Student Aid & Scholarships Program Specialist - Loans

This position is opened until filled with a priority review date of March 1.
The Student Aid & Scholarships Program Specialist determines eligibility and the processes of student aid programs in accordance with federal, state, and agency regulations and policies, and procedures. The person in this position will analyze the accuracy of data provided by students and will oversee the processing of Direct Student Loans and Alternative student loan funds, including periodic system setup, maintenance and scheduling, reconciliation, and overseeing all student eligibility.  This position will work closely with Dept of Ed systems, 3rd party lenders, and the Budget and Finance office to reconcile discrepancies between financial aid and the CTC link System.   This position’s responsibilities require excellent customer service in-person, phone, and by email to both internal and external customers.  This position fulfills the College’s mission by providing access to educating tomorrow’s workforce.
Clover Park Technical College celebrates the many individuals that make up our community and embraces the opportunity to learn from both our differences and similarities.  CPTC values equity and respect. We seek to create an environment of innovation and excellence and focuses on student success, lifelong learning, and social responsibility.  
    
The Financial Aid Program Specialist is an overtime-eligible position.

This position has been designated as a bargaining unit position represented by Clover Park Federation of Classified Employees Local 4789.

Duty: Loan Processing

• Request and load master promissory notes and entrance counseling results into CTC link. 
• Post loan application information into Dept of Ed systems and CTC link. 
• Create loan records of awarded loans to send to the Department of Education. 
• Perform reconciliation of funds and collaborate with others (cashiers, finance, enrollment) to resolve data discrepancies. 
• Verify students meet graduation requirements by completing exit counseling and notifying students of their requirement to complete exit counseling.
• Process alternative loan applications and collaborate with Finance for disbursement process

• Evaluate financial aid applications, reviewing available options when determining eligibility, including the use of professional judgement decisions as they relate to special circumstances presented by applicants, using existing knowledge of federal, state, and institutional regulations. 
• Verify student applications and assist with fund calculations, awarding, and packaging on computerized financial aid management systems. 
• Interpret and apply regulations, policies and procedures and use financial aid computer applications. 
• Meet with students to discuss all available financial aid funding options. 
• Contact students as needed for documentation

• Review, determine, and data enter SAP statuses on the student aid management system. 
• Cancel or adjust aid as necessary on all appropriate systems.

• Maintain knowledge of and adhere to Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) rules/regulations with regard to student information while providing information to students, parents, faculty/staff, external agencies, and others when working at the front counter, workshops (on and off campus), appointments, emails, and phone calls. 
• Provide excellent customer service to students, faculty, staff, and visitors in a professional and courteous manner. 
• Respond to telephone and email inquiries in a timely manner. 
• Participate in trainings and other professional development opportunities as directed by supervisor, Associate Dean, Dean, or Vice President of Student Success. 
• Provide evening hours coverage as necessary. 
• Lead and assist with training of other student aid & scholarships employees.

• High School Diploma or GED. 
• Minimum of two years' experience in student financial aid OR equivalent part-time experience in a higher education setting OR similar/relevant experience with a demonstrated ability to work in accordance with policies, procedures, and federal state regulations.
• Minimum of two years working with/or evidence of potential ability to work with computer software programs. 
• Cannot be in loan default or in overpayment status of any type of financial aid. (Upon hire, employee will be required to apply and gain approval access to the National Student Loan Database System for the Department of Education). 
• Ability to work well with others in a team environment.

• Associate’s degree in any field of study. 
• Experience in analyzing and controlling budgets or experience administering one or more federal/state student aid programs. 
• Experience with Oracle or the Washington Community and Technical College CTC link (Peoplesoft) system.
• Professional experience in effective communication in English, both verbally and in writing, using proper grammar composing, proofreading, and finalizing grammatically correct documents and business communications for submission to required agencies.
• Experience in time management, completion of critical assignments, and prioritization.

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  Complete application
  
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  Upload resume
  
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  Upload cover letter describing your skills and experience and how they relate to the minimum and preferred qualifications
  
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  Complete Supplemental Questions