On-Campus Grants & Scholarships Specialist

Chapman University; Irvine (CA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 72,000; Full time

Job summary

Chapman University seeks a knowledgeable Grants & Loans Specialist to manage annual and endowed scholarships, special programs, and federal/state loan processing within the Financial Aid Office. You will monitor programs, provide reporting, and ensure compliance with FERPA and related regulations.

Requires a bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) and at least two years of campus financial aid experience, with strong analytical, communication, and collaboration skills across university partners.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education/experience.
• A minimum of two years financial aid administration experience with strong current knowledge of federal and state financial aid laws and regulations.
• Demonstrated knowledge of Pell Grant, SEOG , Cal Grant, and Direct Loan programs.
• Demonstrated skill in interpreting and applying Financial Aid rules and regulations.
• Proven ability to communicate clearly and accurately complex procedures and eligibility rules to Chapman community.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to meet with campus constituents as well as meet the reporting request needs of these constituents.
• Strong organizational skills to prioritize projects and deadlines.
• Strong analytical skills to research information and resolve complex problems, as well as assess processes and provide recommendation for improvement.
• Computer skills in the use of Microsoft Office Suite applications.
• Ability to demonstrate tact and diplomacy and maintain a high level of confidentiality and strict adherence to FERPA as well as the ability to determine if requests from internal constituents are consistent with FERPA.
• Demonstrated ability to make appropriate decisions and sound judgments on routine to critical matters.
• Ability to understand and apply relevant regulations, policies and procedures in a responsible manner and to work with the Compliance Specialist to ensure compliance with federal and state regulations.
• Bookkeeping skills to be able to reconcile grant and scholarships programs as well as loan programs and conduct quality control of data.
• Ability to work independently and be a team player when needed.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a grants and loans expert for the Financial Aid Office tracking and processing annual and endowed scholarships.
• Coordinate with Financial Services, University Advancement, and Financial Aid colleagues to award annual and endowed scholarships.
• Review eligibility and awarding criteria for all annual and endowed scholarships.
• Update student financial aid offers with appropriate awards.
• Provide reports and information to University Advancement regarding students awarded.
• Establish financial aid item types consistent with new annual and endowed scholarships.
• Central point of contact for University Advancement for annual and endowed scholarships.
• Monitor the awarding and bills of students awarded in one of the university’s special grant programs.
• Maintain awarding protocols for all special programs and work with Financial Aid Counselors to determine best practices for awarding.
• Maintain documentation of MOUs and other relevant documents for special programs.
• Central point of contact for Office of Admission and others for special programs.
• Work with Financial Aid Counselors to determine best practices for awarding and reporting for federal/state programs.
• Coordinate SEOG awarding process.
• Serve as a loan expert in the Financial Aid Office tracking and processing all loans and loan-related issues.
• Coordinate on-campus entrance counseling while implementing and maintaining a campus-wide financial literacy program.
• Process and monitor all student, parent and private loans in accordance with applicable federal, state laws and regulations, institutional policies.
• Determine student eligibility for loans and quality control award loans to ensure compliance with applicable federal and state regulations.
• With management team, establish yearly disbursement dates based on academic calendar.
• Complete reconciliation for all loan programs.
• Assist in researching and resolving highly complex problems and maintaining statistics related to loans, student indebtedness, default and default prevention.
• Evaluate internal practices, procedures and policies and recommend changes or enhancements.

Skills

Communication

Interpersonal skills

Analytical skills

Organizational skills

Decision making

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education/experience

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Chapman University seeks a knowledgeable Grants & Loans Specialist to manage annual and endowed scholarships, special programs, and federal/state loan processing within the Financial Aid Office. You will monitor programs, provide reporting, and ensure compliance with FERPA and related regulations.

Requires a bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) and at least two years of campus financial aid experience, with strong analytical, communication, and collaboration skills across university partners.