Financial Aid Counselor

College Overview

Ranken Technical College has been helping students experience success for over 100 years. Ranken is more than a college; it’s an experience that provides students with the knowledge and training necessary to launch and maintain successful careers in fields such as automotive, construction, electrical, information technology and manufacturing. Ranken’s modern facilities, state-of-the-art shop equipment and abundant resources provide an excellent environment for comprehensive technical education. The College’s three-pronged approach to teaching - hands-on technical experience, general education and professionalism - gives our students the competitive edge, proven by our 96 percent job placement rate within six months of graduation.

Role

Reporting to the Director of Business and Financial Service, this position counsels current and prospective students and parents, packages and awards financial aid, and provides excellent customer service.

Responsibilities

• Reviews daily Student Aid Reports for current and prospective students.
• Processes incoming Student Aid Reports and sends out appropriate verification letters.
• Follows Department of Education guidelines for all students in verification; ensures 100 percent compliance.
• Reviews requests for Professional Judgements on financial aid eligibility.
• Schedules and conducts financial aid entrance counseling for new students.
• Schedules and conducts financial aid exit counseling for graduates.
• Mails exit counseling packets to withdrawn students.
• Assists with packaging financial aid awards for new and continuing students.
• Runs credit checks on Federal Parent PLUS loans.
• Ensures all verification worksheets are in compliance with the current award year guidelines.
• Maintains complete and accurate files of students in the Financial Aid Office.
• Maintains files of graduates and withdrawn students in the Financial Aid Office and in storage.
• Codes all federal loans for disbursement processing.
• Maintains/verifies accurate CIP codes.
• Prints award letters.
• References Change of Hours report.
• Checks lists for disbursement eligibility.
• Contacts COD to help resolve problems.
• Assists with IPEDS.
• Aids in the annual editing/updating of financial aid verification paperwork.
• Helps students and/or parents in the completion of their MPNs as well as applying for or retrieving their FSA IDs.
• Contacts students regarding incomplete award letter paperwork/revisions.
• Participates in the scholarship committee and assists scholarship counselor as needed.
• Counsels current, prospective and former students on financial aid.
• Responds to inquiries in person, over the phone and through email.
• Provides excellent customer service to potential and current students, parents, faculty, and staff.
• Processes change of registration/enrollment change forms.
• Inputs tuition, fees, and data into PowerFAIDS.
• Maintains student files for grant money from Missouri and requests money from state.
• Monitors requirements and funding accounts for Missouri A program.
• Verifies student enrollment.
• Verifies federal grant and loan returns for withdrawing students (R2T4 review).
• Performs clerical duties such as filing, copying, opening/processing mail, etc.
• Works open houses.
• Assists team members with other duties as needed.
• Performs special projects as assigned.
  
  

Qualifications

• Associate degree or equivalent; bachelor’s degree preferred.
• Three to five years of experience working with financial aid packages. Two years or more working in a Financial Aid Office preferred.
• Excellent customer service and communication skills to meet with the public, explain complex documents, follow up on missing forms, and answer questions.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality in processing work.
• Good organization skills.
• Good computer skills and working knowledge of Microsoft Office.
  
  

Note - Some evening and/or weekend hours will be required to participate in College functions. Overtime may be required at the start of each semester.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, Vision, Accident, and Pet Insurance
• Company paid Life/AD&D and Short/Long-term Disability
• Health, Flexible, and Dependent Care Spending Accounts
• Employee Assistance Program (Free)
• Tuition reimbursement of up to $2000 per year (Eligible after one year)
• 403(b) savings plan with matching contributions (Eligible on day one)
• Pension Plan (Eligible after 5 years of service)
• PTO: 15 days accrued in first year
• Holidays: 10 paid plus a paid Winter Break (Christmas through New Years Day)