Financial Aid Counselor and Specialist - College of Medicine

Mission Driven, Community Focused  About | Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science (cdrewu.edu)

Charles R. Drew University is located in the Watts-Willowbrook area of south Los Angeles and was founded in 1966 in the wake of the Watts uprising. CDU was founded to address inadequate medical care in the region and to provide equitable medical education opportunities for under-represented students.

CDU offers the only historically black Doctor of Medicine program west of the Mississippi and is strongly invested in the local and regional community. The university leads multiple partnerships and programs to provide equitable healthcare resources in a variety of south Los Angeles neighborhoods.

Under the general direction of the Associate Director of Financial Aid, and Sr. Associate Dean, Student Affairs and Admissions, the Financial Aid Counselor and Specialist, will support the Office of Student Affairs and Admissions, College of Medicine. Financial Aid Counselor and Specialist is responsible for serving as a subject matter expert and developing effective and proactive advising strategies and solutions for College of Medicine Financial Aid applicants and recipients. The specialist advises, processes, documents, and recommends within delegated authority; the Associate Director retains decisions requiring higher approval. This role shall also be responsible for performing program coordination, reviewing eligibility, responding to a high volume of requests for information, and shall serve as the main point of contact for walk-in and phone traffic for College of Medicine students.

Financial Aid Counseling and Student Services

• Counsels and advises prospective, current, and continuing students and their families regarding financial aid programs, eligibility requirements, application processes, and available financial resources.


• Advises students and families on how to effectively utilize and leverage available financial aid resources to meet educational expenses and minimize educational debt.


• Provides guidance to students regarding loan borrowing, debt management, repayment considerations, and financial aid rights and responsibilities.


• Corresponds effectively and in a timely manner with students regarding financial aid eligibility, academic progress, documentation requirements, awards, and other financial aid matters.


• Updates financial aid information session and new student orientation presentations and participates in sessions for prospective and current students as needed.


• Participates in campus and community outreach activities to provide information regarding financial aid programs, services, and resources.


• Scholarship coordination and accreditation support. Include award reconciliation, renewal requirements, service commitments where applicable, and documentation of counseling access and effectiveness.


• Responsible for a planned sequence of advising, financial education, and debt management activities from matriculation through graduation.

Financial Aid Administration, Eligibility, and Compliance

• Interprets and applies federal, state, and institutional financial aid policies and regulations to ensure accurate, consistent, and equitable administration of financial assistance.


• Stays current on federal, state, and institutional financial aid policies, regulations, and compliance requirements and applies current guidance to student financial aid administration.


• Receives and reviews financial aid documents from students and families and prepares files for review, eligibility determination, and financial aid packaging.


• Assists with application follow-up, communication processes, and federal and institutional financial aid


• Prepares and updates financial aid award notifications in accordance with established policies and


• Ensures compliance with federal regulations, state law, CDU Executive Orders, and institutional policies in the administration of student financial aid.


• Assists with Budget Appeal applications and Loan Modification Requests in accordance with established policies and procedures.


• Assists with special projects related to financial aid administration, which may include coordinating debt management programs and external scholarship opportunities.

Student Records, Documentation, and Data Management

• Maintains accurate and complete student financial aid records and files in accordance with institutional policies and applicable recordkeeping requirements.


• Prepares, organizes, and maintains student financial aid records and documentation to support accurate processing and compliance.


• Maintains the accuracy and integrity of financial aid records and information within financial aid databases and related systems.


• Reviews and follows up on outstanding documentation and maintain appropriate records of student eligibility and financial aid activity.

Financial Aid Systems and Operational Support

• Assists the COM Associate Director with financial aid system setup, testing, annual updates, and resolution of system-related issues.


• Assists with the daily operations of the financial aid office, including front-counter customer service, telephone coverage, mailings, data entry and retrieval, file organization, and other operational activities as


• Supports the implementation and maintenance of financial aid processing workflows and procedures.


• Assists with operational projects and process improvement initiatives as assigned.

Qualifications

• Experience: 3 to 4 years of professional work experience required.


• Experience: 3 years of financial aid counseling or administration, including two years directly serving graduate or professional health sciences students.


• Education: Bachelor’s degree required.

Required Skills

• Must demonstrate high-quality customer service orientation and ability to effectively collaborate with students, parents, staff, and outside organizations.


• Strong written and oral communication skills Must be able to interpret and explain university and federal policies to students and parents.


• Demonstrated capacity to work both autonomously and collaboratively within a team


• Ability to work efficiently and maintain accuracy under shifting


• Demonstrates maturity, professionalism, and discretion, with a high level of awareness and care when handling sensitive and confidential information.


• Proficient with personal computer office applications, e-mail, and (I.e. Google Suite, Microsoft)


• Ability to learn software applications specific to admissions and enrollment management, as well as customer service and customer relations management


• Familiarity with financial aid software packages (preferred).


• Ability to quickly learn and maintain awareness of university functions, policies, and available


• Ability to interact with colleagues, supervisors, and customers in multiple facets. (i.e. face to face, via Zoom, and over the phone)

COMPLEXITY:

• The ability to perform highly detailed work with sustained attention and care while providing/obtaining information on numerous inquiries is paramount to success in this position.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.


• Occasional stooping. Frequent standing.  Constant walking, sitting, climbing, reaching high/low levels, finger movement, feeling, speaking clearly, hearing conversationally, and seeing far and near. Lifting up to 35 pounds; carrying materials to various locations

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

• The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.


• Occasionally required to work in confined space, social environments and/or public events.


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  General office environment. This office emphasizes the maintenance of security and confidentiality of all financial aid records for the College of Medicine MD Students.

  
  


• Student facing position and is located on campus.

MENTAL DEMANDS:

• The mental demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.


• Frequent work on a variety of unrelated tasks. Constant calculating interrupted work, work on a variety of interrelated tasks, and use of sustained concentration, reasoning, judgment, resourcefulness, analytical ability, and ingenuity. Able to prioritize work for best outcomes.

Special Requirements:

• Ability to work effectively with a diverse community.

COVID-19

As a health professions institution of higher education, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science seeks to protect the health and safety of the University community. As a condition of enrollment and employment, students, faculty, and staff must comply with the current CDU Covid-19 requirements as described on the CDU Covid-19 webpage.  Please visit the CDU Return to Campus website https://www.cdrewu.edu/covid-policy/ or email the Campus Nursing Office at [email protected].

Excellent Benefits:

Your wellbeing is important to us, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science (“CDU”) offers a comprehensive health and wellness benefits package to help you stay healthy and provide financial you protection.

Full Time Exempt

Salary: $68,000 - $72,000

Conditional Statement: The employment status of this position is classified as “Conditional”.  Conditional employment means that the job exists contingent upon funding limitations of restricted funds or, the duration of a specific program, project, grant or contract. The duration of grant for this position is through June 30, 2030.

EEO Statement: Charles R. Drew University is committed to Equal Employment Opportunity. Applicants will be considered without regard to gender, race, age, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, genetic information, marital status, disability or covered veteran status.

Fair Chance Statement: Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science will consider qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with state and local “Fair Chance” laws.