Financial Aid Counselor

Job Description:

Fairfield University is a co-educational, comprehensive Jesuit university with a 200-acre campus located along the scenic shoreline community of Fairfield, CT. The University is comprised of approximately 3,500 undergraduate and 1,200 graduate students pursuing degrees within 5 schools:
The College of Arts and Sciences, The Charles

F. Dolan School of Business, The School of Engineering, The Marion Peckham Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies, and School of Education and Human Development. As an expression of our Jesuit, Catholic mission and identity, Fairfield embraces a liberal humanistic approach to education, encouraging critical thinking, cultivating free and open inquiry, and fostering ethical and religious values.

Enrollment Management

Office of Financial Aid

Executive Director of Financial Aid

Advises and counsels students, parents andother interested parties regarding financial aid programs;
Verifiesstudent files in accordance with federal and institutional requirements;
Processes financial aid appeals;
Manages a project orset of projects directly related to the management of financial aid programs and collaboration with other offices on campus;
Conductson and off campus financial aid and financial literacypresentations;
Participates in the growth and development of the department;
Promotes safe and secure working conditions. Nights and weekends may be required during peak enrollment season and tosupport events being hosted by campus partners.

Exposure to highly confidential information

Bachelor’s degree required

The Financial Aid Counselor will provide financial aid advising, participation in an extensive outreachprogram, financial aid data review, verification, awarding and adjusting awards of student financial aid files, and responsible for a specific student financial aid program/office function.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to the following: financial aid advising, participating inan extensive outreach program, and financial aid data review.

Daily duties involve the following:

• Providing outstanding customer service while demonstratingpatience and understanding to students and families who are seekingand/or receiving financial aid;
• Advising students about financial aid eligibility, applicationprocedures, available financial aid programs, educational costs,and financial management strategies, including debt management and financial planning;
• Counseling students and parents regarding financing aneducation at the university (heavy contact with students and families via e-mail, phone and in-person);
• Managing a student caseload and reviewing student applications for accuracy to determine financial need and award aid in accordance with applicable federal, state, and institutional policies and regulations;
• Calculating student award packages utilizing various software programs and federal, state and university resources, includinggift aid and self-help; maintaining compliance with federal andstate regulations and the internal policies and procedures of the university, and monitoring and verifying information with required documents;
• Processing applications and corrections, need analysis,document tracking and evaluation of those documents; verifying accuracy of documents and consistency of financial aid data,federal tax transcripts, financial aid verification documents and student information, and generating award notifications or denyingaid if ineligible; and
• Must be able to work occasional nights and weekends, and mustbe available for presentations and outreach events with littlenotice.

Duties may be changed and/or be added at any time.

Enrollment Management - Admin

Performs such other duties, responsibilities, and activities as required by supervisor and as departmental/University needs indicate.

* Disclaimer

The above information indicates the general nature and level ofwork performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain and should not be interpreted as acomprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities,activities, and/or qualifications required or expected of employees assigned to this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities maychange and new ones may be assigned at any time, with or withoutnotice.

All offers of employment are contingent upon a satisfactory background check.

Fairfield University provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race,color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status,genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected byfederal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement,promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves ofabsence,…