Interim Director of Student Financial Aid

Interim Director of Student Financial Aid

Position Title:

Interim Director of Student Financial Aid

Division:
Student Success Division

Position Type:
Staff - Non Classified

Position Overview:

The Director of Student Financial Aid is a strategic, student-centered leader responsible for designing and delivering a comprehensive financial aid program that expands access and fuels student success. Overseeing all financial aid operations, the Director ensures compliance with federal, state, and institutional regulations while driving data-informed decision-making, fiscal integrity, and exceptional service.

Primary

Purpose:

The Director of Student Financial Aid is responsible for administering a complex and multifaceted financial aid program consisting of scholarships, grants, loans, emergency funds, and student employment opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students. The Director oversees all aspects of the financial aid operations, ensuring compliance with federal, state, and institutional regulations, managing data collection and dissemination for reports, surveys, and audits, and delivering high-quality responsive customer service to internal and external audiences.

The Director provides leadership for the development, review, evaluation, coordination and implementation of all policies related to student financial aid services/programs. The Director serves as the college’s primary source of expertise on financial aid regulations, policies and packaging of awards and coordinates financial aid activities with the functions, policies and procedures of other administrative offices, academic departments, committees, and off-campus constituencies, with a focus on diversity, equity and inclusion.

The Director is responsible for creating and producing statistical reports using the college’s student information system. The director leads an office staff of professionals who work to provide a high level of customer service, and works with the Enrollment Management Team and the Student Success Division to enhance enrollment, retention and success of Rhode Island College students.

• Manages coordination and delivery of all federal, state, institutional and private student aid funds and ensures compliance with regulations, serving as Compliance Officer for Title IV and state aid regulations.
• Manages the overall college financial aid budget, creates and updates packaging formulas and reports, and ensures fiscal accountability in fund management.
• Plans, develops, implements, and evaluates financial aid policies and procedures to meet student needs while supporting enrollment goals and administers awarding of new and continuing students financial aid packages.
• Coordinates financial aid file review, verification, and awarding, ensuring timely communication with students via letters, email, web, telephone calls, etc.
• Oversees verification and reconciliation of federal and state criteria and authorizations, coordinates reconciliations with accounting office(s) and external constituents, and ensures completion of required reports on schedule.
• Manages the Satisfactory Academic Progress process including policy review, updates, appeal reviews, and working with appropriate college offices to create academic plans for students.
• Liaises with Admissions, Business Office/Accounting, Registrar, Residence Life, Bursar, and other offices to ensure transactional activities are complementary and smoothly integrated.
• Provides leadership and strategic direction to staff including supervision, training, and professional development.
• Manages the Financial Aid office budget and oversees processing of purchase requisitions, encumbrances, and travel reimbursements.
• Coordinates the college scholarship process for current students and liaises with the Dean of Enrollment Management, Director of Admissions Outreach & Recruitment, Alumni Relations, and the College Foundation on scholarships.
• Manages EdConnect, Common Origination and Disbursement (COD), and related Department of Education interfaces.
• Develops and coordinates programming related to financial aid and financing options, including admissions recruitment events, new student orientation…