Work Days: Monday - Friday
Shift Start/End Time: 8AM - 4:24PM
Hours Per Week: 37
Weeks Per Year: 52

Administrative Assistant - Financial Aid

Pay Status and Classification: Non-exempt, Regular full-time

Supervisor: Senior Associate Director of Financial Aid

Position Purpose: Provides comprehensive assistance to both prospective and current students and families as they navigate the financial aid application process. Works collaboratively with other key campus offices to facilitate seamless and efficient operations. Contributes to process improvement initiatives and data management efforts, optimizing the delivery of financial aid services to meet the diverse needs of our student population.

Essential Responsibilities and Duties:

1. Student Support and Communication Management: Provides assistance to our students and families as they progress through the financial aid application process. This includes managing the general email account, answering phones and welcoming visitors. Provides exemplary customer service by responding with accurate and comprehensive information in a timely fashion. Assists with mass communications including mailings, emails, and annual postcard distribution. Oversees financial aid award letter process for both incoming and returning students, ensuring accuracy and timeliness.
2. Data Entry and Organization: Reviews all incoming documents for accuracy followed by tracking and linking appropriately to the student record. Follows up with students and families as needed. Develops and maintains spreadsheets to monitor and track incomplete aid applications. Reviews and updates office procedures, identifying areas for improvement and implementing necessary changes.
3. Liaison and Coordination: Serves as a liaison between the financial aid office and various campus departments including admissions, bursar, registrar, dean of students, office of residence life, and information technology. Ensures regular updates and information sharing among offices to streamline processes and enhance collaboration.
4. Office Administration: Manages office supplies, monitors inventory levels, and processes payments efficiently to support office functioning. Assists in creating and updating PowerPoint presentations for various office needs.

Qualifications:

1. Associate’s degree or a combination of relevant education, training, certifications, and/or work experience.
2. Proficiency in software programs including Microsoft Word, Excel, Google Suite, and PowerPoint.
3. Experience with integrated student management software such as Colleague highly desirable.
4. Proficiency in multitasking, self-directed work, and effective prioritization of demanding workloads.
5. Ability to communicate effectively through both written and oral means is essential.
6. Ability to deliver strong customer service is essential.
7. The ability to foster and enhance a thriving, culturally diverse, and inclusive learning community, while promoting a sense of belonging among students, alumni, faculty, and staff colleagues.

We are committed to recruiting diverse and excellent faculty and staff colleagues, and we recognize that successful candidates may come from a range of backgrounds. We know some job candidates may believe they need to meet every qualification listed in the position description, in particular the preferred qualifications. We encourage you to apply, even if you do not meet every one of the listed preferred qualifications.

Note: All new hires of Union College are subject to a thorough education, work experience, and criminal history background check.

Compensation

The rate for this position is $18.50 - $19.50 per hour. Except for roles with a set rate of pay, the wage/salary of the finalist selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to departmental budgets, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, specialty, and training. The stated hiring rate/range represents the College’s good faith and reasonable estimate of the rate/range of possible compensation at the time of posting.

We offer exceptional benefits including:

• Generous Vacation, Sick and Personal Time
• Winter and Summer Recess Break in Addition to Paid Holidays
• Healthcare, Dental, and Vision Insurance (Flexible Spending and Dependent Care Accounts)
• Free On-Campus Fitness Facility Access and Discounts for On-Campus Wellness Programs
• Employee Scholarships toward Certifications, Seminars, Training and Professional Development
• Pre and Post Tax participation in a 403(b) Retirement Plan
• Salary Continuation Program in the event of Disability
• Tuition Assistance Program for Employee, Spouse and/or Dependents

Accommodations

If you require an accommodation throughout the interview process, please don't hesitate to contact our Human Resources department at hr@union.edu or 518-388-6108. We are committed to ensuring that all candidates have equal access to opportunities and can participate in a fair and inclusive hiring process.

Diversity at Union College

Union College is an equal-opportunity employer and is strongly committed to student and workforce diversity. Increasing diversity on campus is a critical priority for Union, one that is integral to our mission of preparing students for a globally interconnected world. Union provides a blend of intellectual, social, and cultural opportunities to facilitate the integrated academic, social, and personal development of a diverse community. We value and are committed to a host of diverse populations and cultures including, but not limited to, those based on race, religion, disability, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national origin, and veteran status. Union College is committed to providing access and will provide reasonable accommodation in its application process to individuals with disabilities who request such accommodations.

Non-Discrimination Policy

Union College will not discriminate in the recruitment or selection of faculty and employees, or in any other area of employment, on the basis of age, sex, race, national origin, religion, religious belief, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, and veteran status. In this regard, opportunities for advancement will be made available without bias. The College is also subject to state and federal laws and supports efforts to attract and retain fully qualified women and other minority group members for faculty and other positions. Union College will comply with the letter and intent of all State and Federal laws and applicable orders pursuant to Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action.

Union College

Officially chartered in 1795, Union College is the fifth-oldest liberal arts college in the country. Located in the Capital District of New York State, Union is a highly selective residential and undergraduate college, home to 2,200 students and 220 faculty, and offering 44 majors. Union was the first liberal arts college to rethink the traditional liberal arts education and adopt an engineering curriculum. That pioneering approach continues today with an education that encourages students to work beyond the limits of disciplinary boundaries, allowing them to think globally and lead innovatively in a world where problem-solving requires breadth across humanities, arts, social sciences, science, and engineering.