Counselor, Athletic Financial Aid Compliance

Overview

Manages all aspects of financial aid for student-athletes, including evaluating applications, determining eligibility for aid, and awarding scholarships within NCAA and institutional guidelines. Coordinates scholarship agreements and renewal processes and maintains accurate financial records. Serves as a key liaison between athletics, compliance, financial aid offices, and student-athletes, providing counseling, walk-in hours, workshops, and support for urgent financial aid situations. Oversees scholarship projections, reporting, and strategic planning to support roster management and recruiting goals.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities: Counsels student-athletes and parents concerning financial aid, athletic scholarships, financial aid planning, debt management, federal methodology, student problem resolution and federal Title IV refund policy and subsequent financial consequences of doing complete withdrawal from classes.

Serves as a primary liaison between the financial aid office, athletics department, and student-athletes. Assists supervisors, colleagues, and Penguin Service Center staff when required.

Assists student-athletes and/or parents in completing federal financial aid application (FAFSA), completing verification, and adjusting income or other pertinent data on the FAFSA. Manages Pell Grant coordination with athletic aid to maximize student-athlete benefits.

Maintains accurate records of athletic financial aid awards and adjustments. Calculates and awards athletic scholarships within NCAA and Institutional equivalency limits and roster limit restrictions. Processes mid-year financial aid adjustments due to eligibility changes, transfers, or medical hardships. Coordinates single-year and/or multi-year scholarship agreements and renewal processes. Coordinates with admissions office on prospective student-athlete financial aid projections.

Collaborates with outside entities and university constituents on billing, payments, refunds, payment plans, and account reconciliation.

Collaborates with compliance staff to certify aid packages and monitor equivalency limits for sports with scholarship caps and to ensure all financial aid practices comply with NCAA Division I rules, especially Bylaw 15 (Financial Aid).

Stays current on NCAA legislation and institutional policies affecting financial aid and participates in audits and institutional reviews related to athletics aid. Assists in the development and implementation of financial aid policies specific to athletics. Provides training to athletics department staff on financial aid policies and procedures. Assists in development of office policy and procedure analysis as needed. Assists in developing office guidelines for professional judgment, satisfactory academic progress, and loans, if needed.

Analyzes cost-effectiveness of financial aid strategies and recommend improvements.

Generates detailed financial aid utilization reports for sport-by-sport budget analysis and assist in annual budget planning and allocation of scholarship resources.

Utilizes NCAA compliance software for reporting and monitoring purposes.

Evaluates and processes student requests for professional judgment according to established criteria; ensures appropriate documentation is obtained to support professional judgment decisions for audit and regulatory purposes.

Provides financial aid information to students regarding all aspects of financial aid, including Pell Grants, Federal Direct Loans, and special programs; provides estimate of financial aid eligibility when outstanding balances are owed, in writing, to Office of University Bursar and to students in order to permit registration of classes; analyzes students' financial needs to determine eligibility for financial aid.

Conducts outreach activities including off-campus presentations such as high school financial aid nights as well as University programs; represents office as required.

Conducts mandated verifications of Institutional Student Information Records in accordance with US Department of Education guidelines, State guidelines, and University policy. Assesses adequacy of documentation provided by students and resolves conflicting information. Tracks files and follows-up with additional requests or phone calls when necessary.

Other Functions and Responsibilities: Hosts regular student-athlete walk-in hours.

Assists with training new hires.

Performs other duties as assigned and/or required that are within the level of responsibility for this classification at the discretion of the supervisor.

Equipment Operated: Computer and all other standard office equipment.

Work Schedule: Typically, Monday through Friday.

Supervision Exercised: May exercise supervision over student employees.

Reports to: Manager, Scholarships and Special Programs

Required Certifications, Training, and/or Licensures: None

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge of:
University policies and procedures; office practices…