Student Financial Aid Coordinator

Department

Compensation

General Description / Primary Purpose:

The Student Financial Aid Coordinator, under the direction of an Assistant Director or above, assists in the design, development and implementation of departmental processes and/or programs. Recommends policies and procedures to ensure effective coordination of departmental programs.

Job Function:

Responsible for auditing, evaluating and monitoring students' financial aid records to determine eligibility and compliance in awarding financial aid programs. Performs federal/state mandated audit of parent/student personal financial data. Evaluates students' financial aid files against supporting documents, i.e. parents and student taxable income from federal tax forms, un-taxable income, family household size, number in college, and assets of the family. Determines eligibility for awarding financial aid programs (Federal, State, and Institutional) and takes care of over-awards. Assists with the loan programs for awarding and disbursing of funds. Assists with refunds and repayment calculation and process for all Title IV programs.

Provides supervisory support to the Director of Student Financial Aid in managing the Financial Aid work flow and processing of Dependency Overrides, Professional Judgments, and Satisfactory Academic Progress appeals for students as well as Financial Aid functions related to Compliance and Testing. Processes in-hours corrections for the Federal Student Aid Report (includes monitoring problems with the correction process and communicating them to the supervisor.) Assists in training coworkers in various financial aid processes.

This position works independently on several matters of significance. It single-handedly is working with all our students and families who submit Federal Professional Judgment Appeals. As first contact, this position makes the initial determination as to whether the student is eligible to submit an appeal. This position determines the type of documentation required for a strong appeal packet. Documentation submitted must meet certain thresholds to keep the University in compliance with federal regulations. If this is not done correctly, the University would be in danger of disbursing federal funding to ineligible students resulting in audit findings, fines, restrictive processes and at worst, the loss of participation in federal financial aid programs. In addition, when working yield events for incoming freshmen, this position meets with students and families and will assess, on a case-by-case basis, how best to help meet educational expenses. It works with all types of aid to offer additional funding to create the most comprehensive financial aid package, including grants, scholarships, waivers, loans and work study. This funding often tips the balance towards student matriculation.

Additionally, this position hosts several off campus events at Duval County Public high schools as well as high schools in surrounding counties. It must demonstrate a high level of professionalism in order to maintain university reputation with community stakeholders. Performs presentations and outreach such as high school visits, Open Houses, BEACON events, College Goal Sunday, Financial Aid Nights, etc.

In managing the University's default rate, this position reviews the ever-changing landscape of student loans. On a monthly basis, It is updating our defaulter profile, providing key information to leadership so that the University is aware of trends and can proactively affect this measurement. Schools with high default rates are in danger of restrictive processes and at worst, the loss of participation in federal financial aid programs.

Marginal Functions:

N/A

Departmental Requirements:

Must possess excellent communication skills, both written and verbal; must be well organized; must have strong computer skills; must have strong interpersonal skills.

Supervision Exercised:

This position is non-supervisory.

Supervision Received:

Position is supervised by and reports to the Associate Director of Student Financial Aid. General supervision. The incumbent develops procedures for performing a variety of complex duties within established guidelines; has considerable freedom while the work is in process and receives instructions on new assignments.

Level of Public Contact:

The incumbent will have frequent contact with members of the university community regarding student Financial Aid issues, particularly other Enrollment Services offices (One Stop, Admissions, etc.) In addition, there will be frequent contact with staff from the Florida Department of Education. This position will also have occasional contact with staff from lending institutions, guarantors and loan servicers. However, if this position were to demonstrate any lapse of professionalism it could result in a great loss in future recruitment opportunities and yield of students in Duval and surrounding counties.

Monetary Responsibility:

Position monitors student financial aid awards to insure accuracy of disbursement. Errors could result in liability for reimbursement to federal, state, or private agencies and possible audit findings.

Policy-making and/or Interpretation:

Responsible for interpreting rules and regulations governing all state and federal financial aid programs as established by audit reports, regulatory changes in the Title IV programs and Federal Registers. This position must use Financial Aid Administrator level professional judgment. These are unique situations for each student who requests a Federal Professional Judgement Appeal. We are required by US DOE to handle each situation on its own merit. This position has broad guidelines (which funds are need based vs. merit based and the total cannot exceed Cost of Attendance). However, it must use its judgment to determine the appropriate type fund and amount (not standardized) that will yield (or retain) the student without overpaying for that student. The result of over awarding any given student is the loss of available funding to assist in yielding/retaining other students.

Program Direction and Development:

Will assist the Director of Student Financial Aid with developing and directing the financial aid processes and work flow pertaining to the student loan programs.

Statement of Responsibility for Confidential Data:

This position carries a high degree of responsibility for financial aid records of students and parents. The position also has daily access to confidential student records of both a personal and academic nature.

Statement(s) of Understanding

This position requires a background check. In conjunction with the University's policy, this position may also require a credit check.

The holder of this position is designated as a “Responsible Employee” pursuant to their role under Title IX. Therefore, the incumbent must promptly report allegations of sexual misconduct, sexual violence, and child sexual abuse by or against any student, employee, contractor, or visitor to the University’s Title IX Administrator or any divisional Title IX Coordinator

Equal Opportunity

In 2020, the University of North Florida ( UNF ) received the prestigious INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine Higher Education Excellence in Diversity ( HEED ) Award, the only application-based national award for U.S. colleges and universities that exhibit an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion across their campuses. In addition, UNF ranked highest among the HEED institutions and was recognized as a 2020 Diversity Champion.

The University of North Florida ( UNF ) is committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all who interact in our community. In building this environment, we strive to attract students, faculty and staff from a variety of cultures, backgrounds and life experiences. The University of North Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not commit or permit discrimination or harassment on the basis of genetic information, race, color, religion, age, sex, disability, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, or veteran status in any educational, employment, social, recreational program or activity that it offers. In addition, UNF will not commit or permit retaliation against an individual who reports discrimination or harassment or an individual who cooperates in an investigation of an alleged violation of university regulation.

Carnegie

UNF is a Carnegie Community Engaged Institution. This designation celebrates the University’s collaboration with community partners from the local to the global level. It reflects UNF’s mission to contribute to the public good and prepare educated, engaged citizens.