Financial Aid Advisor I

Agency

Department

Qualifications

Required Education and Experience

· Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience

· No experience required

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

· Ability to meet deadlines and maintain a high level of accuracy, professionalism, and customer service

· Working knowledge of Microsoft Office software

· Ability to work individually or as a team in a dynamic organization

· Good interpersonal communication skills

· Must be literate in the English language and able to comprehend, give and follow both written and verbal instructions

· Ability to organize and make decisions

· Ability to work well under pressure

· Ability to use tact, diplomacy, and judgment in dealing with all customers

· Attention to detail

Responsibilities:

Advising/Processing

• Under close supervision, learns to use discretion and independent judgment to advise and counsel students and their families on financial aid and scholarships

• Learns how to and assists with reviews of student files and adjusts as needed

• Able to learn the student financial aid/scholarship process and shadows team members

• Learns how to award, revise and/or approve the disbursement of financial aid through the specific controls of program policy and guidelines

• Able to learn how to communicate with students and their families via multiple methods (i.e. email, in-person, phone, etc.)

• Learns to review application data against additional data received and resolve discrepancies or adjust data in Banner/Compass as appropriate

• Learns how to collaborate with on campus representatives regarding students’ financial aid concerns

Financial Aid Knowledge & Team Support

• Learns, interprets, and maintains knowledge of current federal, state, and institutional policies, procedures, and regulations pertaining to financial aid

• Understands how staff interact with students and help transition students from prospective to currently enrolled students

• Learns how to ensure processing activities adhere to established policies and procedures while using critical thinking skills

Specialized Financial Aid Support & Student Services

• Supports the financial aid office by learning specialized functions that require in-depth knowledge of federal, state, and institutional financial aid regulations

• Provides assistance with Education Abroad and Gilman Scholarship coordination to ensure eligible students receive appropriate aid adjustments

• Responds to student inquiries and service tickets submitted through Aggie One Stop (AOS), resolving financial aid issues in a timely and accurate manner

• Conducts Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) appointments to guide students through aid eligibility requirements based on academic performance

• Processes professional judgment requests, including cost of attendance adjustments and housing status changes, ensuring decisions align with institutional policies and federal guidelines

• Works collaboratively with the financial aid team to deliver student-focused service while maintaining compliance and promoting access to financial support

General

• Participates in and assists in the planning and execution of events for departmental initiatives (e.g. financial aid awareness programs, Aggieland Saturday, New Student Conferences)

• Learns how to respond to various questions that may require researching and consolidating data regarding financial aid and scholarships

• Attends local, state, and national workshops, and conferences

• May assist with presentations

Who We Are

The mission of Scholarships & Financial Aid is to provide students and their families with information and financial resources to attend Texas A&M University, along with support programs that promote higher education and developmental opportunities. We administer scholarships and financial aid, which include the following programs:  grants, student loans, student employment, veteran educational benefits, athletic aid coordination, short-term loans, and emergency tuition and fee loans. In addition our office provides advising on the programs listed above. Our office also assist students in gaining financial literacy knowledge through our Money Education Center. Our office is responsible for processing student aid and veteran educational benefits for College Station, Galveston, all Health Science Center sites and Qatar which totaled approximately $836 million in financial aid assistance for the prior academic year.

Why Texas A&M University?

We are a prestigious university with strong traditions, Core Values, and a community of caring and collaboration.  Amenities associated with a major university, such as sporting and cultural events, state-of-the-art recreation facilities, the Bush Library and Museum, and much more await you.  Experience all that a big city has to offer but with a reasonable cost-of-living and no long commutes. 

• Medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, life and AD&D, flexible spending accounts, and long-term disability insurance with Texas A&M contributing to employee health and basic life premiums

• 12-15 days of annual paid holidays

• Up to eight hours of paid sick leave and at least eight hours of paid vacation each month

• Automatically enrollment in the Teacher Retirement System of Texas

• Health and Wellness: Free exercise programs and release time

• Professional Development: All employees have access to free LinkedIn Learning training, webinars, and limited financial support to attend conferences, workshops, and more

• Educational release time and tuition assistance for completing a degree while a Texas A&M employee

• Living Well, a program at Texas A&M that has been built by employees, for employees

Our Commitment

Texas A&M University is committed to enriching the learning and working environment by promoting a culture that respects all perspectives, talents & lived experiences.  Embracing varying opinions and perspectives strengthens our core values which are: Respect, Excellence, Leadership, Loyalty, Integrity, and Selfless Service.  

All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institution’s verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institution’s procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check.

Equal Opportunity/Veterans/Disability Employer.