Financial Aid Advisor

This Financial Aid Advisor counsels and assists students, parents, and families through the financial aid processes, including application FAFSA completion, eligibility, need analysis, student budgets, financial aid packaging, scholarship application, and disbursement policies and procedures. This position exercises Independent judgment and critical thinking to provide high-quality student counseling services, FAFSA verification , outreach, allocation of awarded funds and debt management.

This Financial Aid Advisor utilizes federal systems such as National Student Loan Database (NSLDS), the Common Origination and Disbursement Database (COD), and the FAFSA Partner Portal (FPP) to accurately process financial aid. These systems include but are not limited to, as part of the Enrollment Management Division, this position contributes to making the enrollment and business processes as simple as possible, so students can focus on academics and student life.

This role requires in person visits to correctional facilities and phone contact with incarcerated students and their supporters as well as minimal amount of seasonal travel for outreach and recruitment events, orientation, and FAFSA workshops.

Specific Job Duties (Essential Functions and Responsibilities):

 

• Provide one-on-one advising to students and families with admissions, registration, payment, Bank Mobile Refunds, FAFSA, financial aid, scholarship applications, cost summary estimates, and general student business. 

• Prioritizes work in support of the Prison Education Program, to plan, implement, and monitor the Revised Second Chance Pell program activities related to processing of student aid documentation and forms.

• Manages implementation and participates in the preparation of Revised Second Chance Pell reporting, and correspondence with other internal and external departments. 

• This position is not a remote position and requires in person outreach including but not limited to correctional facilities. 

• Must be highly organized with the ability to manage and track large volumes of paperwork. Must be proficient in transferring information from physical documents into secure digital systems accurately and efficiently.

• Oversees assessment and data management processes of the Revised Second Chance Pell program

• Communicate effectively with students, families, faculty, staff and external partners in person, on the phone, by e-mail/instant messaging, virtual applications, or written correspondence to collaborate and resolve problems and address any concerns.  Participate in outreach activities for main campus, undergraduate, prospective and current students, including new student orientations, FAFSA labs, and high school presentations.  

• Review federal regulations and guidelines; to update and maintain training and policy/procedures manuals; develop, document and disseminate training documentation and curriculum to staff; make changes and updates to training documentation.

• Assist the Financial Aid Director and Assistant Directors to understand and apply current college, departmental, federal and state regulations and policies. Help resolve concerns by ensuring guidelines are applied correctly.Attend  financial aid training and/or conferences, some of which may require out-of- state travel.

•  Contributes to departmental goals through other assigned activities.

 

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications

• Associates Degree or equivalent college credit

• 2 Years of prior relevant work experience 

• Ability to provide quality customer care, especially under difficult circumstances.

• Technologically proficient- must be able to access, acquire, and learn in a digital environment.

• Experience using Microsoft, databases, and Google applications.

• Ability to work effectively with all levels within the University and develop informal, cooperative relationships among diverse, multifunctional departments.

• Ability to travel to on and off campus presentations, workshops, conferences, and correctional facilities. Ability to occasionally work overtime during peak periods and/or outreach events.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree preferred in relevant field

• Bilingual (Spanish)

• Experience working in higher education as part of an enrollment management team.

 

Conditions of Employment:

This position is a full-time, 12-month exempt at-will administrative position with benefits.

Successful compilation of background investigation is required for entry into correctional facilities.

 

Salary and Benefits:

The salary range for this position is $38,412-$43,692.  In addition to salary, Adams State University offers a competitive benefits program including medical, dental, vision, disability insurance, flexible spending accounts, life insurance, and retirement savings plans. For detailed benefits information please visit our Human Resources Benefits Page. 

 

How to Apply: 

All interested candidates must submit application materials electronically through Adams State University’s Workday application portal.

 

No other format of application material will be accepted.

 

Completed applications include the following:

• Cover letter

• Resume

• Unofficial transcripts (official transcripts will be necessary at the time of appointment)

• Three professional references, including phone number and email for each

 

Review of completed applications will begin 8/1/2025.

 

Questions about the position may be directed to Kym McCall at kymmccoll@adams.edu 

Adams State University is committed to building and expanding the talent of its professional staff and actively seeks qualified applicants who bring unique perspectives, experiences, skills, and attributes that can augment the perspectives of our current faculty and staff and can contribute to serving and preparing our students to engage and thrive in their learning, leadership, and service.

 

We strive to create a more representative workforce that mirrors the people who study, work, and lead our institution and welcome applications from candidates from all walks of life, especially members of communities who fall within state and federally protected classes such as: women, BIPOC, LGBTQ+ individuals, veterans, and people with disabilities.

 

We value qualified candidates, with varied language skills, who have a record of successful experience with varied communities and student populations, and who have a deep understanding of and commitment to the unique geographical and historical characteristics of the place we are situated in and the intersecting perspectives that define our university being a low-income, first-generation, and Hispanic-serving, rural anchor university. Therefore, we seek individuals committed to intentionally supporting students and colleagues who possess these characteristics through their teaching, service, and scholarship.

 

The successful candidate will join a campus that is dedicated to inclusive excellence and acknowledges Adams State’s purpose to foster the educational goals of its students and the well-being of the surrounding community.

Additional information about the university and the academic mission may be found at www.adams.edu/academics/
 

Disclosures:

In compliance with the Immigration Control Act of 1968 candidates for positions must provide proof of eligibility to work before an offer of employment can be made final.

Adams State University is committed to providing a safe and secure environment for its students, faculty, staff and visitors, and to protecting its funds, property and other assets. Well-informed hiring decisions contribute to this effort. Therefore, Adams State University has adopted a policy on background screening for its prospective, continuing, and returning employees as well as students in certain circumstances. Offers of employment will be contingent upon the completion of an acceptable background check. The information received in response to a background check will be treated as confidential to the extent provided for by law.

 

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and Part 106 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, including in admission and employment. Inquiries about the application of Title IX and CFR 106 to Adams State University (ASU) may be directed to ASU's Office of Equal Opportunity, Director Ana Guevara, and/or to the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights of the Department of Education. Support resources for sexual misconduct, ASU's  sexual misconduct policies, contact information for the Adams State University's Office of Equal Opportunity & Title IX, as well as a detailed  procedure for filing a grievance due to discrimination on the basis of sex may be found online at  https://www.adams.edu/administration/oeo/reporting-sexual-harassment/.  These  procedures also describe the University's response to reports and/or complaints of sex discrimination or sexual harassment.  

 

Adams State University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. Applications are sought from all qualified persons regardless of race, color, sex, disability, and, as covered by law, veteran status. In addition, University policies prohibit discrimination on the basis of religion, national origin, ancestry, age, sexual orientation including transgender status and gender expression, marital status, and parental status.