Director of Financial Aid

Position Title:

Director of Financial Aid

Department:

Financial Aid

Status:

Full Time Exempt

Benefit Eligible

Supervisor:

Vice President for Student Development & Enrollment

Annual Salary:  Competitive Salary, Medical and Dental package, and 11% pension contribution

Northwest Christian University Overview:

Northwest Christian University is a Christian, private, liberal-arts, comprehensive college closely affiliated with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the Christian Churches/Churches of Christ – approximately fifteen percent of students are from these two church bodies. Northwest Christian University also has an ecumenical interest and offers its resources to students and congregations of many church traditions.  These students are affiliated with denominational and non-denominational groups, such as Presbyterian, Baptist, Methodist, Foursquare, Lutheran, Nazarene, Episcopal, Assembly of God, Catholic, and Community Churches. The University was founded in 1895 and is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.  Located in the city of Eugene, Oregon - population 145,000 (one hour from the Coast, one hour from the Cascade Mountains, ninety minutes south of Portland). Northwest Christian University enrolls an undergraduate and graduate student body of 500 students (120-150 residential). Northwest Christian University was most recently ranked by U.S. News and World Report fifteenth overall among forty comprehensive Colleges in the Western Region. 

Job Summary:

Reporting to the Vice President for Student Development & Enrollment, this position provides leadership and direction to the Financial Aid Office serving the daytime undergraduate, adult evening undergraduate and graduate programs, as well as other campus departments, with regard to the awarding and managing of all student aid programs.

Position Duties and Responsibilities:

The director is responsible for managing the federal Title IV aid programs, state grant and scholarship programs, institutional scholarships and remissions, and any other aid provided by outside donors.  Duties include federal and state required reporting, the supervision, training, and evaluation of staff, the management of the departmental budget and the strategic and long range planning of the office in partnership with other University offices.

Specific Duties Include:

·         Ensure compliance with federal, state and institutional financial aid regulations and policies. 

·         Oversee awarding of federal, state, and institutional financial aid.

·         Develop “Cost of Attendance” budgets for all traditional undergraduate degree programs

·         Establish and implement office procedures for timely and effective application processing, packaging, verification and online award notification

·         Calculate refunds and repayments for students who withdraw

·         Utilize office operating system (PowerFAIDS) to award aid, host student records and monitor financial aid funds

·         Build and maintain relationships with lenders, guarantors, and other persons in the education loan industry

·         Counsel individual students and their families about policies and procedures throughout the course of applying for and receiving financial aid

·         Assist admissions in working with admitted students and contacting them soon after they have received their financial aid awards to answer questions and discuss financial planning

·         Provide timely responses to financial aid inquires

·         Present financial aid workshops to prospective students and training sessions for appropriate employees of the University

·         Maintain careful departmental record-keeping and provide data and reports to internal and external parties as needed. 

·         Reconcile annually the University's general ledger for financial aid accounts

·         Coordinate completion of annual surveys for University guides and directories

·         Prepare for audits by external agencies

·         Provide data as needed for reports, directories and data needed for personal inquiries, directories, and university publications

·         Provide data required by federal and state agencies including preparation for annual institutional audit of financial aid records; complete the annual FISAP, Perform required report for Pell recipients, complete the Application for Approval to Participate in Federal Student Financial Aid Programs,  file Institutional Price and Student Financial Aid (IPSFA), and provide financial aid data for IPEDS

·         Manage the technology needs of the Financial Aid Office including the maintenance of the PowerFAIDS database and operating system , utilizing EDConnect to send and receive files from U.S. Dept. of Education, interface with campus-wide administrative system (CAMS) to accomplish certain functions (Satisfactory Academic Progress, confirmation of enrollment, transmission of aid) 

·         Design and carry out all functions related to packaging and posting electronic awards (Sallie Mae software)

·         Serve as the liaison with the IS Department for hardware and software issues pertaining to the Financial Aid Office

·         Operate the loan processing software from the guarantor (ELM)

·         Implement all upgrades for Financial Aid Office software programs

·         Represent university to various constituencies, both internal and external to the University 

·         Provide technical expertise and represent student financial interests to internal constituents (administration, faculty, staff, committees, etc.)

·         Support internal and external parties in selecting scholarship recipients (NCU endowed scholarships, Merrill Family Foundation, Cockerline Memorial Trust Fund)

·         Supervise student workers and financial aid counselors including the implementation of a course of staff development, training and performance appraisal

·         Contribute to the development of operating systems, policy, procedures and priorities for the Financial Aid Office; maintain an accessible, current manual of office policies and procedures; keep compilation of accurate financial aid information for students, faculty and staff (tuition benefits, catalog)

·         Share in the administrative functions and implement processes of the Financial Aid Office; administer all loan programs offered by the University (Stafford, Perkins, PLUS, alternative); direct the Work/Study program; transmit aid to Business Office; oversee the processes associated with Satisfactory Academic Progress

·         Convene meetings of the Financial Aid Appeals Committee as needed and serve as a committee member

·         Handle exceptions and unusual problems referred by staff of NCU community. 

Experience and Qualification Requirements:

A Bachelor’s degree with a minimum of four years of progressively responsible experience in the field of financial aid in a college or university setting.   A thorough knowledge in the federal and state regulations regarding student aid programs is essential and extensive experience with computer programs and software including PowerFAIDS, CAMS, SAIG, COD Online, NSLDS and FISAP highly desirable.  The successful candidate will have excellent interpersonal and communication skills, demonstrated ability and experience in building positive relationships in a multicultural environment, a student-centered philosophy, and a commitment to excellent service.

Working Conditions/Special Requirements:

1.     NCU employees must have a maturing Christian Faith and be supporting of NCU’s mission to develop competent, ethical leaders for service in the workplace, community, Church and world. 

2.     The position requires a strong commitment to multiculturalism and diversity. 

3.     The position requires working in a non-smoking, drug free environment.

4.     The employee must adhere to FERPA guidelines and student confidentiality at all times.

5.     The employee must have high personal motivation, with great attention to detail and accuracy, project a positive and vibrant attitude in assisting people, and have high ethics of honesty and confidentiality with a genuine and gracious presence pertaining to the students, faculty, staff and business of the department and the University.

6.     Position requires some travel and varied working hours including evenings and weekends.

7/2008

CREATION DATE