Job Details

(Full-time) Director of Student Services (Financial Aid)
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Position Number: 5995254
Location: Redding, CA
Position Type: Financial Aid

Description of Basic Functions and Responsibilities

OVERVIEW
The Shasta-Tehama-Trinity Joint Community College District (Shasta College) sits at the northern end of the Sacramento Valley, surrounded by mountains to the north, east, and west. The area provides a wide array of outdoor amenities and activities with miles of hiking and biking trails, national parks, two lakes, and the Sacramento River. The main campus is located in the city of Redding, population 90,000. The area is characterized by excellent schools with high graduation rates, low traffic, and low housing prices (Zillow average 393,000 vs. California state average of 770,000).

Shasta College is committed to providing its diverse student population with equitable education outcomes, contributing to the social, cultural, intellectual, and economic development of our communities. The college has been recognized as a leader in developing and implementing innovative education programs to increase student success, including accelerated pathways for high school students to achieve a bachelor's degree and for returning students to complete their Associate and Bachelor's degrees. Shasta College enrolls more than 11,000 students annually and provides educational services to students with a wide range of skills and abilities.

Our ideal candidate is motivated to join a campus community prioritizing the success of our racially and socio-economically diverse staff and student population. Providing equitable outcomes so all members of our community may enjoy safe, healthy, and vibrant educational and employment environments is critical to our success.

Administrator positions in the California Community College system offer a unique opportunity to contribute to the empowerment of our students seeking to improve their lives and communities. Our administrators manage a wide range of programs and lead faculty and staff in engaging our diverse employee and student populations, facilitating equitable outcomes for all through the management of our various employment and academic programs. As an administrator at Shasta College, you will join a vibrant community of professionals working collaboratively to provide a positive, healthy educational environment where our students experience diverse academic and cultural perspectives. A career at Shasta College offers a highly rewarding and enriching employment experience.

DESCRIPTION OF BASIC FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Under the direction of an area administrator, plan, organize, coordinate, direct, develop, implement and oversee the day-to-day operations of a variety of student services programs and areas, which may include Financial Aid, Admissions and Records, the Veterans Center, the Student Success Center and other matriculation related activities; serve as liaison for students by providing assistance to resolve matriculation problems; support Guided Pathways initiatives; and recommend for hire, train, schedule, supervise, and evaluates assigned personnel.

CLASSIFICATION: Range 30 on the Administrative Salary Schedule, 40 hours per week, 12 months per year. Work assignment hours are 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. This is a classified administrator position with a default CalPERS retirement.

SUPERVISOR: Assistant Superintendent/Vice President of Student Services or designee

