Fairfield University is a co-educational, comprehensive Jesuit
university with a 200-acre campus located along the scenic
shoreline community of Fairfield, CT. The University is comprised
of approximately 3,500 undergraduate and 1,200 graduate students
pursuing degrees within 5 schools: The College of Arts and
Sciences, The Charles F. Dolan School of Business, The School of
Engineering, The Marion Peckham Egan School of Nursing and Health
Studies, and School of Education and Human Development. As an
expression of our Jesuit, Catholic mission and identity, Fairfield
embraces a liberal humanistic approach to education, encouraging
critical thinking, cultivating free and open inquiry, and fostering
ethical and religious values.
Job Description:
DIVISION: Enrollment Management
DEPARTMENT: Office of Financial Aid
REPORTS TO: Executive Director of Financial Aid
BASIC FUNCTION: Advises and counsels students, parents and
other interested parties regarding financial aid programs; Verifies
student files in accordance with federal and institutional
requirements; Processes financial aid appeals; Manages a project or
set of projects directly related to the management of financial aid
programs and collaboration with other offices on campus; Conducts
on and off campus financial aid and financial literacy
presentations; Participates in the growth and development of the
department; Promotes safe and secure working conditions. Nights and
weekends may be required during peak enrollment season and to
support events being hosted by campus partners.
UNUSUAL WORK CONDITIONS: Exposure to highly confidential
information
EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree required
ABOUT THE POSITION: The Financial Aid Counselor will provide
financial aid advising, participation in an extensive outreach
program, financial aid data review, verification, awarding and
adjusting awards of student financial aid files, and responsible
for a specific student financial aid program/office function.
RESPONSIBILITIES: Responsibilities include but are not
limited to the following: financial aid advising, participating in
an extensive outreach program, and financial aid data review.
Daily duties involve the following:
- Providing outstanding customer service while demonstrating
patience and understanding to students and families who are seeking
and/or receiving financial aid;
Advising students about financial aid eligibility, application
procedures, available financial aid programs, educational costs,
and financial management strategies, including debt management and
financial planning;
Counseling students and parents regarding financing an
education at the university (heavy contact with students and
families via e-mail, phone and in-person);
Managing a student caseload and reviewing student applications
for accuracy to determine financial need and award aid in
accordance with applicable federal, state, and institutional
policies and regulations;
Calculating student award packages utilizing various software
programs and federal, state and university resources, including
gift aid and self-help; maintaining compliance with federal and
state regulations and the internal policies and procedures of the
university, and monitoring and verifying information with required
documents;
Processing applications and corrections, need analysis,
document tracking and evaluation of those documents; verifying
accuracy of documents and consistency of financial aid data,
federal tax transcripts, financial aid verification documents and
student information, and generating award notifications or denying
aid if ineligible; and
Must be able to work occasional nights and weekends, and must
be available for presentations and outreach events with little
notice.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Experience with PowerFAIDS financial aid software;
- Possess a strong desire to provide the highest level of service
to students and their families, have an energetic and positive
approach to work, and be a team player;
- Candidates should possess strong communication skills;
- Knowledge of federal and state aid programs and regulations;
and
- Spanish speaking a plus.
- Perform other duties as requested.
Duties may be changed and/or be added at any time.
Category:
Enrollment Management - Admin
Performs such other duties, responsibilities, and activities as
required by supervisor and as departmental/University needs
indicate.
*Disclaimer
The above information indicates the general nature and level of
work performed by employees within this classification. It is not
designed to contain and should not be interpreted as a
comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities,
activities, and/or qualifications required or expected of employees
assigned to this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may
change and new ones may be assigned at any time, with or without
notice.
All offers of employment are contingent upon a satisfactory
background check.
Fairfield University provides equal employment opportunities to all
employees and applicants for employment and prohibits
discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race,
color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status,
genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender
identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by
federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and
conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement,
promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of
absence, compensation and training.
Load a resume or CV first, then upload supporting documents
including a cover letter at the bottom of the third page under the
"My Experience" section where it says to upload a Resume/CV.
You will be able to upload up to 5 other documents in this section.
You will be unable to edit your application, so please have all
documents available before applying. Faculty Positions : If
you need to upload more than 5 documents, please either combine
them to upload or email the additional documents to the applicable
contact in the job description. Staff positions : If you
need to upload more than 5 documents, please either combine them to
upload or email them to hr@fairfield.edu