Financial Aid Communication Officer

Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid- Enrollment Management

We are the University of St. Thomas, the Catholic University in the heart of Houston. We are committed to the Catholic intellectual tradition and the dialogue between faith and reason. By pursuing excellence in teaching, scholarship and service, we embody and instill in our students the core values of our founders, the Basilian Fathers: goodness, discipline and knowledge. We foster engagement in a diverse, collaborative community.

The University of St. Thomas is a comprehensive university, grounded in the liberal arts. Committed to the unity of all knowledge, we offer programs in the traditional liberal arts, professional, and skill-based disciplines. Graduates of the University of St. Thomas think critically, communicate effectively, and succeed professionally and lead ethically.

JOB SUMMARY: This position in the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid will manage the front desk activities and serve as a back up to front desk during peak times and/or front desk staff absences. Monitor questions and interactions to develop better communication flow to students. Review, edit, and create office forms. Develop informational materials for new and continuing students. Create communication flow for FA office to communicate with current and prospective students regarding scholarships and financial aid, including deadlines. Utilize Slate to set up emails and text campaigns to prompt students to apply and submit requested documents in timely manner.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following: (other duties may be assigned)

• Oversee front desk personnel and coordinate staffing during busy times, providing backup support when necessary.
• Review and edit office forms as needed
• Create new marketing / informational materials for students, segmenting different populations such as prospective undergraduate, returning undergraduate students, new and returning graduate students, AAS students, and ABSN populations.
• Promote online scholarship application during open application season, and for other off cycle scholarships posted
• Gain proficiency in Slate CRM to create and manage multi-channel communication workflows for students, including email campaigns, phone call tracking, and text messaging outreach. Additionally, provide training and support to department team members to ensure they are equipped to use these features effectively.
• Assist with the distribution of information on various financial aid programs available to students.

• Provide support to the other financial aid professionals and promote a cross-trained student-centered atmosphere.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Prior financial aid work experience
• Working knowledge of the financial aid application process and various federal and state financial aid programs.
• Familiarity of current issues affecting the financial aid and scholarship profession
• Demonstrated exceptional mathematical ability and public relations skills

EDUCATION: Bachelor's degree required

WORKING CONDITIONS:

1. May be required to work weekend/evening hours (during peak periods).
2. Significant amounts of personal, phone, and electronic interaction with
3. When workload demands, individuals will be expected to work the necessary hours to get the job done.
4. Physical capabilities for normal office environment
5. Limited
6. Non-smoking environment