Typical Duties, Knowledge and Ability

Plan, organize, coordinate, direct, implement, manage and participate in the administration and supervision of various student services programs such as: Financial Aid, Scholarships, Admissions and Records, Veteran Services, Student Success Center, Transfer Center support, Counseling support, International Students, Global Education, graduation and other matriculation-related activities contributing to student outreach, onboarding, retention, success and degree/certificate completion. Support Competency Based Education, Credit for Prior Learning, and Degrees When Due initiatives.
Recommend, develop, implement and coordinate programs and activities that assist students in making a successful transition to the college.
Read, interpret, and implement federal and state regulations and guidelines governing financial aid and veteran services administered at Shasta College. Maintain current knowledge of regulation and guideline revisions in areas supervised and implement accordingly.
Plan, develop, evaluate, and direct the implementation of policies and procedures to insure accurate and timely record keeping, student awards and disbursements of financial aid in accordance with federal and state regulations and requirements.
Develop, implement, and evaluate program goals, objectives, policies and services that are consistent with the college mission and in compliance with the regulations and guidelines of the Chancellor's Office.
In collaboration with other managers and staff, develop and implement goals and objectives that enable and encourage students to successfully declare their major, enroll, succeed and retain to completion.
Supervise the maintenance of financial aid, veteran services and admissions records and insure compliance with record retention policy.
Review financial aid, veteran's services and admissions processes, procedures and student files to ensure compliance with federal and state regulations.
Review college policies and procedures to insure they align with federal and state regulations.
Manages the Shasta College Cohort Default rate through working with third parties and/or making internal changes to retain a low rate.
Handles student appeals related to the areas supervised and determines appropriate course of action as appropriate.
Provides managerial direction over a variety of Student Services areas including planning, goal setting, implementation, coordinator, evaluation and accountability.
Evaluates the work of assigned staff; with staff, develops, implements and monitors work plans to achieve assigned goals and objectives; contributes to development of and monitoring of performance against the annual department budget; participates in developing, implementing and evaluating work programs, plans, processes, systems and procedures to achieve department and District goals, objectives and performance measures consistent with the District's quality and service expectations. Train, supervise, and evaluate the performance of assigned personnel in accordance with proper management practices and collective bargaining agreements; provide technical direction and guidance; counsel and discipline employees as needed; reassign work to assure timely completion.
Provides day-to-day leadership and works with staff to ensure a high performance, customer service-oriented work environment, which supports achieving District objectives and service expectations. Provides leadership and participates in programs and activities that promote a positive, collaborative work environment.
Plans, develops and supervises special events related to Enrollment Services. Prepares, submits, and monitors the annual budget for assigned Student Services programs; researches and approves expenditures for services, supplies, and equipment in accordance with established policies and procedures.
Consults and collaborates with the Information Technology Department and participates in the development and enhancement of specialized automated systems; maintains current knowledge in the latest technology related to functional areas, including hardware and software capabilities; provides major input to long-range technology planning decisions.
Recommend, develop, and implement programs and activities that facilitate the success of new, returning and current students; exercise leadership in the use of modern techniques of quality management to continuously improve the operations of area supervised; effectively utilize and implement information technology in the area supervised.
Plans, organizes and prepares the district's applications/reports for federal and state funds; prepare a variety of complex statistical and narrative annual and other periodic reports to federal, state and local agencies to support the financial aid program; prepares applications and proposals to obtain federal, state and private student aid funds; assures maintenance of accurate records and balance accounts with fiscal services records.
Maintains timely and accurate reporting to District, State and federal agencies; collects, analyzes, and disseminates reports on the outcomes of various student programs and services.
Participates in the reporting of MIS data to the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office; assumes administrative responsibility over the data; investigates, troubleshoots, and resolves data issues.
Supports Statewide Initiative implementations through creating area visions, goals, objectives, implementation plans and assessment processes for improvement.
Submits annual area plan initiatives, goals, student learning and area outcomes.
Works closely with research to conduct survey's and program reviews.
Creates collaborative, positive working environments and relationships. Provides excellent customer service verbally, non-verbally, in person, over the phone and/or in writing.
Manages content on web presence for all areas assigned.
Resolves complex and difficult student situations related to financial aid, admissions and records, student accounts, grades, attendance, enrollment, reinstatement, satisfactory academic progress, refunds and disbursements. Resolves student account and records issues; confers with students on their financial aid and/or student record files.
Communicates with other district personnel to coordinate effective financial aid services; provides technical expertise and informs students, staff, and administrators regarding financial aid, scholarship programs, policies, and procedures; conducts orientations and workshops to explain financial aid regulations, requirements and application procedures. Understands students' rights and responsibilities as outlined in the Education Code and other applicable regulations; determines students' needs for appropriate services and resources and refers students to the appropriate offices; confers with students to help resolve problems associated with assessment, orientation and academic success.
Communicates student services programs and activities with other district departments and personnel, students, outside organizations and the public; responds to phone calls and written correspondence; provides information and answer questions from students, district personnel and the general public regarding district and student services programs, policies, procedures and regulations.
Performs complex and responsible registration functions; builds academic semester structures, including setting dates and legal deadlines; runs processes to accept online applications; processes complex registrations and applications; evaluates residency classifications, approves challenge forms for prerequisites; oversees probationary, suspension, dismissal and re-admittance processes; analyzes requests for refunds as well as any other sensitive admissions petitions.
Responsible for the special admittance process to insure compliance with regulations and policies. Communicates out the process and updates as needed to the college community as well as local high schools. Coordinates outreach and recruitment programs and programs with other offices and agencies. Provides technical information and assistance to college staff and students.
Organizes and coordinates student services programs, and advisory committees; serves as a liaison between the college and program agencies.
Attends conferences, workshops, and training seminars to keep current on changes in federal and state regulations; represents the college to other educational institutions and community organizations.
Serves as leader for one or more cross-functional teams by facilitating the efforts to create improvement to processes, policies, and/or services related to Student Services through collaboration.
Prepares informational materials, handbooks, policies and procedural guides as assigned; makes presentations for a variety of groups; serves on District committees as assigned.
Provides onboarding to new personnel hired.
Conducts staff meetings; represents Shasta College at statewide and regional meetings and conferences.
Performs fieldwork as needed to support recruitment projects; provides consultation to students, parents, and a variety of internal and external groups or individuals.
Performs other related duties similar to the above in scope and function as assigned.

