Assistant Director, Student Services & Veteran School Certifying Official

The salary range for this role is $55,000-$60,000 and is commensurate with experience.

Communications

Excellent communication skills required when working with university staff, outside vendors and current and prospective students, including in-person and virtual advising, presentations, email, and phone outreach.

Customer Service

Excellent customer service required when working with university staff, outside vendors and current and prospective students. Broad knowledge of university functions and depth of Financial aid requirements necessary to cultivate relationships with students and across campus. The ability to maintain student confidentiality is essential in this position.

Education & Experience

Bachelor’s required.
Minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in veterans affairs, financial aid, admissions, or enrollment services.
Military Veteran or knowledge of military experience, benefits, and transcripts is beneficial

KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS

Exercises great attention to detail utilizing analytical and problem-solving skills.
Demonstrate the ability to adapt in a high pace environment
Must keep abreast of changes with Federal Student Aid and Veterans/ Military benefits programs.
Must be able to manage multiple projects and coordinate with collaborators simultaneously.
Demonstrated ability and experience to handle complex and sensitive issues.
Strong written and verbal communications with proven ability to maintain collaborative relationships with internal and external constituents in order to provide support for the office and the students it serves required
Demonstrated ability to work in a team-based environment

Excellent commitment to diversity and to service the needs of a diverse population

Demonstrated ability to efficiently and effectively solve problems and initiate and implement projects independently

Works well in translating financial aid requirements into operational activities supporting overall enrollment efforts

Influences management by supplying key data that assists in decision making

Physical Environment and Requirements

Office environment; must be able to sit at computer for long periods of time.

List any certifications or licenses that are either required or helpful in performing the job, designating whether required or preferred.

N/A

Key Responsibility

Services

Counsel students (in person, virtually, over phone, and email) on all aspects of the financial aid process, including FAFSA completion, cost of attendance, awarding of federal funds, loan borrowing and management, financial hardship situations, etc.
Serve as member of counseling team to support student appointments (in-person & virtual) and walk-in needs. Assist in the direction of student inquiries to other staff as needed and provide leadership to the counseling staff for escalation needs
Meet with students in a co-terminal program to ensure aid receipt based on enrollment is understood so students can plan course schedule accordingly

In support of the Director of Financial Aid Services, provide escalation assistance for all service needs with a solution mindset to support the student experience and positive team culture

Percentage Of Time25

Key Responsibility

Operations

Process ROTC funds for eligible students; coordinate with each branch to ensure timely process each term and assist students in understanding impact on overall aid offer

Oversee financial aid processing needs for key populations such as part-time scholarship requests, reinstatements, and scholar programs

Assist with reconciliation and discrepancies with Student Accounting for veteran and special populations going through third-party billing

Assist with completion of financial aid processes including but not limited to verification, c-flags, private loan processing, etc.

Process financial aid hardship appeals in accordance with federal professional judgement guidelines

Process satisfactory academic progress (SAP) appeals to review students in continued eligibility for federal aid

Percentage Of Time20

Key Responsibility

Veterans

Adhere to all VA principles of excellence to provide high quality services and support to veteran students

Certify enrollment and benefits each term for benefits eligible students, including allowable tuition and fees; monitoring any changes in enrollment or aid to ensure accuracy and ensure VA benefits are processed as last payer with all other applicable aid by working closely with the Offices of the Registrar and Student Accounting

Ensure cost transparency based on VA guidelines with the maintenance of the shopping sheet in conjunction with the Senior Financial Aid Director

Provide timely support for all veteran student data for annual financial audits and periodic veteran compliance surveys

Supply data validation for all veteran student reporting requirements, including internal and external requirements such as IPEDS and USNews surveys

Monitor student’s standards of progress and report ineligible students to the VA accordingly

Maintain proper record retention in accordance with the VA guidelines

Counsel students processing veteran benefits on financial, enrollment, and any other needs that may arise to support overall student success for this population

Liaise needs internally to ensure veteran students have holistic support throughout academic career

Working collaboratively with admissions, marketing, financial aid, and academic affairs units for the purpose of recruiting military students, including attending events to support enrollment and retention

Remain current regarding state, federal, and university regulations and policies related to veteran’s benefits and federal compliance

Support the development of and serve on a Veteran’s Services task force with key stakeholders from enrollment, academics, and student affairs to develop and support a robust veteran experience at Illinois Tech

Collaborate the delivery of special veterans’ related programming (ex: Veterans Day, Memorial Day, and veterans support groups) with key campus stakeholders

Conducts training for faculty and staff on matters related to veteran student needs

Percentage Of Time35

Key Responsibility

Compliance

Liaise between student and government agencies to address inquiries and resolve issues with federal aid or veteran benefits eligibility and/or processing

Provide input on any financial aid or veteran compliance related policies and procedures to ensure continued organizational and student eligibility for funds

Ensure all required university documentation for processing all military benefits is kept current and monitored by key university leadership stakeholders

Percentage Of Time10

Key Responsibility

Leadership

Serve on the financial literacy committee and assist the Director of Financial Aid Services in providing programming, tools, and support for student literacy and cost planning needs

Provide support to all financial aid staff to resolve financial aid discrepancies and resolve issues to ensure integrity in aid administration

Provide regular training to the financial aid staff on all service, processing, and operational needs in collaboration with the Senior Director and Director of Financial Aid Services

Contribute to the implementation of Financial Aid and university policies and procedures for the office
Other duties and special projects as assigned

Percentage Of Time5

Key Responsibility

Events

This role will work at several events each aid year to assist students and families in understanding the financial aid process, their individual aid offer, veteran benefit options, and enrollment next steps. Some nights and weekends are required for university events.

Percentage Of Time5

Benefits
Illinois Tech offers eligible employees a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision coverage; life and long-term disability insurance; a 403(b) retirement plan with university contributions and matching for eligible employees; tuition assistance programs; flexible spending and commuter benefits; an employee assistance program; university holidays; and applicable paid and job-protected leave benefits. Eligibility, waiting periods, employee contributions, and coverage levels vary by benefit and position. Our commitment to employee well-being is reflected in our competitive benefits package located here: Benefits Summary