Deputy Commissioner Financial Aid, College Access, and Student Success

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Job Description - Deputy Commissioner for Financial Aid, College Access, and Student Success (260006Z8)

Job Description

Deputy Commissioner for Financial Aid, College Access, and Student Success - ( 260006Z8 )

Description

The Massachusetts Public Higher Education System

The Massachusetts Public Higher Education System enrolls approximately 260,000 students in credit-bearing programs annually. The System comprises 15 community colleges, 9 state universities, and 5 University of Massachusetts campuses under the oversight of the Board of Higher Education (BHE). Together with institutional boards of trustees, the BHE upholds high standards of performance and accountability for students, faculty, and staff.

The BHE is the Commonwealth’s higher education authority with coordinating and regulatory responsibility for all public and private higher education institutions operating in the Commonwealth and authorized to grant degrees. The BHE is staffed by the Department of Higher Education (DHE), which is run by a Commissioner who serves as the executive and administrative head of the department. The BHE and DHE are the leading advocates for postsecondary education in the Commonwealth.

In addition, the BHE and DHE’s authority includes administering state financial aid and federal grant programs; managing and responding to consumer complaints; conducting financial assessments of institutions; managing employee relations and benefits for public higher education employees; managing collective bargaining contracts with state university and community college employees; and approving degree-granting authority for all public and most private higher education institutions operating within the Commonwealth.

Currently, there are 80 private institutions of higher education operating in the Commonwealth and authorized to grant degrees.

The DHE is committed to the Values of Equity, Accountability, Community, Empowerment, Intentionality, and Teamwork, and seeks applicants who value the full diversity of Massachusetts students and who share a sensitivity to and understanding of the academic, socio-economic, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds of the populations served. We employ a hybrid hoteling work model with a fixed weekly team day schedule.

The Department of Higher Education (DHE) seeks a strategic, operationally focused, equity-minded leader to serve as Deputy Commissioner of Financial Aid, College Access, and Student Success. Reporting to the Commissioner and serving on the Department’s executive leadership team, the Deputy Commissioner leads a portfolio of state policies, programs, services, and investments that help Massachusetts students access, afford, and complete high-quality postsecondary education.

The Deputy Commissioner provides executive leadership for state financial aid, college access and affordability, postsecondary transitions, and evidence-based student success and completion strategies. With primary responsibility for overseeing the Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) and the Commonwealth’s state financial aid programs, the Deputy Commissioner sets strategic and policy direction and leads an experienced team of senior leaders responsible for financial aid administration, OSFA operations, college access, GEAR UP, transformation, and student success.

The Deputy Commissioner strengthens organizational capacity to advance a learner-centered agenda focused on access and degree completion and is accountable for OSFA’s program integrity, administration, operating performance, service, modernization, risk management, and stakeholder confidence.

The Deputy Commissioner works with DHE, the Executive Office of Education, public and…