Knowledge of:

Philosophy, objectives, goals and services of effective student programs and services.
Federal, state and local laws, codes, rules, regulations and court decisions applicable to a variety of student services programs including categorical programs and matriculation related areas including Admissions and Records, Financial Aid and Veterans Services.
Title V, FERPA, CCFS-320, student fees, and attendance accounting policies and board policy.
Principles and practices of generally accepted accounting and auditing procedures related to Federal Title IV financial aid.
Applicable sections of the State Education Code and the Federal Title IV and Title IX regulations.
Processes, requirements and eligibility provisions of federal, state and local financial aid programs.
Principles of data driven decision making and planning; knowledge of program evaluation for effectiveness and efficiency.
Software systems to improve functions related to student services.
Principles and practices of sound business communication.
The diverse socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic and disability backgrounds of the local regional population.
Correct English usage, spelling, grammar and punctuation.
Research methods and techniques.
Interpersonal skills including tact, patience and diplomacy.
Budget preparation and control practices.
District organization, operations, policies and objectives.
Principles of project management, and record keeping techniques.
Proficiency in utilizing word processing, graphics, spreadsheet, database and other software relevant to subject job functions.
Principles and practices of supervision, training and handling difficult personnel issues.

Ability to:

Plan, organize and direct the work of enrollment, financial aid, admissions and records, veteran services and other areas as assigned.
Interpret rules, regulations and policies regarding all aspects of enrollment services, financial aid programs, awards and student eligibility.
Monitor program activities and budgets.
Develop and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with others including those from diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural and ethnic backgrounds.
Prepare clear, concise and comprehensive reports and written materials.
Exercise sound, expert independent judgment within general policy guidelines such as when reviewing and screening applications for financial aid to determine eligibility and evaluate special circumstances.
Use a high degree of tact, diplomacy, and discretion in dealing with sensitive and complex issues and situations and information on behalf of the college.
Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
Work cooperatively with a variety of individuals and coordinate activities with all levels of college organization.
Meet schedules and timelines.
Operate a computer and software involving word processing, spreadsheets, databases, imaging and desktop publishing.
Plan, organize and supervise work and staff; train, supervise, evaluate, and provide work direction and guidance to others.
Understand and follow oral and written directions.
Work confidentially with discretion.

Experience/Education

Education Required:

Bachelor's or graduate degree in public administration, management, business administration, leadership, or a related field or equivalent combination of training, education, and experience. Master's degree preferred.

Experience Required:

One year of formal training, internship, or leadership experience reasonably related to the administrative assignment.
Demonstrated sensitivity to, and understanding of, the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds of staff and students, as well as staff members and students with physical and/or learning disabilities.

Experience Preferred:

Three years of related work experience and post-secondary education experience.
Leadership experience including supervision and evaluation of personnel and budget management or an equivalent combination of training and experience.

Other Required:
Licenses, Certificates and Special Requirements:

A valid California driver's license and the ability to maintain insurability under the District's vehicle insurance policy.

Additional Information

To be considered a candidate for an Administrative position, the applicant must submit ALL of the following materials:

Online Application with the following materials attached:
Cover letter addressing criteria listed in the position announcement
Current resume and/or placement file
College transcripts (unofficial will be accepted at the time of application)

Attention Applicants:

After application has been submitted, all application materials will be screened.
Internal candidates must also submit all required materials to be considered.
Candidate evaluations will not be considered.
Reference letters from any member of the Hiring Committee or Board Members will not be considered.
Interviews will be by invitation only.
Interviews may be by Zoom.
The District does not reimburse for new hire moving expenses.

New Administrative Appointments will be placed at the step 1 on the Administrative Salary Schedule and will graduate to the next step on July 1st of the following year if they have rendered 5 months of satisfactory service, with subsequent steps annually thereafter to a maximum fifth step.

Salary placement would only be negotiable if the candidate held the same position with another community college and step 2 or 3 would be the maximum considered depending on the number of years of service.
The Shasta-Tehama-Trinity Joint Community College District ("Shasta College") does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religious preference, age, disability (physical and mental), pregnancy (including pregnancy, childbirth, and medical conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth), gender identity, sexual orientation, genetics, military or veteran status or any other characteristic protected by applicable law in admission and access to, or treatment in employment, educational programs or activities at any of its campuses. Shasta College also prohibits harassment on any of these bases, including sexual harassment, as well as sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking.