What are the responsibilities and job description for the Financial Aid Counselor position at St. Olaf College?
Job Description
Position Title: Financial Aid Counselor.
Department: Student Financial Services
Classification: Exempt.
FTE: 1.0.
Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 5:00pm; 40 hours per week.
Salary Range: $48,000 - $56,000.
Essential Job Duties
Who We Are:
Founded in 1874, St. Olaf College is a residential, coeducational liberal arts college with approximately 3,000 students and 800 faculty and staff. The college is located on a picturesque 300-acre campus in Northfield, Minnesota, a vibrant, historic river town of 20,000 located 45 minutes south of culturally rich and diverse Minneapolis and St. Paul.
The college offers an academically rigorous, nationally ranked liberal arts education that fosters the development of the whole person in mind, body, and spirit and emphasizes learning in an inclusive and globally engaged community. We encourage applications from candidates committed to multicultural understanding and the enrichment of our diverse community.
The college offers a comprehensive benefits package, including a 9% retirement match, contributions to eligible employees' health savings accounts, a significant tuition discount (up to a 90% reduction) at ACM, GLCA, and ELCA colleges and universities for employees' children, and generous paid time off. For a full review of the college's benefits, please see the summary of our benefits here: https://wp.stolaf.edu/hr/benefits/
To provide a safe and secure educational environment, St. Olaf College verifies the accuracy of all credentials presented by applicants and conducts a criminal background check on every new hire.
A summary of the Flexible Work Policy for staff: https://wp.stolaf.edu/hr/flexible-work-policy/
A link to our Community and Belonging page: https://wp.stolaf.edu/equity-inclusion/
A virtual campus tour: https://www.stolaf.edu/multimedia/play/?p=483
An overview of Northfield: https://wp.stolaf.edu/admissions/visit/northfield/
An overview of the Twin Cities: https://wp.stolaf.edu/admissions/visit/twincities/
For Staff Application Assistance
hrstaff@stolaf.edu
507-786-3068
For Faculty Application Assistance
facultysearch@stolaf.edu
507-786-3356
Nondiscrimination Policy
St. Olaf College does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, creed, national origin, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, religion, disability, marital status, veteran status, or status with regard to public assistance. St. Olaf College prohibits discrimination and harassment based upon these and any other legally protected status in any education program or activity that it operates, including in admissions and employment.
Inquiries about this nondiscrimination policy may be referred to St. Olaf College's Director of Equal Opportunity, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, or both. St. Olaf's Director of Equal Opportunity (who serves as the College's Title IX, Title VI, and Section 504 Coordinator) is Pamela McDowell, Tomson Hall, mcdowell@stolaf.edu , (507) 786-3465.
Position Title: Financial Aid Counselor.
Department: Student Financial Services
Classification: Exempt.
FTE: 1.0.
Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 5:00pm; 40 hours per week.
Salary Range: $48,000 - $56,000.
Essential Job Duties
- Counsel students and families (50%)
- Serve as the primary point of contact for students and families early in the Admissions process.
- Counsel students and families in person, in writing and over the phone about the financial aid process, award packages, billing statements, budgeting and financial impact of changing levels of enrollment.
- Be knowledgeable in services, resources and policies available across campus in order to advise and collaborate with student services areas to resolve student issues and identify systemic pressure points.
- Monitor customer service functions of the office to ensure that the high expectations of students, parents, and the College community are met.
- Financial Aid Processing (35%)
- Maintain knowledge of federal, state and institutional regulations and how they apply in the context of enrolling at St. Olaf College.
- Analyze financial aid application data from the FAFSA and CSS Profile and affiliated tax documents.
- Create and review financial aid offers from both admitted and current students.
- Modify financial aid packages to students based on changes in family circumstances.
- Communicate changes in eligibility to students and parents.
- Advocacy, Committees, Collaboration, and general office participation (15%)
- Attend departmental and division meetings; serve on various committees within St. Olaf College; participate in high school financial aid nights and partake in financial aid advocacy or professional development organizations.
- Support, respect, and commit to embracing diverse backgrounds, values, and points of view to build a strong and inclusive community.
- Serve on the St Olaf Emergency Fund Team and participate actively to help students with unexpected financial costs outside of St. Olaf College.
- Complete and meet deadlines for required training and performance management cycle.
- Perform other duties as assigned,
- Reports to the Director of Financial Aid.
- This position does not supervise staff or students.
- Education: Associate’s degree or equivalent work experience; maintain a valid driver’s license and meet St. Olaf College driver authorization criteria with a satisfactory driving record.
- Experience: Professional experience in related work in education, banking, or social services; demonstrated experience in both helping people navigate systems and processing documents.
- Education: Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience; maintain a valid driver’s license and meet St. Olaf College driver authorization criteria with a satisfactory driving record.
- Experience: Preferred level of experience or specific experience.
- 2 years of financial aid experience.
- Experience in a selective liberal arts setting.
- Experience using PowerFAIDS financial aid software and knowledge of the CSS Profile.
- Employment in this position is conditioned upon successful completion of a background check which may include: criminal background checks, reference checks, verification of work history, verification of any required academic credentials, licenses, and/or certifications, a motor vehicle check, verification of DOT certification, a credit check, employment eligibility verification, and/or a pre-employment physical. Whether a background check is deemed successfully completed will be at the sole discretion of St. Olaf College. Please note, St. Olaf College reserves the right to conduct periodic background checks at its sole discretion.
- This position may require you to report early, stay late or work different shifts depending on staffing levels. It may also require you to perform all essential job functions whenever needed and during campus emergencies when necessary.
- This job description is for general information purposes. It is not intended to list all duties and responsibilities of the position. This job description is subject to change at any time by St. Olaf College, with or without prior notice.
- Review of applications begins immediately and continues until the hire is complete. We accept only online applications.
Who We Are:
Founded in 1874, St. Olaf College is a residential, coeducational liberal arts college with approximately 3,000 students and 800 faculty and staff. The college is located on a picturesque 300-acre campus in Northfield, Minnesota, a vibrant, historic river town of 20,000 located 45 minutes south of culturally rich and diverse Minneapolis and St. Paul.
The college offers an academically rigorous, nationally ranked liberal arts education that fosters the development of the whole person in mind, body, and spirit and emphasizes learning in an inclusive and globally engaged community. We encourage applications from candidates committed to multicultural understanding and the enrichment of our diverse community.
The college offers a comprehensive benefits package, including a 9% retirement match, contributions to eligible employees' health savings accounts, a significant tuition discount (up to a 90% reduction) at ACM, GLCA, and ELCA colleges and universities for employees' children, and generous paid time off. For a full review of the college's benefits, please see the summary of our benefits here: https://wp.stolaf.edu/hr/benefits/
To provide a safe and secure educational environment, St. Olaf College verifies the accuracy of all credentials presented by applicants and conducts a criminal background check on every new hire.
A summary of the Flexible Work Policy for staff: https://wp.stolaf.edu/hr/flexible-work-policy/
A link to our Community and Belonging page: https://wp.stolaf.edu/equity-inclusion/
A virtual campus tour: https://www.stolaf.edu/multimedia/play/?p=483
An overview of Northfield: https://wp.stolaf.edu/admissions/visit/northfield/
An overview of the Twin Cities: https://wp.stolaf.edu/admissions/visit/twincities/
For Staff Application Assistance
hrstaff@stolaf.edu
507-786-3068
For Faculty Application Assistance
facultysearch@stolaf.edu
507-786-3356
Nondiscrimination Policy
St. Olaf College does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, creed, national origin, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, religion, disability, marital status, veteran status, or status with regard to public assistance. St. Olaf College prohibits discrimination and harassment based upon these and any other legally protected status in any education program or activity that it operates, including in admissions and employment.
Inquiries about this nondiscrimination policy may be referred to St. Olaf College's Director of Equal Opportunity, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, or both. St. Olaf's Director of Equal Opportunity (who serves as the College's Title IX, Title VI, and Section 504 Coordinator) is Pamela McDowell, Tomson Hall, mcdowell@stolaf.edu , (507) 786-3465.
Salary : $48,000 - $56,000
