Aid and Director of Admissions to develop and implement strategies for managing and enhancing the law school’s institutional scholarship program in support of enrollment and retention goals.
• Manage merit, need-based, and donor/endowed scholarship awards specific to the law school.
• Advertise, collect, and conduct initial review of scholarship applications; verify financial need for awarding of need-based scholarships; communicate scholarship awards to students, including amounts, terms and conditions; update LSAC Unite and Banner systems with scholarship awards.
• Develop and maintain a file of outside funding available to law students and students in the Paralegal Institute and disseminate to prospective and continuing law students.
• Conduct loan verification by validating student eligibility, enrollment status, and required documentation prior to loan certification.
• Monitor satisfactory academic progress (SAP) for all financial aid recipients. Communicate SAP policies clearly to students not in compliance; manage SAP appeals; chair the appeals committee; record and monitor academic plans to manage SAP; and provide timely updates to students at risk of losing their financial aid eligibility.
• In collaboration with the University’s Assistant Vice President of Financial Aid, establish and publish the law school’s annual cost of attendance. Develop professional judgment standards and a transparent review process for evaluating cost of attendance appeals.
• Develop, implement, and utilize Banner financial aid tracking, budgeting, and student group bundling processes to ensure efficient financial aid operations. Review and enhance processes annually to ensure system is providing optimal support. Review student records in Banner to ensure accuracy and data integrity.
• Prepare annual and ad hoc financial aid reports for law school administration to support operational, accreditation, and compliance needs.
• Analyzes enrollment, aid, and borrowing trends to inform strategic planning and decision-making.
• Participate in management meetings with university financial aid and law school administration.
• Perform other related duties and participate in special projects as assigned.

REQUIREMENTS: Minimum qualifications:

• A Bachelor's degree from an accredited educational institution.
• Three to five years of experience in financial aid administration at a law school or other equivalent graduate/professional school.
• Demonstrated knowledge of federal, state, and institutional financial-aid regulations, policies, and programs.
• Ability to assess and adapt to new regulations and policies.
• Advanced understanding of financial aid technology systems and data management.
• Ability to work effectively with IT personnel to identify and resolve issues, and to design required changes in systems requirements, operating procedures, and data management.
• Demonstrated problem-solving skills, including the ability to develop and implement effective operational solutions.
• High level of personal integrity, strong work ethic, and ability to collaborate and motivate others.
• Excellent communication, organization, presentation, analytical and computer skills. Proficiency in Banner and Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access).
• Experience using federal online financial aid applications and the National Student Loan Data System.
• Commitment to working in a diverse and dynamic community of professional and graduate students.

Preferred qualifications:

• Master’s degree from an accredited educational institution preferred.
• Alternatively, the successful candidate may possess any equivalent combination of experience and training, which provides the knowledge, skills and abilities required to perform the essential job functions. This includes, but is not limited to, the following:
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with the University Community.
• Ability and willingness to contribute actively to the mission of the University and to respect the Spiritan Catholic identity of Duquesne University. The mission is implemented through a commitment to academic excellence, a spirit of service, moral and spiritual values, sensitivity to world concerns, and an ecumenical campus community.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

Applicants are asked to submit a cover letter, resume, and contact information for three professional references.

Duquesne University was founded in 1878 by its sponsoring religious community, the Congregation of the Holy Spirit. Duquesne University is Catholic in mission and ecumenical in spirit. Motivated by its Catholic identity, Duquesne values equality of opportunity both as an educational institution and as an employer.