Financial Wellness and Outreach Specialist

Advances student retention and graduation by providing financial wellbeing support for students. Responsible for increasing access to funding resources, for scholarship recipients by providing assistance and information to individuals regarding their scholarship award. Oversees the peer mentor team.

• Ensures that participating students are financially informed to address potential barriers. Serves as the main point of contact to address questions and provide solutions regarding financial concerns of new students and existing students.
• Advises and counsels parents and prospective students experiencing immediate and emergency situations that threaten financial obligations.
• Advises on University policy and procedures affecting billing accounts, disbursement or repayment of financial aid. Provides counseling to students regarding account balances and payment options via financial literacy and debt management techniques.
• Provides financial literacy, wellness resources, application advise and outreach to current and prospective scholarship recipients within the community, using workshops, seminars,and online resources. Creates and delivers outreach activities to the community.
• Understands and interprets federal, state and institutional financial aid regulations and guidelines. Applies knowledge of policies and procedures to implement the proper awarding, disbursement and billing of financial aid.
• Utilizes student information systems, financial aid software, document management systems and federal government supported systems. Comprehends current tax forms, regulations and implications in financial aid.
• Researches and stays current of trending practices in student financial aid and accessibility to higher education.
• Collaborates with University units and departments to support department leadership. Provides support for special projects, development of communications, programs and materials.
• Researches community emergency fund resources that may be available.

Minimum qualifications based upon job documentation and industry best practices. Any current employees not meeting these qualifications will be grandfathered until they move to a different job.

• Bachelor's degree in related field from an accredited institution.

• One year's relevant experience.
• Experience in financial aid or equivalent experience with state and federal regulations pertaining to the administration of financial aid programs.
• Ability to apply analytical and problem-solving skills to a wide variety of financial situations. Office software skills, including word-processing, presentations and spreadsheets.
• Solid teamwork skills.
• Customer service skills.
• Public speaking experience.
• Demonstrated interest, skills, and experience in working with diverse groups, program development, implementation, and coaching.
• Ability to collaborate with others.
• Ability to interact face-to-face and virtually.

• Ability to travel.

Office or other indoor work with minimal physical demands such as occasionally lifting or moving materials less than 25 pounds.

Work is generally performed in a well-lit, temperature-controlled indoor environment with occasional exposure to the outdoors or any number of elements.

Revised: 2024-04-15