Financial Aid Counselor I

Department Contact: McKenna Garcia, 575-527-7550, mcgarcia@dacc.nmsu.edu

Internal or External Search: External - Open to all applicants

 

Advertising Summary: DACC, a responsive, accessible, comprehensive, learning-centered community college that provides education opportunities to a diverse community of learners is inviting candidates to apply for the following vacant position:

 

Position Details

Position Title: Financial Aid Counselor I

College/Division: DACC Dona Ana CC

Department: 941660-DACC FINANCIAL AID SVCS

Location: Doña Ana Community College

Offsite Location (if applicable): Gadsden Center and Sunland Park Center

Target Hourly/Salary Rate: $43,908.80 - $54,885.74 (Commensurate with qualifications)

Appointment Full-time Equivalency: 1.0

FLSA Status: Exempt

Bargaining Unit Announcement: This is NOT a bargaining unit position with American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees (AFSCME).

Contingent Upon Funding: Not Applicable

Standard Work Schedule: Shift: Other Shift

If Not a Standard Work Schedule: May work occasional hours beyond the standard 8-5 during peak periods or special events.

 

Job Duties and Responsibilities: The Financial Aid Advisor position is responsible for providing comprehensive support to students and families throughout the financial aid process, ensuring access to funding while maintaining compliance with federal, state, and institutional regulations.
• Counseling and Student Support: includes advising students and parents on financial aid options, FAFSA completion, loan borrowing and repayment, satisfactory academic progress (SAP), professional judgment requests, dependency issues, withdrawals, and financial responsibility. Advisors assist with academic plans for students facing SAP challenges, connect students to additional resources, support outreach events, and serve as a primary contact for resolving aid-related concerns.
• Award Management: involves reviewing and processing financial aid awards, performing need analysis, exercising professional judgment for special circumstances, managing appeals, adjusting awards for overpayments or eligibility changes, processing loans, and awarding specialized aid programs in accordance with regulations.
• Data Collection and Research: includes conducting research through systems such as NSLDS and COD to resolve issues related to defaults, aggregate loan limits, Pell eligibility, unusual enrollment history, bankruptcy, and other aid-related concerns. Advisors also review reports to identify and correct awarding discrepancies.
• Administrative Coordination: encompasses staff training, cross-department collaboration, policy and procedure development, presentations and outreach activities, website maintenance, student employee supervision, appeals committee participation, SAP monitoring, documentation management, and ongoing professional development to remain current on financial aid regulations.
• Compliance and Monitoring: focuses on ensuring adherence to federal, state, and institutional policies. Responsibilities include reviewing withdrawals, monitoring award accuracy, overseeing compliance procedures, supervising staff compliance efforts, completing required trainings, and collaborating with institutional partners to implement and improve financial aid policies and procedures.
Overall, the role combines student counseling, financial aid administration, regulatory compliance, outreach, and operational coordination to support student success and access to higher education.

 

Qualifications

Required Education and Experience: 
Associate's Degree + 2 years of relevant experience or a Bachelor's degree.

Equivalent Qualifications: 

Preferred Qualifications: 
Preferred experience in financial aid or higher ed setting.
Demonstrated proficiency in Spanish, including verbal communication, written correspondence, and public presentations, to support effective engagement with the diverse populations served throughout southern Doña Ana County.

Special Certification/Licensure: 

 

Working Conditions and Physical Effort

Environment: Work is normally performed in a typical interior/office work environment.

Physical Effort: No or very limited physical effort required.

Lifting Requirements: Requires handling of average-weight objects up to 10 pounds or some standing or walking.

Risk: No or very limited exposure to physical risk.