Assistant Financial Aid Director

Southwest Minnesota State University

Marshall (MN)

On-site

USD 25,000 - 39,000

Full time

14 days+

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Job summary

Southwest Minnesota State University seeks a Financial Aid Administrator to assist the Director in planning, administering, managing, and coordinating student financial aid programs. The role covers state aid programs such as MN State Grant, MN GI Bill, and North Star Promise, including application, awarding, and disbursement processes.

You will also administer the Satisfactory Academic Progress procedure and advise students, families, and staff throughout the financial aid process, ensuring

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree plus two years of financial aid or related experience.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with students, parents, faculty, and administrative staff.
Ability to accurately analyze and interpret student records system data.
Ability to receive and maintain access to federal student aid databases.
Ability to effectively communicate both written and oral.
Experience with queries, databases, spreadsheets, analyzing, interpreting, and explaining data.
Ability to interact successfully with diverse populations.
Experience working with confidential information and knowledge of data privacy practices.

Responsibilities

Assist the Director of Financial Aid to plan, administer, manage, and coordinate student financial aid programs.
Administer Minnesota state aid programs including MN State Grant, MN GI Bill, and North Star Promise Scholarship.
Manage application, awarding, and disbursement processes for multiple state aid programs.
Administer the Satisfactory Academic Progress procedure for Financial Aid.
Provide advice throughout the financial aid process to prospective, new and current students and families and University staff and faculty.

Skills

Communication skills

Data interpretation

Confidential information handling

Relationship building

Diversity engagement

Data privacy practices

Education

Bachelor’s degree in related field

Master’s degree (preferred)

Tools

MS Office (Outlook, Word, Excel)

Job description

Department Enrollment Management and Student Success

Unit

Unit Enrollment Management and Student Success

Location

Location Marshall, MN

FLSA

FLSA Non-Exempt

Full/Part Time

Full/Part Time Full Time

FTE

FTE 1.0

Employment Condition

Employment Condition Unlimited

Work Shift

Work Schedule/Hours/Days

Salary Minimum

Salary Maximum

Salary Type

Salary Type Hourly

Bargaining Unit/Plan

Bargaining Unit/Plan 211, MSUAASF

Job Description

This position will assist the Director of Financial Aid to plan, administer, manage, and coordinate student financial aid programs. This position administers a number of the Minnesota Office of Higher Education Programs, including but not limited to MN Postsecondary Child Care Grant, MN State Grant, MN GI Bill, and the North Star Promise Scholarship program. This individual will manage the application, awarding, and disbursements related to the multiple state financial aid programs. In addition to the administration of the state aid programs, this position will also be responsible for administering the Satisfactory Academic Progress procedure for Financial Aid. This position will provide advice throughout the financial aid process to prospective, new and current students and their families and University staff and faculty.

Required Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree plus two years of financial aid or related experience.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with students, parents, faculty, and administrative staff.
Ability to accurately analyze and interpret student records system data.
Ability to receive and maintain access to federal student aid databases.
Ability to effectively communicate both written and orally.
Experience with queries, databases, spreadsheets, analyzing, interpreting, and explaining data.
Ability to interact successfully with diverse populations .
Experience working with confidential information and knowledge of data privacy practices.

Preferred Qualifications

Master’s degree with at least one (1) year of financial aid or related experience in higher education Proficiency with the Minnesota State Integrated Statewide Record System ( ISRS ), Work Day, or similar student information system.
Experience with Minnesota State policies and procedures.
Demonstrated commitment to college access, student success, and equity and inclusion.
Ability to manage multiple tasks and projects with high complexity and risk.
Knowledge of federal and state financial aid regulations and compliance requirements.
Ability to analyze data within higher education.
Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office products, such as Outlook, MS Word, Excel, MS Access, and Power Bl.

Other Requirements

About

Southwest Minnesota State University is one of seven universities in the Minnesota State system. SMSU gives highest priority to excellence in teaching and preparing students to be lifelong learners through quality undergraduate teaching/advising and close student/faculty relationships. Its mission, dating back to 1967, provides access to university-level programs in liberal arts & professional studies. The University has a special commitment to the educational needs of the people in its service region reflected through its curricula, cultural programs, diversity of staff and students, cooperative relationships with the public and private sectors, and regional institutions. The 216‑acre campus encompasses 24 modern, interconnected, and accessible buildings. Marshall (pop. 13,000) is the hub of a rich agricultural area and offers a variety of cultural, recreational and educational opportunities. The position is an opportunity to be part of a vibrant, dynamic and growing institution that is searching for exceptionally talented people.

Benefits Info

Our benefits aim to balance four key elements that make life and work meaningful: health and wellness, financial well-being, professional development, and work/life harmony. As an employee, your benefits may include:

Training and professional development
Paid vacation and sick leave
Paid holidays
Paid parental leave
Low-cost medical and dental coverage
Vision coverage
Wellness programs and resources
Employer paid life insurance
Short-term and long-term disability
Health care spending and savings accounts

Programs, resources and benefits eligibility varies based on type of employment, agency, funding availability, union/collective bargaining agreement, location, and length of service with the State of Minnesota.

Federal Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness Program

Southwest Minnesota State University complies with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act. You can find our Annual Security and Fire Safety Report online at Annual Security and Fire Safety Report (smsu.edu) . This report includes statistics for the previous three years concerning reported crimes that occurred on campus; in certain non‑campus buildings or property owned or controlled by Southwest Minnesota State University. If you prefer a hard copy, please contact the Department of Public Safety at 507-537-7252.

Posting Number

Posting Number SMSU2021283P

Number of Vacancies

Number of Vacancies 1

Re-posting

Desired Start Date

Desired Start Date 10/01/2024

Position End Date (if temporary)

Open Date

Open Date 06/05/2024

Close Date

Open Until Filled Yes

Accept Applications

Accept Applications Yes

Special Instructions Summary

Posting Contact

Posting Contact SMSU Human Resources Department

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Southwest Minnesota State University is a member of the Minnesota State system and is an equal opportunity educator and employer. SMSU is committed to equal employment opportunities for all applicants and to providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. SMSU does not tolerate discrimination or harassment of any kind. Women, diverse populations and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Applicants must be able to lawfully accept employment in the United States. Requests for reasonable accommodation of a disability during the application and/or interview process should be made to the Affirmative Action Office, 507-537-6208. For TTY communications, contact Minnesota Relay Service at 1-800-627-3529. This vacancy notice is available in alternative format upon request.

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Required Documents