Financial Aid Counselor/VA School Certifying Official

• Keep VA informed of the enrollment status of students receiving VA education benefits;

• Ensure that only those courses that apply to the student's program are certified;

• Monitor student grades to ensure the student is making satisfactory progress, and report probation and termination as needed;

• Monitor attendance (when required), and report violations of school attendance policy;

• Monitor student conduct and report when student is suspended or dismissed for unsatisfactory conduct;

• Notify school supervisors of internal problems that may affect timely reporting of enrollment or changes to enrollment of students receiving VA education benefits;

• Notify the State Approving Agency (SAA) of any substantive program, policy, and approval criteria changes, and

• Notify the VA Education Liaison Representative (ELR) of any changes to SCO staff.

• Retain file (hardcopy or electronic) of certification documentation, records of academic progress, degree plan pursuit, prior credit transcripts and evaluation, registration documentation, tuition and fee charges, school application, enrollment agreements, and other applicable student documentation;

• Maintain records for at least three years following the student's last date of attendance, and,

• Ensure that records are kept in a safe place and that the privacy of VA students is protected.

• Read and maintain VA advisories and bulletins;

• Keep up-to-date on state regulations and state education benefits for veterans and eligible persons, and

• Attend training opportunities.

• The school's academic programs, what are the currently offered programs, what programs have been recently discontinued, or are planned to be discontinued;

• The school's academic policies and approval criteria such as, satisfactory academic progress, academic probation, suspension, readmission, prior credit, etc.

• Assist students in applying for state and VA education benefits;

• Identifying applicable resources for student success;

• Inquiring about payment and benefit problems;

• Ensuring that VA students are aware of their responsibility to the school, and

• Understanding how progress, conduct, registration and attendance can impact benefits and cause student debt.

• Process student awards, to include, but not limited to, Veteran Readiness and Employment (CH31) and the Post 9/11GI Bill (CH33), Federal Title IV aid, such as Pell Grant, SEOG, Direct Student Loans, State aid, such as Title 29 Tuition Exemption, TOPS, GO Grant, and Institutional and private aid, such as scholarships and exemptions.

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution

• 1-3 years of experience in higher education, student services, financial aid, registrar, veteran's affairs, admissions, or related field

• Experience providing customer service to students and external stakeholders

• Strong attention to detail and data-entry accuracy

• Experience interpreting and applying policies, regulations, and procedures

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, Word, and Outlook

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

• Ability to maintain confidential student records in compliance with FERPA

• Ability to manage multiple deadlines and responsibilities in a fast-paced environment

• Experience serving as a VA School Certifying Official

• Knowledge of GI Bill® education benefits and VA enrollment certification requirements

• Experience with VA Enrollment Manager

• Experience with PowerCampus, PowerFaids, or other student information systems

• Knowledge of federal Title IV financial aid regulations

• Experience working with military-affiliated students, veterans, reservists, and dependents

• Experience conducting compliance reviews, audits, or records management activities

Background Check - An offer of employment is contingent on a satisfactory pre-employment background check.