Financial Aid Assistant



Financial Aid Assistant

Salary

$47,470.00 - $63,999.00 Annually

Location

Costa Mesa, CA

Job Type

Classified Staff

Job Number

O-045-19

Division

Orange Coast College

Department

SS/Enrol/Fin Aid

Opening Date

04/17/2019

Closing Date

4/30/2019 11:59 PM Pacific

Definition

About Orange Coast Colleg(OCC)
Orange Coast College's 164-acre campus is located in Costa Mesa just minutes from Southern California's beautiful beaches. Founded in 1947, with classes beginning in 1948, OCC has grown into one of the nation's largest -- and finest -- community colleges, enrolling more than 25,000 students each semester. OCC's has an unwavering commitment to equitable outcomes; inclusive practices; and rich racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic diversity. Ideal candidates for this position share OCC's devotion to educating and improving the lives of our representative student, employee, and community populations. Ideal candidates for this position share OCC's devotion to educating and improving the lives of our representative student, employee, and community populations. We currently enroll 21,498 students, the majority of whom are from racially minoritized populations: 35% of OCC's students are Latinx, 2% are African- American, 23% are Asian, less than 1% Native American, 31% are White, and 6% are multiracial. OCC engages in a variety of professional development opportunities and partnerships so that we can serve disproportionately impacted groups. Student-centered activities that support OCC's mission include campus-wide student success projects funded by the Office of Student Equity; partnerships with local Hispanic Serving four year institutions; active programs that work to improve the academic achievement of racially minoritized students, such as PUENTE and UMOJA; Extended Opportunity Programs and Services (EOPS) and Disabled Student Program and Services (DSPS).?

Summary
Performs general and specialized clerical duties related to processing information for student grant and other financial aid programs.  Maintains student financial obligation records.   Provides technical assistance and information to students, staff and the public.
 
Distinguishing Career Features
The Financial Aid Assistant is the first in a multi-tiered career path for financial aid transaction processing.  The Financial Aid Assistant will focus on learning the details of individual programs, and external and internal regulations, policies, and procedures while accepting and reviewing applications for completeness and entering data onto student information systems.  Advancement to Technician requires two or more years in the capacity of a Financial Aid Assistant and the ability to demonstrate a working knowledge of loan and grant programs, the ability to determine eligibility and loan amounts, and ability to resolve application discrepancies.   Advancement to Analyst is based on need and requires three years as a Technician, advanced knowledge of financial aid programs, the ability to update financial aid tables used in student information systems, and the ability to package financial aid applications and awards.
 
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Specific duties may vary among departments and jobs.  Incumbents typically perform a substantial portion or all of the following kinds of duties: 

  • Serves as first point of contact for the office on phones and at front counter. Disseminates general financial aid information to students and the public.  
  • Assists students and parents with FAFSA financial aid applications, processing procedures, and interpreting policies of the funding organizations.  Explains the different types of financial aid programs, including obligations and payment schedules. 
  • Instructs students in correct procedures for completion of forms and applications, special requirements and restrictions, and supporting documentation such as tax returns, income and housing verifications, and transcripts.  Reviews completed forms for accuracy and completeness. 
  • Assists students to understand the relationship between financial aid awards and course load, grades, and other student achievement factors. 
  • Sets up appointments for financial aid counseling. 
  • Processes applications and calculates awards for local financial aid and grants using established procedures and guides.  Enters information into computer-aided databases. 
  • Schedules appointments for students to see Financial Aid Counselors.  Compiles information to support conferences. 
  • Initiates first-level form letters on delinquent and defaulted loans.  Receives information from the Department of Education and other sources, including internal reports, verifies account balances and student status, and initiates written contact with students.  Works with students to restore current account status. 
  • May prepare standardized correspondence for/to students, verifying status and other information.  
  • Performs miscellaneous clerical duties for the office such as updating policy and procedure manuals, editing student files, replenishing forms and communication devices, collecting data for reports, and preparing general correspondence. 
  • Performs other duties as assigned that support the overall objective of the position.

Qualifications and Physical Demands

Knowledge and Skills:
Requires basic knowledge of the policies and procedures associated with financial aid programs including grants and waivers.  Requires basic knowledge of federal and institutional satisfactory academic progress policy.  Requires basic knowledge of regulations and institutional policies relevant to admissions, registration, accounts payable, and financial aid practices.  Requires knowledge of and skills with routine office policies, procedures, and equipment, including PCs and applicable student information databases, word processing and spreadsheet applications.  Requires sufficient English language skill to prepare routine correspondence.  Requires sufficient human relation skills to provide general information to student-customers, exercise patience when dealing with students, and convey a positive image of the college.  Requires sufficient math skills to compute principal, interest, sums, percents, and ratios.

