Located in Redmond, Washington, DigiPen Institute of Technology is a small college that offers undergraduate degree programs in Computer Science, Game Design, Digital Audio and Music, Computer Engineering, and Digital Art and Animation, as well as Master's degree programs in Computer Science and Digital Art. DigiPen Institute of Technology has been ranked one of the top 5 game design schools in the country by the Princeton Review for more than a decade. Position: Financial Aid Administrator Reports to: Molly Walsh, Director of Financial Aid
Purpose Statement The Financial Aid Advisor supports the mission of the Office of Financial Aid by helping students and prospective students locate and utilize resources to fund their education at the institution while adhering to regulatory requirements.
Essential Functions Analyze and verify aid applications to ensure compliance with all state, federal financial aid, scholarship, and program regulations and make awards in line with established guidelines.
Provide customer service and counsel students on Federal, State and Institutional financial aid as well as scholarship and loan options; serve as information resource for financial aid and assigned programs.
Advise students as to satisfactory progress within their declared program of study.
Communicate with various on-campus departments through person-to-person, email, phone, Microsoft teams and written correspondence and documentation of information specific program requirements.
Interpret, review and develop program specific procedures, rules and regulations regarding Washington state aid.
Responsible for monthly authorization and reconciliation of assigned program.
Attend state and regional trainings as necessary to remain current on policies, procedures, and regulations specific to assigned program.
Serve as the first point of contact for students by helping to answer inbound calls and responding to emails. Heavy phone and email volume responsibility daily.
Regularly attend webinars, meetings, and trainings to stay updated on changing policies and procedures.
Follow up on student inquiries regarding financial aid process to ensure that aid is packaged and disbursed to their accounts.
Understand and communicate the award policies and procedures and how it affects the student.
Research and understand the verification process, professional judgments, and C-codes.
Assist with monthly information sessions, open house, financial literacy workshops and College 101 courses.
Participate in a committee to evaluate institutional scholarship applications on an annual basis.
Accurately track all interactions with students and financial aid documents within our student record systems.
Identify and escalate priority issues to the appropriate resources as defined by business practices.
Promote an understanding of various financial topics among current students.
Create informational literature (posters, bulletin boards, flyers) to promote financial literacy awareness.
Update and maintain scholarship resources for students.
Understanding of math, finance, computers and DigiPen's billing cycles.
Research student records and provide detailed information regarding tuition and fees, payment plans, etc.
Job Requirements Excellent communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills
Must be comfortable working with others over the phone, zoom or Microsoft teams, have a clear speaking voice, and a professional and personable demeanor
Perform daily responsibilities in a professional, friendly, and efficient manner
Must be self-motivated and willing to seek out new challenges and information
Able to work independently as well as collaboratively as a team member, communicating concerns and bringing resolution to issues
Possess excellent written and verbal communication skills
Proficient with Microsoft Office tools, specifically advanced Excel features and Outlook
Must be punctual; be able to work with constant interruptions and pressure of deadlines
Willing to work evening and weekends when required
Preferred Qualifications Associate's degreePrevious experience in higher education
Previous experience with federal and state financial aid
Experience with Ellucian Colleague or other student information system, NSLDS, FAA Access and COD
Knowledge of general accounting, tuition, and billing procedures
Candidates will be able to work remotely. On campus hours will be required during peak season to support financial literacy efforts and to support weekend Admissions/Outreach events from time to time.
Salary and Benefits Salary Range: $65,000 - $69,000 annually depending on experience and qualifications.
Benefits: Dental, medical, and vision (begins the first of the month following 60 days of employment)Two weeks of vacation in the first year, with increasing accrual each year thereafter14 paid holidaysAn additional paid week off between Christmas and New Years401K after one year FT service, match vested immediatelyCompany-paid short- and long-term disability and life insurance after one yearFree DigiPen tuition for yourself to start; discounts for family after one yearComplimentary soda, coffee, and tea Free parking Diversity, equity, inclusion, and academic freedom are priorities of DigiPen Institute of Technology, as DigiPen endorses the goals of affirmative action and equal opportunity employment. The Institute's intent is to hire the most qualified individuals for faculty and staff, attracting candidates from diverse backgrounds of race and ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, socioeconomic status, veteran status, nationality, culture, religion, and physical abilities. We are committed to broadening our candidate pool to include more diverse individuals and ensuring fairness in hiring by avoiding bias and determining criteria to judge all candidates prior to posting each new position.
