Student Awards Advisor

DUTIES

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Administer financial aid and award programs, including managing funds, reconciliation, institutional or government reporting, and program utilization review, for aid and award programs, the WorkStudy program, and authorizing loans from university funds.
• Confidentially interview and advise students regarding the availability, eligibility requirements, and terms and conditions for obtaining, maintaining and if necessary appealing all forms of internal and external awards and financial aid including government student assistance, including policy interpretation.
• Educate current and potential students, and where applicable parents, and the TRU community on student financial literacy, including budgeting, financial planning, loans, collection agencies, consumer information and related issues such as default of loans, credit ratings, and terms of debt repayment.
• Coordinate and adjudicate applications for institutional and government aid and award funding, including exercising discretionary authority to award funds in extenuating circumstances, and provide oversight of the notification and award distribution processes.
• Maintain and recommend enhancements to system data tracking, processing and reporting. Manipulate extracted data for analysis.
• Participate in school liaison, recruitment, and orientation activities, including creating / managing web related resources & inquiries.

May include travel and occasional evening and weekend work.

• Write and update various electronic and print communication pieces of the department and references to the department's services in other university and external communications.
• Assign work to clerks and auxiliary staff.

REPORTS TO

Aid Coordinator

QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION :

A bachelor degree in a related field

EXPERIENCE :

Three years' progressively advanced Student Awards or related experience in a policy intensive educational setting with significant student contact

SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE OR ABILITIES RELATED TO THE JOB

• Demonstrated strong communication skills, both verbal and written
• Demonstrated ability to use Excel, ERP applications (such as Banner, Colleague, PeopleSoft), and MS Word
• Ability to exercise tact, diplomacy and discretion with students, parents, and colleagues
• Ability to work independently or as a team, while managing multiple demands with varying deadlines
• Ability to exercise strict adherence to detail
• Demonstrated strength in time management, analytical reasoning, and problem solving
• Ability to effectively advise distraught and / or emotional students
• Ability to interpret complex policies and procedures surrounding the administration of bursaries, scholarships, awards, medals, and all forms of government assistance

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Sitting at desk and computer for extended periods of time
• Extensive contact with students, including those with a variety of disabilities; dealing with challenging or difficult personalities under stress
• General office conditions

The salary for the above position is determined by the Collective Agreement with the Canadian Union of Public Employees, Local 4879, as it presently exists.