• Job Type: Officer of Administration
• Regular/Temporary: Temporary
• End Date if Temporary: up to one year; may be renewable for a second year
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Salary Range: $62,400 - $62,400

Position Summary

Reporting to the Associate Director of Financial Aid and Admissions, the incumbent assists in all matters of the office, including the day-to-day communication with students, parents, faculty, administrators, alumni, and outside agencies about admissions, financial aid, and the CJS loan repayment assistance program. Responsibilities include the administering of the financial aid programs of the Journalism School and has primary responsibility for the management of email communications and providing financial aid counseling to students, as well as support for CJS loan repayment assistance program and student award packaging. The incumbent is also expected to cultivate positive working relationships with deans, faculty, administrators, staff, students, alumni/ae, central administrators at Columbia and other academic institutions, lending institutions, and with members of peer institutions.

Responsibilities

1. Interprets and explains admissions, financial aid, and CJS loan repayment assistance program policies to prospective students, applicants, current students, alumni, and others. Must participate when needed for outreach activities. Adheres to complex and changing regulations, policies, and procedures pertaining to financial aid and CJS Loan Repayment programs, while ensuring compliance with federal, state, CJS, and University regulations and policies.

2. Supports the administration of CJS loan repayment assistance program through communication management (phone, email, and in-person counseling), application review, award processing, presentations, and various other duties.

3. Manages email exchanges through accurate, effective, and knowledgeable communications to both individual students and larger groups regarding admissions, financial aid, and CJS loan repayment assistance program process and requirements.

4. Review application materials for institutional grants and loans according to Journalism School policy and standard methodology. Assists with generating financial aid award letters and all other communication.

5. Supports the administration of federal and various other loan programs for Journalism students. Assists in maintaining computer systems required to support electronic loan processing with the central University's SFS Operations and Loan teams.

6. As assigned, assists with the generation of reports for the financial aid systems, including Slate, College Board, PowerFAIDS, SIS, and Desktop reporting; stipend requests from within the Journalism School, as well as from other University divisions and external sources; maintaining the external sources of funding data for Journalism students; processing of institutional grant and loan awards; stewardship assignments of restricted scholarship and other financial aid funds.

7. Performs various other duties and projects as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and/or equivalent related experience required.

• Up to two years of relevant experience. Excellent organizational, interpersonal, and analytical skills, with a proven ability to handle multiple responsibilities in a fast-paced, high-volume environment required. Excellent verbal and written communication skills, math aptitude, and the ability to work collaboratively as part of an administrative team are required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree preferred. Experience preferably financial aid experience in a university setting, or a background in related counseling and office experience) required. Knowledge of PowerFAIDS and Slate is preferred. Understanding of financial aid needs analysis and federal regulations that govern the management and delivery of financial aid funds preferred.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.