University of St Thomas is seeking an Associate Director of Financial Aid to join our Enrollment Services team at the Saint Paul location. We are committed to building a skilled team that represents a variety of backgrounds and perspectives. This commitment is consistent with our mission: Inspired by Catholic intellectual tradition, the University of St. Thomas educates students to be morally responsible leaders who think critically, act wisely, and work skillfully to advance the common good. A successful candidate will possess a commitment to the ideals of this mission.
JOB SUMMARY
Associate Director of Financial Aid –Student Experience, Recruitment and Retention. This Associate helps to create a team of well-trained, professional staff that deliver an excellent student experience for all prospective new FTFY domestic students, prospective and currently enrolled DFC students, DFC transfer students and all continuing students.
The Associate engages in hiring, training, and mentoring staff to ensure compliant, accurate and timely delivery of financial aid to students in a manner consistent with professional standards, Strategic Enrollment Management (SEM) values and a culture of care. Ensures that staff can handle difficult conversations while being truthful, transparent, and delivering bad news when required. Directly supervises Assistant Directors/Counselors who each manage financial aid programs (examples include: Veteran’s and Military Benefits/Aid, MN State grant/Dream Act, Outreach and communications (including webinars and on- campus Admission events), Federal Verification, Federal Conflicting Data Resolution (CDRs), Federal Return to Title IV Aid, Federal and State Work Study, Federal Pell Grant Reconciliation and Reporting, endowed and restricted scholarships, MN Child Care Grant, DI Athletic Aid, Tuition Remission (TE/CCCTE, ACTC), Dougherty Family College (DFC) Aid, DFC Transitions Fund Management, etc.).
The Associate acts as part of the Financial Aid and SEM leadership teams to ensure progress is made toward recruitment and retention goals. They are involved in developing new initiatives and strategies (in collaboration with SEM leadership) to encourage enrollment, persistence/retention, and graduation.
Takes a lead role in managing the federal Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) program and mentors the staff directly involved in SAP each term including policy creation and implementation in collaboration with Financial Aid Compliance, Academic Affairs and Academic Advising. Interacts with students not meeting SAP each semester and creates an individual plan to help students return to compliance. Oversees direct communication to students in a SAP warning or suspension status.
Actively engages as part of the Financial Aid leadership team to facilitate operations management and the annual plan for financial aid application processing (FAFSA or MN Dream Act Application), and financial aid delivery systems implementation (Banner, Salesforce, Optix, Cognos, etc.). This Associate is an important voice in the operations plan especially as it pertains to staff involvement, territory management, caseloads, and managing the delivery of aid to students.
This Associate also ensures compliance with federal and state regulations and institutional policies. The position is responsible for working with technical staff in Institutional Data, Analytics and Reporting (IDAR) and Student Data and Registrar’s Office (SDAR) and the SEM Technical and Analytics team to develop, implement, and manage systems that lead to the production of aid awards, integration between various technical systems that support the awarding of aid for students in UST’s Baccalaureate and Associate of Arts programs. This Associate supports and helps to direct best practices for compliant, accurate and timely delivery and management of financial aid as guided by the US DOE, National Association of Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA), and the MN Association of Financial Aid Administrators (MAFAA). This Associate takes an active role in collaborating with other offices on campus to provide information about financial aid regulations, policies and procedures and institutional policies.
QUALIFICATIONS
Minimum Qualifications
- Five to eight years progressive experience within a Financial Aid office
- Bachelor's degree in a relevant field
- Financial aid program management experience
- Extensive experience with a wide variety of computer systems and applications
- Demonstrated knowledge of federal and state financial aid regulations, best practices in compliance, reporting requirements and aid administration
Preferred Qualifications
- Supervisory and/or leadership experience
- Experience with Banner, Salesforce, FSA Partner Connect, FSA SAIG Mailbox, COD, NSLDS
- Experience with federal and Minnesota state financial aid programs
- Experience with scholarship management and strategic recruitment and retention best practices
- Experience working with diverse student/parent/guardian populations
- Experience hiring, training, coaching and supervising staff
For full job description and online application, click here.
