Director of Student Financial Aid Services

Education required to ensure success in this position:
Bachelors Required
Masters Preferred

Experience required to ensure success in this position:
7-10 years directly related Financial Aid or Admission experience with some in a leadership position.

Special skills, knowledge and abilities:
Strong interpersonal, customer-service, supervisory, and oral and written communication skills;
Capacity to explain complex financial aid policies and packages in words that are understood by the average first-generation student and their families;
Working knowledge of government aid sources, regulations and relevant financial aid law;
Thorough understanding of computerized financial aid technology,
Experience with Banner software desirable.

License, certification, or registration necessary:
Valid Driver’s License
Required background checks

Physical requirements:
Ability to navigate campus/public buildings and grounds
Ability to travel by car and/or plane
Ability to occasionally lift up to 20 lbs.

Environmental conditions:
Professional office environment with interruptions and noise due to frequent visitors, students, staff and faculty
Occasional travel required for meetings, conferences, etc.

Ability to operate the following vehicles or equipment:
Standard office equipment: computer, fax, phone, etc.
Vehicle – college vans/cars

Brief summary of this position:

The Director of Student Financial Aid Services has primary responsibility for the planning, design, and administration of Berea College’s financial aid program.

Primary duties and responsibilities:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Regular and predictable attendance is essential. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

-Establish and maintain Berea College’s financial aid policies, procedures, forms, records, and reports with due consideration for

-College policies, fiscal requirements, federal and state laws, and aid fund restrictions and objectives.

-Ensure training of student financial aid services staff on federal, state, and institutional financial aid polices.

-Coordinate with Admissions

-Assess and explore program improvements as necessary for effective and efficient student counseling regarding financial matters

-Develop institutional financial aid policies to ensure fiscal responsibility to the College and support to the student by preserving and extending Berea’s financial aid reserve through the acquisition of direct aid at the institutional, state and federal levels.

-Review individual student financial aid records and establish appropriate reviews, appeals and audits of packaging and awards.

-Maintain coordination and collaboration along with the associate director with other campus offices and departments in matters related to financial aid, including Academic Services, Student Accounts, Admissions, Labor, College Relations, with special attention given to the maximization of institutional aid through work with scholarships, prizes and awards on campus

-Work closely with the Admissions Office and the Enrollment Services Leadership Team for financial aid outreach programs targeted at various communities where prospective Berea students reside.

-Provide oversight for the development and delivery of programs and information on financial aid to insure effective communication of relevant policies and procedures.

-Overseeing financial aid policies and procedures and providing excellent financial aid counseling to prospective and entering students and their advocates regarding educational expenses, resources, and College financial aid and related policies. Helping students and their advocates understand and appreciate the many regulations that are imposed from federal, state and Berea College in awarding aid that helps provide the Tuition Promise to all students.

-Oversee Student Financial Aid Services’ website layout, functionality, and information.

-Represent Berea College at various state, regional and national organizations to best ensure ongoing compliance with financial aid regulations and to optimize the revenue generated through financial aid resources on behalf of students at Berea College.

-Be an active member of the overall college community, serving as the liaison between Student Financial Aid Services and college faculty and staff.

-Administering the College Tuition Exchange Programs for college employees, working with faculty and staff to assist them and their students in applying for and receiving tuition exchange scholarships. Advising the President and Dean of the College of any recommendations for changes as needed in the program.

-In support of Berea College’s great commitments this position requires student supervision.  The fourth great commitment is to promote learning and serving in community through the student labor program, honoring the dignity and utility of all work, mental and manual, and taking pride in work well done.The Supervision would include scheduling, assigning and approving work performed.  Developing students about common workplace acumen and giving them tangible work experience is an expected outcome. To learn more about the student labor program and requirements on this position see:  Labor Program Goals

Other roles/duties will be assigned as necessary to assist the College in the attainment of the goals set forth and the enhancement of a positive, respectful learning environment for all staff, faculty and students.