 Abilities: 
Requires the ability to perform all of the duties of the position efficiently and effectively with minimal supervision. Requires the ability to perform basic record keeping, data entry, file maintenance, and report writing duties.  Requires the ability to communicate program elements and requirements with students, faculty and outside agencies/customers.  Requires the ability to instruct students on the financial aid application process and to resolve a conflict.  Ability to perform data entry into an automated information system. May require the ability to perform assignments on varying work schedules.


Education and Experience:
The position requires a High School diploma or equivalent and two years of related work experience such as in loan origination or servicing, financial aid or basic accounting.  Additional higher education may substitute for some experience. Or, any combination of education and experience that would provide the required equivalent qualifications.

Licenses and Certificates:
May require a valid driver's license.

Physical Abilities:
The incumbent performs work of predominately a sedentary nature.  Requires ambulatory ability to sit in front of a computer screen for extended periods of time, to move about between work station and customer service counters, and to reach for work materials and files.  Requires sufficient hand, arm, finger dexterity to operate a computer keyboard, typewriter or other office equipment.  Requires visual acuity to read words and numbers.   Requires speaking and hearing ability sufficient to hear over the phone and carry on routine conversations.  Ability to lift up to 25 pounds.

Working Conditions: 
Work is performed indoors where minimal safety considerations exist.

Conditions of Employment

This is a regular, full-time, 12-months per year classified position. The normal hours of work will be Monday, Tuesday, and Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm; Wednesday and Thursday from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm.  The effective date of employment will be arranged with the supervisor.

Regular attendance is considered an essential job function; the inability to meet attendance requirements may preclude the employee from retaining employment. The person holding this position is considered a mandated reporter under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in Coast Community College District policies, procedures, and Title IX. (Reference: BP/AP 5910 ) The Coast Community College District celebrates all forms of diversity and is deeply committed to fostering an inclusive environment within which students, staff, administrators, and faculty thrive.
Individuals interested in advancing the District's strategic diversity goals are strongly encouraged to apply. Reasonable accommodations will be provided for qualified applicants with disabilities who self-disclose.

The deadline to apply is 11:59 p.m., April 30, 2019. Application materials must be electronically submitted online at http://www.cccd.edu/employment. Incomplete applications and application materials submitted by mail will not be considered.

Additional Information

Applications must be received no later than the posted closing date. There are NO EXCEPTIONS. Electronic applications may be completed by visiting http://www.cccd.edu/employment.  Once you have completed an electronic application, you may apply to open positions within the Coast Community College District by submitting the application and all other required materials. Required materials differ for each open position and must be complete when submitted for a specific posting.  Instructions for completing applications and applying to posted positions are available online or by calling Applicant Processing at (714) 438-4714.
 
All application materials become the property of the Coast Community College District and will NOT be copied or returned. Information for TDD users is available by calling (714) 438-4755.
 
Application Requirements:
To be considered for employment you must submit a complete application packet. A complete application packet includes:
  1. A complete online Classified/Management Employment Application.
  2. current resume. (Attached as a separate document.)
  3. cover letter highlighting your qualifications for the desired position. (Attached as a separate document.)
  4. Answers to Supplemental Questions. (clear and detailed responses required as they will be carefully evaluated to determine the most qualified candidate(s) to be invited for an interview; please do not paste your resume, or put "see resume" or "N/A", or leave blank).
 
To ensure consistency and fairness to all applicants, please do not submit materials in addition to those requested. Additional materials will not be considered or returned. Be sure to complete all questions and sections of the application.  If you do not know an answer, please indicate so, but do not leave any space blank.
 
All applications will be screened under a process of utmost confidentiality by a committee of representatives from the college community. Please note: Possession of the minimum qualifications does not ensure an interview.
 
Any documents that you are unable to attach can be emailed to jobs@cccd.edu. Emails must clearly indicate the job you are applying to and your name.
 
Disability Accommodations:
If you require accommodations in the Application or Examination Process, please notify Human Resources by calling (714) 438-4716 OR (714) 438-4713.
 
The Coast Community College District is a multi-college district that includes Coastline Community CollegeGolden West Collegeand Orange Coast College. The three colleges offer programs in a transfer, general education, occupational/technical education, community services, and student support services. Coastline, Golden West and Orange Coast Colleges enroll more than 60,000 students each year in more than 300 degree and certificate programs.
Since its founding in 1947, the Coast Community College District has enjoyed a reputation as one of the leading community college districts in the United States. Governed by a locally elected Board of Trustees, the Coast Community College District plays an important role in the community by responding to needs of a changing and increasingly diverse population.
 
