Assistant Director for Federal Programs

Academic Affairs ("AA") is headed by the Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs who serves as the institution's Chief Academic Officer ("CAO") and is responsible for administering academic policies. AA is comprised of each of the university's colleges, schools, and libraries, along with other academic support and administrative units, to include Learner Operations, Research, Innovation and Engagement, Institutional Planning, Assessment and Research, and Global Affairs. Academic Affairs works collaboratively to strengthen ECU's culture of academic excellence in line with our mission to be a national model for student success, public service, and regional transformation.

The mission of the Office of Student Financial Aid is to offer a comprehensive financial aid program that attempts to meet the financial needs of all university students, utilizing aid programs from all sources students are believed to be eligible, designing financial aid packages in ways which assist students in achieving a quality education and support their academic objectives.
Further, to remain eligible to participate in all available funding sources by maintaining compliance and providing data to funding sources and campus partners.

10%
Researching/Writing/Training/Outreach:
Position will be the resource for Federal Title IV statutory and regulatory requirements and recommend policies and procedures to ensure compliance in overall financial aid operation. Help in the development of institutional financial aid policy, procedures, and philosophy in conjunction with the Director and Associate Director. Position will be responsible for training new and continuing staff on new regulations as they are promulgated and will teach all Counseling and Call Center staff how to answer questions when a student has been denied aid due a discharge or default.

20%
Information and Records Administration:
Position will review documents (examples - not all inclusive: IRS forms, Social Security Administration documents, military leave and earnings statements, Veteran's Administration benefits letters, letters from students and/or parents, Federal Student Aid Reports, Parent Loan application/ promissory notes) that pertain to a student's financial aid application. Position will review for completeness and compare with information already contained on the student's financial aid Banner record. Confidentiality of these records is crucial to the operation of the Financial Aid Office and to this position. Position must understand the Federal and State regulations surrounding Financial Aid to determine if additional information is needed or if the file is complete to determine the award package. Position will be responsible for determining award based on these guidelines.

Professional Judgement:
Position will make professional judgement decisions about when to cancel aid and when to reach out to students and parents to request additional information when loans remain 'stuck' in pending status. Position will read, interpret and make professional judgement decision regarding when a student who has loans in a discharged or defaulted status, may be eligible to borrow again.
Position will carefully document all professional judgement decisions made.

30%
Counseling Duties: All professional staff have counselor duties. The position will have direct contact with clients (students and parents, primarily) on an appointment and walk-in basis and over the phone. The position provides information about all student financial aid programs program characteristics such as type of aid, funding source, amounts, interest rates, repayment requirements, application procedures and individual student eligibility requirements such as academic, financial, citizenship, enrollment, etc. In order to complete this responsibility, the position must be knowledgeable in the details of all students' financial aid programs, ranging from private/institutional scholarships to federal loan programs. The position discusses confidential financial data and other family circumstances with the client. It advises the client about its impact and eligibility to participate in various aid programs. The position exercises professional judgment in individual student situations. In financial aid administration, this means that the position determines, after reviewing the student's situation, that the student does not fall into the standard categories outline in program regulations and that the student should be an exception to the rule. The position, although not an academic advisor, is often in a situation of suggesting various academic strategies to help a student meet the financial aid satisfactory academic progress requirements for the retention of financial aid.

40%
Program Duties:
Receives and reviews COD reports; verifies ECU enrollment, and makes appropriate adjustments to student awards. Position is responsible for: investigating the PLUS and GRAD PLUS error reports; Direct Stafford Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loan reports; Pell Grant Lifetime Elig and Potential Over-payment ( LEU and POP) reports. Position communicates with other schools regarding students home school for students attempting to receive aid at two schools for the same term.

Position reconciles, disburses or returns inappropriately awarded funds. These two programs - Pell Grant and Direct Loans - through COD, are the single largest source of aid funds at East Carolina University. they are highly regulated and increasingly complex.

It is critical that this position review data; plan for and request assistance from other staff in light of both the academic calendar and the financial aid office calendar; the position must build and maintain relationships with Registrar staff, Business and Finance staff; Clearinghouse/ NSLDS/ COD staff, and with the Financial Aid Office Accounting and the Student Accounts staff.

Last, the position must be comfortable in their knowledge and speak with confidence in their answers to students and families with questions about why a loan was approved or cancelled.

This position is contingent upon available funding.

Bachelor's degree; or equivalent combination of training and experience. All degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions.

None

Experience and/or training in financial aid or equivalent combination of education and experience; Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general federal student financial aid regulations; Ability to write reports, correspondences, and procedure manuals; Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from supervisors, students, and general public; Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of instructions furnished in oral and written form.

Experience with Banner Financial Aid Module and Word Processing. Ability to navigate the federal Common Origination and Disbursement website and the National Student Loan Data System as well as the National Student Clearinghouse website.

East Carolina University requires applicants to submit a candidate profile online in order to be considered for the position. Candidates must also submit a cover letter, resume, and a list of three references, including contact information, online.

Two to three original letters of reference are required for employment. Please be aware that if selected as a candidate of choice, an automatic e-mail will be sent to the individuals entered in the References section of the PeopleAdmin applicant tracking system. Letters of reference submitted via the PeopleAdmin applicant tracking system will be verified and considered towards meeting this requirement.

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.

In order to be considered for this position, applicants must complete a candidate profile online via the PeopleAdmin system and submit any requested documents. Additionally, applicants that possess the preferred education and experience must also possess the minimum education/experience, if applicable.

East Carolina University is committed to workforce success and cultivating a culture of care for our employees. ECU prohibits unlawful discrimination and harassment based on race/ethnicity, color, genetic information, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, political affiliation, and veteran status. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their protected veteran status or disability.

Individuals requesting accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act ( ADAAA) should contact the ADA Coordinator at (252) 737-1018 (Voice/ TTY) or ADA-Coordinator@ecu.edu.

Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motor vehicle checks. ECU participates in E-Verify. Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States.

If you experience any problems accessing the system or have questions about the application process, please contact the Department for People Operations, Success, and Opportunity at (252) 328-9847 or toll free at 1-866-489-1740 or send an email to employment@ecu.edu. Our office is available to provide assistance Monday-Friday from 8:00-5:00 EST.