Financial Aid Counselor

UMA transforms the lives of students of every age and background across the State of Maine and beyond through access to high-quality distance and on-site education, excellence in student support, civic engagement, and professional and liberal arts programs.  

UMA is the third largest public university in Maine.  In addition to its main campus in the state’s capital, UMA also serves students at its campus in Bangor (UMA Bangor) and through UMA Centers around the state. With its multiple locations and long-term expertise in online and distance learning, UMA is generally considered the university of choice for Mainers of all ages who want to attend college without uprooting their lives. 

The University of Maine at Augusta is seeking applicants for a full-time Financial Aid Counselor position in the Student Financial Services Office. The primary responsibilities of this position are to provide financial aid counseling to potential and current students and to ensure that financial aid applicant files are processed timely and accurately.

Responsibilities Include:

• Counseling students and parents on financial aid matters such as the application process, availability of funds, and alternative resources.
• Performing the verification process on federally selected financial aid applicants.
• Monitoring awarding and eligibility of Presidential and General UMA scholarship recipients.
• Monitoring students continued eligibility for financial aid per Satisfactory Academic Progress policy. Responsible for student notification, counseling, and appeal processing.
• Providing students with details of all refund policies applicable to UMA as well as information on Title IV program requirements for the treatment of Title IV funds when a student withdraws. Monitoring student enrollment and responsible for notification to student, completing a leave of absence checklist (if applicable), and completing the R2T4 calculation.
• Participating in outreach services, admission recruiting functions, and financial aid presentations.
• Assisting with various daily or cyclical reports required in the routine processing and cleanup of student files.

A full position description can be found online here.

Work Schedule:  Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM, evenings and weekends as necessary.

Salary:  The typical starting salary for this position is in the mid-to-high 30s, commensurate with qualifications and experience. The University offers an excellent fringe-benefits plan. To learn more about the University's comprehensive fringe-benefits package, please see the video posted here.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience
• Excellent oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills
• Ability to work independently and as a member of a team
• Computer skills

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with student financial aid
• Familiarity with the University of Maine at Augusta and/or the University of Maine System

Applicants must complete an online application and submit a cover letter and resume at https://uma.hiretouch.com/. Materials must be submitted via "Apply for Position." You will need to create an applicant profile, complete an application, upload a cover letter which fully describes your qualifications and experiences with specific reference to the required and preferred qualifications, a resume/curriculum vitae and contact information for three professional references. You will also need to complete the affirmative action survey, the self-identification of disability form, and the self-identification of veteran status form.  

Review of applications will begin on August 16. Materials received after August 15, 2021 will be considered at the discretion of the university. We are not able to consider applicants who require Visa sponsorship support.  

The successful applicant is subject to appropriate background screening.

The University of Maine at Augusta is an EEO/AA employer, and does not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, transgender status, gender expression, national origin, citizenship status, age, disability, genetic information or veteran’s status in employment, education, and all other programs and activities. The following office has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies:  Director of Equal Opportunity, 101 North Stevens Hall, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469-5754 or at 207.581.1226.