Financial Aid Coach Jobs

About Durham College

Durham College (DC) is leading the way as a post-secondary institution, offering an innovative and transformative student experience and hands-on learning opportunities. With this focus top of mind for our students and our employees, DC is proud to be one of the fastest-growing colleges in the province and annually ranked as one of the GTA’s Top 100 employers.

The college offers a wide range of market-driven programs across multiple disciplines, including culinary management, farming and horticulture, business, IT, construction and trades, science and technology, health care, engineering, social and community services, justice, media, art and design.

With a focus on experiential learning, DC graduates are known for having the skills and knowledge employers need. More than 104,000 alumni represent the college, both locally and around the world.

Serving the Durham Region and Northumberland County communities for over 50 years, with campuses in Oshawa and Whitby, the college offers over 12,500 full-time post-secondary and apprenticeship students access to more than 145 full-time post-secondary programs – including four honours bachelor degrees and nine apprenticeship programs. Led by over 1,860 full- and part-time staff, DC has an estimated annual economic impact of more than $913 million on Durham Region.

Duties And Responsibilities

Working under the direction of the Director, Financial Aid & Awards, The Financial Aid Coach is responsible for individual coaching on financial aid and related academic matters at Durham College. This position supports the enrolment of new students and the retention of current students by providing guidance and coaching to students, parents and other third parties and community agencies on a variety of financial aid programs including the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP), Durham College (DC) bursaries, scholarships & awards and all other student aid programs available to DC students. The incumbent is responsible for interpreting financial aid conditions along with reviewing and processing OSAP applications and appeals in an accurate and timely manner. The financial aid coach will develop, and present workshops promoting a variety of financial aid programs and awards and will positively represent DC to prospective students, parents and external community agencies while participating in recruitment activities. The coach will assist students in attaining their educational goals by providing support with financial related issues.

Student Support

• Provide budget coaching to clients and when appropriate refer to outside sources of financial assistance programs.
• Work with academic advisors to support retention and continued financial support of at-risk students.
• Coach students on an individual basis and in group sessions on financial aid matters, bursaries, budgeting and personal financial management by asking probing questions and providing a range of options and possible outcomes.
• Coach students on repayment options available to student borrowers, repayment assistance programs and on maintaining good standing on outstanding loan debt.
• Review and makes decisions on OSAP and bursary appeal cases that are within the authority of the Financial Aid Office.
• Determine student eligibility for internal, external and government scholarships and grants.
• Interpret and apply academic and government financial aid policy to evaluate and determine student eligibility for all programs including full and part time financial aid, awards, emergency funding, bursaries and employment programs.
• Provide proactive support to individuals in distress to prevent physical or mental injury or harm. Make referrals to appropriate DC or external services and supports.
• Coach and advise students on non-routine financial aid and appeal cases, assisting in the preparation for submission and reviewing of documentation for acceptability
• Review and assess conditions for students with immediate financial challenges and accommodate through tuition fee deferrals, food or book vouchers, emergency bursaries or referral to extremal financial supports.
• Plan, promote and execute financial aid activities that support recruitment, retention, and individual financial literacy of students.

Administrative And Records Management

• Identify and request missing information for file changes
• Review and update OSAP cost codes for new programs, additional program offerings, or program of study changes.
• Enter and maintain Student OSAP records via Ministry and DC on-line systems.
• Evaluate and authorize tuition refunds applying institutional refund policy and OSAP tuition refund policies.
• Make case notes after client meetings where appropriate
• Review, approve and record or upload supporting documents for OSAP applications, appeals, and changes in eligibility.

Verification Of And Release Of Aid Funding

• Analyse and verify student registration, academic status, academic progress and eligibility for student aid programs
• Work and verify multiple queues within the OSAP system that support the accuracy, eligibility, assessment and release of government aid funding.
• Verify the accuracy of financial aid entitlements
• Evaluates and reports academic progress resulting from withdrawals, failures, drops in course load, and multiple program changes.
• Approve distribution of financial aid loans, grants and bursaries in compliance with Ministry Policies.

Marketing, Presentations/Workshops

• Compose and edit material for print, web, and electronic publication
• Deliver OSAP repayment seminars and provide education to students to proactively manage OSAP default.
• Develop, implement and deliver educational workshops regarding OSAP and alternative financial aid programs to students, parents, teachers, counsellors and external community agencies.
• Provide individual and group budgeting sessions to coach students on financial management skills
• Represent Financial Aid & Awards at student outreach activities such as, college open houses, program information and orientation days

Qualifications

• Candidate must have demonstrated knowledge of coaching principles, and have experience coaching students.
• A minimum of a three-year advanced diploma or degree in Business or related discipline.
• Excellent student service orientation. Incumbent should remain current in financial aid policy and process and have experience in a financial aid environment including advising and coaching prospective students on financial aid programs, money management and financial literacy.
• Should conduct ongoing research and other professional development to ensure thorough knowledge of government, institutional, bank, and private financial aid and award programs as well as financial literacy and money management techniques and practices. Proven experience in developing, implementing and presenting workshops for educational purposes.
• Demonstrated experience in dealing with sensitive and confidential information, meeting AODA and FIPPA compliance, and in assisting and advising potential/current students and other clients from diverse socio-economic and cultural backgrounds.
• A minimum of five (5) years of related work experience in a financial aid office.

Required Skills

Starting Rate: $36.19; Four Year Rate: $41.94

Required Experience

Full-time Support Staff Opportunity: Temporary Employee Replacement (Appendix D, see page 109 of collective agreement) August 2023 to August 2024

Hours: 35 hours per week (1) one hour lunch; Mon – Fri (8:30am – 4:30pm)

Please apply below by submitting your cover letter and resume to the online portal. Job Competition closes on July 27, 2023. Competition number SS23-99.