Associate Director of Financial Aid, Commonwealth Law School

Widener University is currently seeking an Associate Director of Financial Aid at the Commonwealth Law School. This role reports to the Director of Financial Aid Services, who is located on the Chester Campus.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES (including, but not limited to) :

Essential duties :

• Works collaboratively with the Director of Financial Aid to ensure compliance with Federal regulations pertaining to the administration of financial aid, and university polices, in the development of policies and procedures.
• Counsels prospective and currently enrolled students and their families on financial aid and financing alternatives.
• Prepares financial aid offers for all students, resolves eligibility discrepancies, performs tax verification, and processes all student loans.
• Ensures that the administrative operations of the Financial Aid Office are completed while maintaining excellent service to our students, staff and faculty.
• Runs quality control reports at least biweekly and resolves issues in the Colleague system and in COD that may be preventing a student from receiving the financial aid for which they are eligible.

These issues tend to be more prevalent at the beginning of each enrollment term.

• Manages the withdraws including R2T4 calculations, adjustments to aid & exit counseling across all campuses.
• Provides support and information to university personnel on financial aid issues. Researches complex issues to resolve non-routine student problems in compliance with Federal, State and institutional regulations.
• Responsible for Federal Work Study reconciliation at the Commonwealth Law School.
• Stays abreast of changes to federal regulations.
• Completes certifications for PHEAA State Programs, such as EAP and MFEP.
• Organizes endowed scholarship applications, coordinates endowed scholarship committee meeting, and posts scholarship awards.

Secondary responsibilities :

• Attends recruitment and other events to represent the Financial Aid Office and make presentations about financial aid.
• Maintains and updates an annual office calendar of communications to students.
• Performs annual review and data collection of Cost of Attendance elements.
• Gathers and prepares data for ABA reporting and other reports as assigned
• Collects required employment documentation, posts employment awards, and processes student employment agreements.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS (education / training and experience required) :

Required :

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Four to six years of progressively responsible work experience and successful leadership in financial aid administration.
• Ability to maintain a strong customer service approach by demonstrating compassion and tact.
• Extensive knowledge of Title IV federal regulations, programs, policies, and procedures required.
• Experienced in using Common Origination and Disbursement (COD), National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS), FAA Access to CPS Online.
• Demonstrated proficiency working with office technology including MS Word, MS Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint.
• Demonstrated ability to interact effectively with students, staff, faculty, and external constituents.
• Demonstrated experience working with diverse student populations.
• Must be organized, flexible, and able to handle several tasks simultaneously while demonstrating excellent time management.
• Extreme attention to detail and strong analytic skills.
• Effective presentation skills.
• Superior interpersonal skills and excellent oral and written communication skills

Preferred :

• Demonstrated experience with Microsoft Office products
• Ellucian Colleague system experience preferred.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND / OR UNUSUAL HOURS :

• Ability to work evenings and weekends when needed.
• Usual office environment; walk-in traffic; interaction with others in person, interaction with others electronically or via telephone.
• Ability to be mobile between work station, various campus buildings, and all locations in the building.

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Widener University is committed to fostering an inclusive community in which faculty, staff, and students from a variety of backgrounds, cultures, and personal experiences are welcomed and can thrive.

We are an equal opportunity employer and are committed to providing equal educational and employment opportunities for all persons without regard to age, color, national origin, race, religion, disability, veteran status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, or status as a protected veteran.

Some positions may be eligible for a hybrid or remote work arrangement that may include a partially or fully remote work location, consistent with Widener’s Flexible Work policy.

Widener University, an independent, metropolitan, doctoral-intensive university, connects curricula to social issues through civic engagement.

Dynamic teaching, active scholarship, personal attention and experiential learning are key components of the Widener Experience.

Located in Chester, PA, Widener's main campus is nestled between Philadelphia, PA and Wilmington, DE, with Law Schools located in both Harrisburg and Wilmington.

For more information about the university, please visit our website at

EOE M / F / V / D