Federal Aid Counselor - Utah State University

Overview:

Team Responsibility

Within Student Financial Support, we have established different teams to fulfill our mission. These teams include Federal Aid, Scholarships, Student Money Management Center and Leadership. These teams work closely with each other to collaborate, reduce barriers, and enhance resources.

The Scholarship Team works closely to support each other, and the other teams within the office. This team supports university programs that are large in size, scope, and complexities which are embedded within enrollment management strategies at USU. Regardless of position, all team members have the following responsibilities:

• Compliance: Administering federal, state, and institutional aid requires team, office, and institutional compliance to different laws, statutes, regulations and policies. All team members have a responsibility to focus on compliance.
• Data Privacy: Student Financial Support has access to sensitive data, and this data is protected through different federal laws and institutional policies. All team members have a responsibility to protect data.
• Integrity: Being honest and having strong ethical principles is vital. Embracing unity and collaboration is at the core of our culture, fostering a strong work ethic that values the diverse strengths and perspectives each team member brings.
• Collaboration: Creating a culture of open communication, respect, and purpose is essential. All team members have a responsibility to contribute to a positive, collaborative team. This includes continuous training, deductive reasoning and problem solving, customer service, willingness to learn and acquire new skills, and commitment to deadlines.

Responsibilities:

The Federal Aid Counselor (Financial Aid Counselor I) reports to the Assistant Director of Counseling in Student Financial Support. This position is responsible for providing student advocacy and outstanding service, advising students and parents regarding the financial aid processes and provide information on available programs, procedures, and eligibility, and evaluating students’ financial aid requests and making award adjustments and recalculations on complex financial aid issues.  All team members strive to possess the following characteristics:

• Friendly disposition and enjoys working with students.
• Detail oriented, accurate, and self-motivated.
• Organized and able to work in a fast-paced office as a community-minded team member.

Specific Duties & Responsibilities

The Federal Aid Counselor will be part of the Counseling Team and will work collaboratively with all office staff, including campus partners across the USU system. Duties and responsibilities of this position may include:

• Provide one-on-one counseling regarding federal aid information or processes via in-person, phone or Zoom appointments with students.
• Maintain a portion of financial aid counselor duties, including daily reports.
• Serve as a member of the appeals committee, reviewing and adjudicating appeals for academic progress and professional judgment decisions.
• Participate in all meetings and committees as assigned, and in the active development and implementation of departmental procedures.
• Assist with outreach/recruiting efforts as required, including preparing and presenting information related to Student Financial Support teams.
• Maintain a detailed understanding of federal, state, and institutional financial aid regulations.

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications:

• Four years of experience; or an associate degree plus two years of experience; or a bachelor’s degree is required
• Knowledge, skillset, or potential related to the specific duties & responsibilities of the position.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in Higher Education
• Utah State University Experience
• Master’s Degree
• 2+ years of experience at an institution of higher education of similar scope and size as Utah State University.
• Experience with state financial aid compliance audits, budget management, or financial aid reporting.
• Previous supervisor/managerial leadership experience.
• Familiarity with any of the following systems: Office 365, Banner, CampusLogic (StudentForms, CampusCommunicator, ScholarshipUniverse) and/or ServiceNow
• Familiarity with USU policies and procedures.
• Familiarity with Federal and/or State aid regulations.

Required Documents:

Along with the online application, please attach:

1. Resume/CV to be uploaded at the beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile under “Resume/CV"
2. Cover letter to be typed/pasted at the end of your application

**Document size may not exceed 10 MB.**

Advertised Salary:Minimum $37,500; Commensurate with experience, plus excellent benefitsADA:

Employees work indoors and are protected from weather and/or contaminants, but not, necessarily, occasional temperature changes. The employee is regularly required to sit and often uses repetitive hand motions.

College/Department Highlights:

Division Information

The Division of Strategic Enrollment Management at Utah State University is dedicated to overseeing and implementing effective enrollment strategies that help students seamlessly apply and enroll. With a focus on student success and exceptional customer service, the division promotes innovative and data-informed approaches to support student needs. It offers various admissions pathways tailored to different learners, while administering all levels of financial aid to address affordability. By fostering collaboration and staying ahead of trends, the division aims to enhance the overall student experience, guiding individuals from application to graduation.

 

Department Information

Student Financial Support provides resources to help students pay for school. These resources include Federal Financial Aid, State of Utah Aid, and Institutional Aid. Additionally, The Student Money Management Center provides free, one-on-one coaching sessions to help students create budgets and to discover how they can pay for college.

The heart of our work is to serve students. Recognizing finances is a concern for many students, Student Financial Support diligently strives to provide all sources of funding and coaching that may help a student achieve their educational goals. Because Student Financial Support administers federal, state, and institutional aid, we focus on discretion, accountability, and compliance. Within this framework, we will do everything we can to help students.

University Highlights:

Founded in 1888, Utah State University is Utah’s premier land-grant, public service university, with a strong commitment to excellence, access, and inclusion, empowering people to lead successful lives of involvement, innovation, and impact. Utah State provides high-quality education to 27,500-plus students locations throughout the state, including at three residential campuses, eight statewide campuses, and 23 education centers. USU Online educates students from all 50 states and 55 countries. For over 25 years, USU Extension has served and engaged Utahns in all of Utah’s counties. As an R1 research institution, Utah State is dedicated to advancing knowledge through research and scholarly activities, providing a high-quality undergraduate and graduate education at an affordable price.

 

Utah State is committed to cultivating a community of inclusive excellence where all perspectives, values, cultures, and identities are acknowledged, welcomed, and valued. We seek to recruit, hire, and retain people from all walks of life who will champion excellence in education, research, discovery, outreach, and service. We believe that promoting a strong sense of community and belonging empowers and engages all members of USU to thrive and be successful. Forbes recognized our commitment to employees when they named Utah State the best employer in Utah in 2023. Learn more about USU. 

 

The university provides a Dual Career Assistance Program to support careers for partners who are also seeking employment. Additionally, USU is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities. To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability, contact the university’s ADA Coordinator in the Office of Human Resources at (435) 797-0122 or hr@usu.edu. 

 

About the Region

U.S. News and World Report ranked Utah first for its strong economy, fiscal stability, education, and health care. Outstanding outdoor recreational opportunities abound throughout the state, including five national parks, 43 state parks and recreation areas, and 15 alpine ski resorts. The home of USU’s main campus, Logan, is a city of 54,000-plus people in a picturesque mountain valley 80 miles north of Salt Lake City. The Logan metro area claimed the top spot in the Milken Institute’s 2022 ranking for best-performing small cities in the nation. 

 

*updated 04/2024

Notice of Non-discrimination:

In its programs and activities, including in admissions and employment, Utah State University does not discriminate or tolerate discrimination, including harassment, based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by University policy, Title IX, or any other federal, state, or local law.

The following individuals have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the application of Title IX and its implementing regulations and/or USU’s non-discrimination policies:

 

Executive Director of the Office of Equity Matthew Pinner, discrimination@usu.edu, Distance Education Rm. 401, 435-797-1266

Title IX Coordinator Cody Carmichael, titleix@usu.edu, Distance Education Rm. 404, 435-797-1266

Mailing address: 5100 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322

For further information regarding non-discrimination, please visit https://equity.usu.edu/, or contact:

U.S. Department of Education, Office of Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 800-421-3481, OCR@ed.gov

*updated 09/2023