"Program Specialist 3 - State Funding Specialist"

PURPOSE OF POSITION:

This position helps advance the equity-centered missions of Green River College by delivering student financial aid advising to prospective and currently enrolled students and their families with a focus on advancing access to marginalized communities. Under the general direction of the Director of Student Financial Aid, this position provides expertise in program, guidance, and support for identified student populations to ensure students have the best opportunity to achieve their educational goals. To promote equitable student access and success, the incumbent will work with students to make financial aid processes transparent and help navigate/dismantle barriers to accessing aid (particularly those impacting students of color and other marginalized groups), as well provide information/referral for other funding sources and perform other task related to the administration and implementation of the student financial aid programs.

Financial Aid Responsibilities

• Understanding of the historical barriers for students (Black/African American, Indigenous, Latinx and Pacific Islander) and commitment to student success, an equity lens is applied to:
  1. Analyzing incoming financial aid applications and documentation for eligibility based on applicable federal, state, and institutional regulations
  2. Independently advise students and parents regarding federal, state, and institutional financial aid application process and program criteria
  3. Read, interpret, and implement local, state, and federal regulations
  4. Determine eligibility and award financial aid based on policies and regulatory requirements while adhering to internal awarding policies and compliance regulations
  5. Evaluate satisfactory academic progress and assist with reviewing academic appeals
  6. Special projects as assigned by director and assistant director
• Evaluate student data in multiple database systems, such as cashiering, financial aid, registration, and government databases; analyze data for reasonableness and consistency with other information, contacting outside parties or students when necessary for clarification, making determinations as to how this affects student eligibility, adjusting the aid package and notifying students of changes.

Program Responsibilities

• Independently utilize technology to update WSAC eligibility weekly to ensure ctcLink information is current.
• Assist leadership in census processing with state funding.
• Monitor, track and input state expenditures.
• Assess state reports to resolve any discrepancies on accounts within the state timeline to maintain compliance for the program.
• Perform reconciliation of funds and collaborate with others (cashiers, finance, supervisors) to resolve data discrepancies.
• Provide information and assistance to program participants, staff and outside entities regarding program content, policies, and training.
• Provide expertise for all funding provided by WSAC, excluding State Work Study.
• Serve as department program liaison and collaborate with other Green River College departments regarding program applicants, outreach material and additional questions.
• Collaborate with the Passport student support team.
• Perform Unaccompanied Homeless Youth intake interviews and make determinations based on federal and state regulations.
• Provide information, analyze data, and generate written reports regarding WSAC-funded programs as requested.
• Assist in placing financial aid payment holds.
• Review state-written updates and attend trainings and information meetings to maintain current knowledge of regulatory and institutional changes and policies relative to financial aid. Regularly integrates learning from professional development. Identify and track areas in which federal and state regulatory guidelines align and differ.
• Assist in designing focused interventions, program implementation, and creating specialized reports within the WSAC-funded programs and updating policies, manuals and procedures as needed.
• Collaborate with all college personnel to identify creative solutions to enhance the students' overall educational experience and to ensure seamless transition of financial transactions through degree completion.
• Provide support to students utilizing the WASFA application.

Student Support

• Provide direct customer service through various formats including virtual, email, phone, and in-person, with excellent customer service skills focused on applying a racial equity and social justice lens.
• Exhibit cultural responsiveness and a commitment to equity in all interactions with students, faculty, staff and community members to who span a diverse range of languages, nationalities and ethnicities, socio-economic levels, identities, and educational experiences.
• Independently advise students and parents regarding federal, state and institutional financial aid application processes and program criteria, acknowledging and mitigating systemic barriers for first generation, undocumented, disabled, domestic violence-impacted and formerly justice-involved students.
• Counsel financial aid applicants with sensitivity on completion of complex application materials following federal and state guidelines, which may include interpretation and translation of unique, highly confidential and often personal circumstances. Understanding confidentiality can include immigration status, complex tax and income situations, and student and family barriers.
• Refers students and assist with funding options provided through state, federal, and other third-party agencies.
• Promotes student engagement through campus involvement.
• Provides advocacy for historically underrepresented students.

Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Responsibilities

• Participate in workshops, discussions, and learning opportunities regularly around diversity, equity, and inclusion (GDEC training opportunities, Diversity Educational Series, departmental trainings and discussions, participation in affinity groups and caucuses)
• Implement equity tools and strategies obtained through various training opportunities to daily work
• Actively support, engage in, and work to advance Green River College's goals for equity and inclusion in order to provide access and support for our diverse community of learners.
• Other duties as assigned to support the goals and objectives of the department and the college

Minimum Qualifications:

• Associate degree or two years of experience working in an educational environment providing direct student service (such as academic advising, financial aid, TRiO, multicultural services, or Work Force Education)
• Intermediate knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite
• Experience working with electronic information management systems/database software
• Analytical, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills to evaluate aid applications
• Experience working with privacy laws and confidentiality issues.
• Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively in a team environment
• Ability to learn and accurately utilize various financial aid platforms
• Ability to communicate effectively, both verbal and written, in English
• Ability to establish a student-centered environment providing excellent customer service
• Work effectively with colleagues and students of various cultural and socio-economic backgrounds
• Ability to work accurately with numbers and detail
• Ability to organize, prioritize, and schedule work to meet timelines

Preferred Qualifications:

• Two years of experience working in financial aid
• Bilingual in one of the top 8 languages in Green River's service area: Spanish, Dari, Somali, Ukrainian, Vietnamese, Marshallese, Punjabi, Arabic