Financial Aid Specialist - Student Financial Services​/Student Services - Modesto Junior College

Job Description

Under general supervision, performs technical duties related to evaluation of student financial aid information; determines financial need and eligibility for various federal, state, District and other financial aid programs; researches and verifies data in manual and computerized records systems; advises and assists students regarding financial aid problems; and performs related work as assigned.

• Conducts and performs a variety of complex technical duties using independent judgement in interpreting and applying policies and procedures while maintaining compliance with federal and state financial aid requirements.
• Conducts comprehensive reviews of student financial aid files to verify completeness and accuracy of all information and documentation supporting a student’s financial aid status; identifies and assists in resolving compliance issues for required procedural or regulatory reporting, filing, and submission.
• Masters detailed technical knowledge and procedural requirements of assigned programs to serve as in‑house expert (e.g., Dream Act, Cal Grant, Chafee grants).
• Performs financial need analysis and documentation in applicant files prior to awarding student aid; re‑evaluates and adjusts awards for eligibility and enrollment changes.
• Serves as a financial aid liaison for on‑campus departments, programs, and community agencies.
• Assists in establishing financial aid parameters for the records management system; tests and implements system changes; investigates and corrects system failures.
• Performs technical administrative tasks involving research, verification, and processing of student financial aid applications and information.
• Maintains a caseload of student aid files; compiles and organizes information.
• Advise and counsel students and parents on all aspects of financial aid, including satisfactory academic progress, eligibility, appeals, rules and regulations, and processes.
• Researches, verifies, and assesses student financial histories, including records of defaulted loans and repayment obligations at other institutions.
• Determines aid eligibility for federal, state, District, and other programs based on well‑defined regulations, policies, and practices.
• Advises and assists students with special financial aid problems; determines exceptions to policy; submits recommendations for student loan exceptions.
• Performs complex arithmetic calculations to determine award eligibility and to handle special circumstances such as dependent support, military pay, tax credits, and other issues.
• Receives and processes disqualification and other appeals; notifies students of continued eligibility or disqualification; advises on appeal processes.
• Receives and researches information for students who need to make financial aid repayments due to insufficient academic progress or other issues; identifies overdue debt amounts; notifies students and sets up repayment schedules.
• Locates and abstracts data from informational sources; enters student information into computerized systems and updates hard‑copy files.
• Responds to inquiries and complaints from students, counselors, staff, faculty, and others; explains federal, state, and District regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Retrieves student financial aid records for campus offices and student requests.
• Maintains and prepares reports for grant programs.
• Researches checks that have not been claimed by students; contacts students to hold, void, or replace checks.
• Helps conduct financial aid workshops or presentations; attends conferences and training to stay current on requirements.
• Prepares correspondence, reports, and other documents regarding technical issues; may prepare brochures and informational material concerning financial aid and scholarship programs.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Knowledge of:

• Technical administrative office processes and procedures.
• Practices, methods, and procedures pertaining to academic financial aid.
• Policies, regulations, and laws applicable to financial aid operations.
• Standard office machines and equipment; use of management data systems and computers.
• Methods of…