Coast Community College District is an Equal Opportunity Employer
 
The Coast Community College District is committed to employing qualified administrators/managers, faculty, and staff members who are dedicated to student learning and success. The Board recognizes that diversity in the academic environment fosters awareness, promotes mutual understanding and respect, and provides suitable role models for all students. The Board is committed to hiring and staff development processes that support the goals of equal opportunity and diversity, and provide equal consideration for all qualified candidates. The District does not discriminate unlawfully in providing educational or employment opportunities to any person on the basis of race, color, sex, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, marital status, medical condition, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status, or genetic information.

Comprehensive Medical, Dental and Vision
We know that the health of our employees and their families is a priority. That's why we offer extensive health care benefits to benefits-eligible employees. We offer the District's PPO plan as well as two HMO's, United Health Care and Kaiser Permanente. We also provide District-paid dental and vision insurance. 

Benefits are available to regular permanent employees working 20 or more hours per week.  Benefits are not available to temporary or short term employees.

District-paid Life Insurance
The District provides Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment insurance benefits, underwritten by ING. This District-paid benefit is equal to one time your annual salary and remains in effect until age 70.

District-paid Disability Benefits
Coast provides both short and long term disability benefits for eligible employees unable to work because of disability due to illness, injury, or maternity.

Voluntary Plans
A variety of voluntary plans are offered through the District to benefits-eligible employees such as Long Term Care, Hyatt Legal, and Section 125 compliant flexible spending accounts.

Enrich Your Profession
Professional Development Programs
The District offers a variety of Professional Development programs for faculty and classified staff that encompasses all types of facilitated learning opportunities, ranging from college degrees to formal coursework and conferences. We encourage lifelong learning that maintains and improves professional competencies, enhances career progression, and keeps our employees on the cutting edge of their profession.

Sabbatical Leaves
Faculty members are encouraged to pursue professional growth leading to the development of increased competence and the improvement of instruction and/or redirection in their current teaching discipline. The District's sabbatical leave program is designed to assist in this pursuit and is available on a semester basis after completing six consecutive years of service.

Academic Senate
The Academic Senate is the governing body at each of our colleges for making recommendations to administration and to our Board of Trustees with respect to academic and professional matters. The Senate consists of elected faculty and has the responsibility for matters related to curriculum and general academic policy.

Time to Refuel
Vacation
Classified, contract staff earn vacation days commensurate with years of service. Classified Management and Administrators earn 22 days vacation per year.

Sick Leave
All contract employees earn sick leave as outlined in the CA Education Code. Sick leave may be carried over from year-to-year and, upon retirement, unused sick leave may contribute to your PERS and STRS retiree benefit.

Holidays
The District observes 21 paid holidays per year.

Jury Duty, Bereavement, Military Leave
Coast grants contract employees called to jury duty a leave of absence, without loss of pay, for the entire length of required service. Other available leaves include bereavement from 3-5 days and military leaves of absence in accordance with applicable state laws.

Great Expectations
Pension Plans
The District participates in the California State Teachers Retirement System (CalSTRS) and the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS) for contract employees. Non-contract employees participate in Public Agency Retirement Services (PARS) plan for the first 1,000 hours of their employment.
Additionally, it is the policy of the Coast Community College District that contract employees who retire from the District with ten or more years of service be afforded the same group insurance benefits until 70 years of age. A Medicare Supplement or GAP plan  is available to retirees and their spouses after age 70.

Annuities
The District maintains a program whereby qualified employees may request through Payroll to have a portion of his or her salary deposited under a tax sheltered annuity plan or an approved deferred compensation plan.

Schools First Federal Credit Union

The Schools First Federal Credit Union is a federally insured, full service, financial cooperative that is a not-for-profit organization. Earnings are used to benefit all members to provide a full range of financial services and offerings.


01
Explain your financial aid experience. Be specific.
02
What does good customer service mean to you?
03
Share what appeals to you about this particular Financial Aid Assistant position.
04
When responding to a customer, how do you decide what information to include, and what to leave out?
05
Tell about a time you made a great contribution to your team.
06
I understand that a COMPLETE application packet is required for consideration, which includes the following: 1. A completed Coast Community College District Online Employment Application 2. A current resume (uploaded as a separate attachment - PDF recommended) 3. A cover letter (uploaded as a separate attachment - PDF recommended) 4. Responses to supplemental questions (clear and detailed responses required as they will be carefully evaluated to determine the most qualified candidate(s) to be invited for an interview; please do not paste your resume, or put "see resume", or "N/A" or leave blank)
  • Yes
  • No

Required Question

Agency
Coast Community College District
Address
1370 Adams Avenue

Costa Mesa, California, 92626
Phone
714-438-4668
714-438-4714