Director of Financial Aid

Description:

Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology (Franklin Cummings Tech) is a private, non-profit, two-year technical college located in Boston. Founded in 1908, the college proudly continues a long tradition of educating students for high-demand technical careers in a variety of industries, including automotive, advanced manufacturing, computer technology, engineering and construction management. With a mission to deliver transformative technical and trade education that leads to economic advancement, our unique mixture of 1, 2, and 4-year programs are delivered both in-person and on-line to appeal to student’s demand for flexible program delivery.

Our graduation and job placement rates are among the best in the nation among two-year colleges. Because of our impact and outcomes, Franklin Cummings Tech recently received the largest gift in its history: $12.5 million from the Cummings Foundation to continue to advance its leading-edge work in creating technical career pathways for students typically underrepresented in post-secondary education.

In FY22, Franklin Cummings Tech was the academic home to almost 900 learners. Half of those learners were students enrolled in traditional credit-bearing programs. The balance enrolled in a combination of continuing education and contract education programs. In the coming years, the College seeks to boost the number of students in credit-bearing courses, while also expanding continuing education and contract education so that we are educating more than 1,000 learners a year by FY25.

All employees of Franklin Cummings Tech are expected to be passionate advocates for students and actively lead and contribute to institution-wide efforts to further improve graduation, retention rates, and career placement of our student body. Furthermore, all staff and faculty across the institution collaborate to support student recruitment, retention, and success.

Director of Financial Aid Job Description:

The Director of Financial Aid works collaboratively with Admissions, Student Accounts, Registrar, Dean of Academics, Student Services and the Finance Office to coordinate financial aid awareness on campus and process student Financial Aid.

The Financial Aid Director is responsible for the following.

· Coordinating student financial aid processing with BFIT’s outsourcing partner, FA Solutions

· Working with FA Solutions, responsible for special circumstance review, satisfactory academic progress appeals, Return of Title IV calculations, year end audit, and program reviews

· Working with FA Solutions, accountable for reporting accurate and timely data for the FISAP and year end reports to the State and Federal agencies

· Working with FA Solutions, ensure the financial aid office provides excellent customer service and timely processing of verification documents, need analysis, and award letters

· Manage the Federal, State and Institutional financial aid programs for disbursement, compliance and expenditures

· Effectively manage the growing portfolio of Funded Scholarships

· Work collaboratively with various institutional departments to assure timely and accurate information exchange

· Create policies and procedures that pertain to the financial aid process and the integrated database

· Develop, coordinate and present information sessions to prospective and current students such as Financial Aid information sessions, FAFSA seminars, money management workshops and exit loan counseling

· Perform the parameter setup, implementation and maintenance of PowerFAIDS, CAMS, Net Price Calculator and any system related to financial aid processing including ISIR downloads, data conversion while ensuring data integrity

· Working with FA Solutions, manage the electronic processing of data for the Direct Loan and Pell Grant programs, requiring proficiency with Department of Education systems such as EdExpress, EdConnect, and COD

· Ensure compliance with financial aid requirements as it pertains to Federal, State, and Accrediting Agencies

· Counsel students and parents regarding available financial aid programs, application process, aid eligibility, future financial planning and default prevention

· Review student aid applications for completeness, verify student eligibility, resolve discrepancies

· Award Federal, and State aid according to Federal Title IV regulations and institutional guidelines

· Other duties as assigned

Requirements:

Key Competencies:

· Knowledge of federal and state financial aid processes, procedures and regulations.

· Ability to read, interpret, and explain policies, procedures, and instructions.

· Ability to award (i.e., “package”) financial aid in accordance with government and institutional regulations and guidelines.

· Demonstrated management, problem solving, administrative, analytical, counseling, communication (oral/written), interpersonal, and organizational skills.

· Excellent interpersonal, communication (writing, speaking), organizational and analytical skills.

· Must be self motivated and able to work independently as well as on teams, and to manage multiple, competing projects and deadlines.

· Ability to process and maintain strict confidentiality regarding student/family records, data, communications and meetings.

· Ability to use tact, discretion and diplomacy in counseling and responding to questions and concerns from students and their families.

· Must be organized, detail-oriented, able to manage time efficiently and effectively, and to process information/data with a high degree of accuracy.

· Evening, weekend, and holiday work required occasionally (orientation, move-in day, open houses, etc.)

· Ability to use sound professional judgment in awarding or adjusting financial aid.

· Ability to work effectively with a diverse population.

· Strong commitment to the mission of the College and its students is necessary.

Education Requirements:

Bachelor’s Degree