Student Financial Services Counselor and VA Certifying Official

We are searching for an experienced Student Financial Services Counselor and VA Certifying Official at our Arapahoe Campus facility.

Position Title: Student Financial Services Counselor and VA Certifying Official
No. of Positions to Fill1
Department/Program: Financial Aid 55000
Work Location: Combination Remote/On-Site
Reports to: Director of Student Financial Services
FLSA Classification: Non-Exempt/Hourly
FTE: 100% (40 hrs/week)
Compensation: $20.45 - $22.95 per hour

Job Summary
The primary function of the Student Financial Services Counselor is to assist students and families in applying for financial aid, financial planning, and using VA education benefits to enhance the recruitment and retention of a diverse student body. This role serves as a primary contact for current and prospective students requesting information or needing help with the student financial planning process. This role serves as a bridge between the different branches of the Student Financial Services department: financial aid, student accounts, and Veteran education benefits. Success in this role is assessed in three (3) key areas of accountability: 1) Student Customer Service, 2) Administrative Processing & Support, 3) Policy & Procedure.
Job Duties & Responsibilities
Key Accountability 1: Student Customer Service (~ 40% of total effort)

• Act as a primary contact for students and families requesting Student Financial Services assistance via phone, email, Zoom, face-to-face, and group information sessions.
• Manage general mailboxes for Student Financial Services, answering questions and routing to appropriate staff members when necessary.
• Counsel students and families regarding each area of Student Financial Services:

o Financial Aid: FAFSA/CO State/International Aid Application process and troubleshooting, types of aid, scholarships, student employment, budgeting, and general financial literacy.
o Student Accounts: program costs, utilizing 529 plans, third party payees/proxy access, how to use and set up payment plans, troubleshooting payment portal questions
o VA Education benefits: types of education benefits, general student and program eligibility, how to apply/transfer benefits, work with student and academic advisor for degree planning, and collecting required documents

• Assist with student outreach regarding missing documentation, past due balances, and other student finance related issues.

Key Accountability 2: Administrative Support (~40% of total effort)

• Financial Aid:

o Review student financial aid related documents and complete data entry
o Award financial aid for new and returning students
o Review student eligibility criteria issues, such as Pell LEU, UEH, Aggregate Loan, etc.,
o Track and review appeals for additional financial assistance requests
o Assist with disbursement review and processing

• VA Education benefits:

o Collect and track VA documents and paperwork
o Review and Certify VA student enrollments
o Track and reconcile expected and received VA payments and debts
o Work with Advisors to ensure accurate degree plans for VA students
o Monitor VA enrollment changes and SAP progress, to ensure timely reporting to VA

• Student Accounts:

o Collect and cashier student payments
o Assist with account adjustments
o Create third party billing invoices and process Purchase Orders
o Track, create, and monitor payment plans and past due balances
o Assist with the review of credit balance refund reports and student notifications
Key Accountability 3: Miscellaneous (~10% of total effort)

• Maintain working knowledge policies and procedures related to Student Financial Services.
• Maintain cross-functional working knowledge and proficiency of Student Information System (Ellucian Colleague) and Student Portals (Ellucian Self-Service and Microsoft Sharepoint).
• Cross-train with other Student Financial Services positions, to serve as back-up when needed.
• Other duties as assigned

Naropa recognizes the following holidays throughout the year:

• Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
• Memorial Day
• Juneteenth
• Independence Day
• Labor Day
• Fall Break, 4th Thursday and Friday in November
• Winter Break, the last two weeks in December encompassing the Christmas holiday as well as New Year’s

Naropa’s health and welfare benefits include the following: medical, dental, vision, FSA, HSA, employer-paid short-term and long-term disability, employer-paid life insurance and accidental death and dismemberment, an employer-sponsored pre-tax retirement savings plan, which includes up to 2.5% employer matching, and a variety of voluntary, employee-paid supplemental insurance plans.
A comprehensive benefits package is available to full-time employees who work a minimum of 30 hours each week. Employees who work 20 – 29 hours each week are eligible for only the employer-paid short-term & long-term disability, employer-paid life insurance & accidental death and dismemberment, and the retirement plan, which includes up to 2.5% employer matching.
Employees who work fewer than 20 hours per week are eligible to participate in Naropa’s retirement plan only, which includes up to 2.5% employer matching.
All regular full-time and part-time faculty and staff, including student workers, accrue sick leave benefits. Full-time and part-time staff positions accrue vacation and personal time. All leave accrual rates vary based on the position, hours worked, and years of service.
The University recognizes the importance of including its employees in its organizational mission and values and welcomes employees into the classroom to “touch the magic.” Specifically, regular employees are provided generous tuition remission opportunities for themselves and their family members.
Naropa University participates in the Council of Independent Colleges Tuition Exchange Program (CIC-TEP). CIC-TEP is a network of CIC colleges and universities willing to accept, tuition-free, students from families of full-time employees of other CIC participating institutions (full-time as designated by the employer/institution). Additional information can be found here: https://www.cic.edu/member-services/tuition-exchange-program. Naropa University’s commitment to diversity aligns with its highest aspirations to apply contemplative inquiry and education to explore and embody the human qualities that facilitate collaboration to create a common humanity and a just society. Individuals who have experience with and a commitment to inclusive communities are encouraged to apply. EOE
Title IX is a federal civil rights law that prohibits gender discrimination, sexual harassment, sexual and relationship violence. This law applies to all students, faculty, and staff.