Financial Aid Advisor

Job Goal

To advance the college’s mission, vision, principles, values and strategic initiatives through continuous improvement decisions.

General Job Summary

This position plays a key role in enacting the College’s commitment to providing a welcoming, inclusive and accessible environment to a diverse group of students seeking to learn and grow at Kirkwood. Financial Aid Advisors are responsible for advising students about the available resources to further their education. This position requires a high degree of independent judgment, initiative, organization, and problem-solving skills. The ideal candidate collaborates with staff and faculty to ensure students have the resources required to reach their educational goals and provides education and outreach to students.

The typical work schedule for this position will be Monday through Friday from 8 am to 5 pm.

Universal Core Competencies

• Advocate for Continual Improvement - empowering each other to identify opportunities for excellence.
• Collaborate with Mutual Accountability - working together with a willingness to take ownership and account for our actions.
• Champion Service - anticipating needs and create a welcoming, diverse, and inclusive environment.
• Perseverance - commitment to excellence even in the face of adversity or delay in achieving success.
• Lead - regardless of title, through positive influence.
  
  

DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Maintain up to date expert knowledge of federal and state Financial Aid regulations.
• Develop an individualized plan for financing a student’s education: help navigate the financial aid process, identify internal and external financial resources, identify financial options, support good academic planning and financial decision making
• Provide individualized student support and skill building related to financial aid, financial and academic planning and refer students to college and community resources.
• Monitor student progress and teach financial literacy skills, financial aid requirements and milestones necessary for academic and financial success.
• Teach students problem-solving skills that support growth toward academic and financial autonomy.
• Consult about financial considerations with faculty and staff who are supporting students.
• Provide support to staff regarding financial aid questions.
• Assist with the processing of financial aid forms.
• Assist with answering calls to the Student Services Call Center as needed.
• Maintain working knowledge of degree audits to determine if a student is making satisfactory academic progress.
• Create and deliver presentations to students, families, faculty, staff and other groups about financial aid process, financial aid regulations, and financial literacy.
• May assist with Professional Judgement determinations regarding financial aid eligibility.
• Advise students on enrollment policies and procedures.
• Perform other related work duties as assigned.
  
  

Performance Expectations

• You are able and willing to provide outstanding customer service and serve as a positive representative of the department and the student services division.
• You are a self-motivated individual with excellent time-management and organizational skills.
• You express yourself clearly and effectively thorough oral and written communications with attention to audience-awareness.
• You are committed to understanding diversity within and among equity-seeking populations and work to build engagement strategies that welcome a diverse group of perspectives and values.
• You possess the ability to understand and interpret complicated financial aid situations and use your independent judgment to assist students
• You possess the ability to communicate complicated situations to individuals that do not have an understanding of the process.
• You possess a good understanding of accounting/bookkeeping procedures.
• You are able to be positive and helpful under stressful situations.
• You aspire to work with people of all backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences, as well as cultivate an environment that values differences.
  
  

The statements contained herein reflect general details as necessary to describe the essential job duties/responsibilities and performance expectations of the job, which should not be considered an all-inclusive listing of work requirements. Individuals may perform other duties as assigned.

Physical Activities With/Without Reasonable Accommodation

Position involves working in an office setting. Occasional (10-33%) standing, pushing, pulling and grasping. Frequent (34-66%) reaching and viewing a computer and other types of close visual work. Constant (67-100%) sitting, walking, repetitive motion, talking and hearing.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
  
  

Preferred Qualifications, Licenses, Certifications, Or Registrations

• Bachelor’s degree in Education, Counseling, Psychology, Sociology, Humans Services or related field
• One year of financial aid experience
• One year full time work experience in higher education
  
  

EEO/AA STATEMENT:It is the policy of Kirkwood Community College not to discriminate in its programs, activities, or employment on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, creed, religion, and actual or potential family, parental or marital status. If you have questions or complaints related to compliance with this policy, please contact the Vice President, Human Resources and Institutional Effectiveness (employees) or the Vice President of Student Services (students), 6301 Kirkwood Blvd. SW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404,319-398-5572,equity@kirkwood.edu, or the Director of the Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education, Cesar E. Chavez Memorial Building, 1244 Speer Boulevard, Suite 310, Denver, CO 80204-3582, Telephone:(303) 844-5695FAX: (303) 844-4303, TDD 800-877-8339 Email:OCR.Denver@ed.gov.

Why Kirkwood

Kirkwood Community College prides itself on fostering a diverse workforce and values unique perspectives throughout its campus community. The college is a convenient, innovative, visionary educational leader striving to remain affordable and accessible. With more than 140 majors and programs, Kirkwood boasts 16,000 annual college-credit students while maintaining one of the lowest tuitions in the state. All degree-seeking students are eligible for federal financial aid and the college offers more than $3 million in scholarships each year to students from all walks of life.Review of applications will continue until the position is filled.