Financial Aid Counselor

About Westfield State University:

In 1839, Westfield State University was founded on the ideals of Horace Mann who sought to improve society through education. We were the first public higher education institution in the US without barriers of race, gender or economic class. The spirit of innovative thinking and social responsibility is forged in a curriculum of liberal arts and professional studies contributing to the development of knowledge, skills, and character essential for students to become responsible leaders and engaged citizens.

Westfield State is a highly residential campus with approximately 57% of our 3,200 full-time undergraduate students living on campus. Including continuing education and graduate students the total student population exceeds 4,700. The campus is ideally situated on the edge of the Berkshire Mountains in western Massachusetts, just 30 minutes from the thriving cultural centers of Springfield, Northampton, and Amherst, with a selection of museums, theaters, collegiate and minor league sports, hiking trails, and restaurants. The University is within 1.5 hours of Boston and Albany and within 3 hours of New York City and the Green Mountain range of Vermont.

Job Description:

Campus Title: Financial Aid Counselor

State Job Title: Staff Assistant

Department: Financial Aid

Job Code: HA5600

FLSA Status: Exempt

Funding: 7115-0100

Bargaining Unit: APA

Job Type: Full-time Permanent

Timeframe: 52 Weeks

Shift: Monday through Friday 8:30am to 4:30pm with occasional nights and weekends

Regular Days Off: Saturday and Sunday

Supervision Received: The Staff Assistant/Financial Aid Counselor reports to the Assistant Director of Financial Aid.

Supervision Exercised: None

Salary: $60,000 to $63,000 Annually (commensurate with education and experience)

This is a fully in-person position at Westfield State University, with all duties performed on campus during the employee's regularly scheduled work hours to support direct engagement with students, colleagues, and the campus community, unless the position requires travel to perform said duties.

General Statement of Duties:

The Financial Aid Counselor assists in the planning and organization of the student financial aid programs offered at Westfield State University. This person is responsible for assisting with the processing of financial aid forms and completing verification on files for the undergraduate population. Additional responsibilities include managing the main Financial Aid email account and assisting with the coordination of Federal or State programs. Additionally, this position will be responsible for conducting outreach to current and prospective students and families on all aspects of financial aid.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Duties include but not limited to:

Essential:

• Manage student and parent calls, provide financial aid counseling, research and resolve account-specific issues, coordinate with appropriate offices, document actions, and complete necessary follow-up;
• Meet with and counsel all student aid applicants and their families on all aspects of financial aid including application procedures, processes, eligibility, costs, disbursements, and loan repayment;
• Responsible for outreach to community organizations and local high schools;
• Maintain and answer emails sent to the main Financial Aid email address;
• Serve as the primary point of contact for all outreach activities, including hosting in-person and online sessions with students and families and responding to campus-wide outreach requests;
• Promote FAFSA awareness and host completion events as well as reach out to students who have not filed a FAFSA;
• Serve as a primary point of contact for students enrolled in the LEAD Scholars program;
• Enter MASFA application information into BANNER and monitor eligibility for state aid programs for MASFA applicants;
• Serve as the back-up for FAFSA/ISIR dataload process for upcoming award year and perform primary dataload for current award year;
• Manage the Massachusetts State Grant Program (Mass Grant) including certification and fund reconciliation;
• Under the guidance of the Assistant Director, track and evaluate all first time SAP appeals and assist with SAP communications to students;
• Manage other State or Federal Financial Aid Programs as assigned by the Assistant Director or Director of Financial Aid;
• Develop and implement financial literacy programming for current and prospective students;
• Manage a caseload of enrolled and prospective students;
• Participate in verification of student financial aid files;
• Utilize Banner and other financial aid software platforms as needed to complete job responsibilities;
• Participate in open house programs and new student orientation;
• Responsible for special projects as assigned by the Assistant Director of Financial Aid or Director of Financial Aid;
• Attend training sessions and financial aid meetings to learn about regulations and best practices.

Requirements:

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree
• Ability to accurately process a high volume of detailed work within specific time constraints
• Ability to quickly shift between tasks
• Knowledge of principles and methods of counseling
• Demonstrated commitment to customer service excellence
• Demonstrated commitment to supporting an environment of equity, diversity, and inclusion
• Ability to provide information to supervisors, co-workers, students, and their families by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person
• Strong presentation, interpersonal, networking, and organizational skills
• Display adaptability, dependability, the capacity to work within a team as well as autonomously, and the ability to take initiative in the workplace

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bilingual in English and Spanish
• Direct Financial Aid administration experience
• Familiarity with Federal Student Aid systems and regulations
• Experience with Ellucian Banner Software

Additional Information:

Salary:

Salaries for current Westfield State University employees and individuals currently working for the state of Massachusetts must be calculated individually in accordance with collective bargaining agreements as well as state policies. State job specifications may be found on the Department of Higher Education's webpage.

Employee Benefits:

Benefits are an important component of an employee's total compensation package.

• Health Insurance: Westfield State offers a variety of HMO, POS, and PPO-type health insurance plans for eligible employees. Coverage is effective on the 1st of the month following the date of hire. Exceptions to employees hired on the 1st of the month, coverage is effective immediately.
• Retirement: the MA State Employee Retirement System provides eligible employees with a retirement pension following a 10-year vesting period. In lieu of the retirement pension, eligible employees may select the Optional Retirement Plan with a maximum 5% employer matching contribution.
• Tuition Waivers & Discounts: eligible employees, including spouses and dependent children, receive reduced tuition at MA state colleges, community colleges, and universities.
• Paid Time Off: employees receive 12 paid holidays and generous vacation, personal, and sick leave benefits.
• Additional information regarding employee benefits is available on the University's Benefits & Wellness webpage.

Disability Accommodations

Westfield State University is committed to the full inclusion of individuals with disabilities and will ensure the availability of reasonable accommodations. If a reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact Human Resources at (413) 572-8809 or visit us in the Horace Mann Building, 1st floor.

Background Check

Employment is contingent upon the successful completion and review of a background check. A criminal record will not automatically disqualify an applicant from consideration.

Application Instructions:

An on-line application is required. The successful candidate must submit an official transcript at the time of hire. Interested candidates should electronically attach the following documents:

• Resume
• Cover Letter
• Contact information for three references *
• Copy of unofficial transcript of highest degree
• Provide the contact information for reference providers in the reference section of the online application.

Deadline: The job posting will be open a minimum of ten days and, if needed, will remain open until finalists have been selected.

Please Note: Each newly posted position includes a 90-day interval between the posting date and the anticipated start date. This allows time for the full recruitment process, including application review, interviews, and final hiring approvals.

If you need assistance completing your application please contact our online Help Desk. The link to the help desk can be found at the top of the page via Contact Us.