Indigenous Financial Aid Specialist

**Regular/Temporary**
- Regular

**Job Title**
- Indigenous Financial Aid Specialist

**Job ID**
- 67087

**Location**
- Central Campus

**Open Date**
- 01/16/2025

**Job Type**
- Continuing

**Close Date**
- 01/30/2025

**Employee Group**
- Unifor Unit 1, Staff

**Favorite Job**

**Department**
- Indigenous Student Services

**Salary Grade/Band**
- Grade 8

**Salary Range**
- $27.66 - $41.64 (hourly)

**Hours per Week**
- 35

**Posting Details**

**Schedule**
- Monday to Friday, 8:30am-4:30pm

**Education Level**
- Bachelor's degree in a relevant field of study

**Career Level**
- Requires 3 years of relevant experience
The Indigenous Student Services team is a dynamic group of passionate and dedicated Indigenous professionals committed to fostering the success of Indigenous learners at McMaster University. Our department champions McMaster as the preferred university for Indigenous students, offering culturally relevant programs and services, including:

- Recruitment and Community Outreach
- Admissions and Transition support for students new to McMaster
- Academic support and advocacy for Indigenous learners
- Financial Literacy and support, including access to Scholarships/Bursaries/Awards
- Wellness Counselling
- Elders in Residence/Traditional Knowledge Keepers programming
- Social and Cultural activities, including Welcome Week and the Indigenous Grad Celebration

This position will report to the Director, Indigenous Student Services under Student Affairs and have accountability to the Senior Associate Registrar, Aid & Awards under the Office of the Registrar.

Key Responsibilities include:

- Financial Assessments: review and analysis of financial resources to determine eligibility for financial aid support including scholarships, bursaries, awards, and emergency funding
- Financial Aid Resources: develop financial aid resources, including promotional materials, for Indigenous students; develop and facilitate workshops and information sessions on financial aid opportunities and financial literacy
- Collaborative Support: develop relationships with university and community partners including Aid & Awards, Student Services, Student Success Centre, and Post Secondary Education Offices

Further Responsibilities include:

- Analyze all available resources to determine the most appropriate and effective financial assistance options available to students to maximize financial resources and address gaps in funding for Indigenous students.
- Plan, coordinate, and facilitate culturally sensitive workshops, orientation programs, and information sessions on Indigenous financial aid and literacy as well as research scholarships and awards for Indigenous undergraduate and graduate students.
- Facilitate sharing and understanding of data with Indigenous funding partners such as band funding offices, Office of the Registrar, and Student Accounts.
- Research and maintain information on financial services and supports available to Indigenous students external to the University including, but not limited to, external scholarships, bursaries, and awards.
- Coordinate the award selection committees for Indigenous scholarships and awards.
- Approve requests for emergency bursary program funding maximizing resources available through Indigenous Student Services and the Aid & Awards office.
- Administer additional supports available to Indigenous students through Indigenous Student Services including housing, transportation, child care, and nutrition program supports.
- Counsel Indigenous students who present with a student account hold on options available and liase with necessary offices as needed.
- Provide grade, attendance, and enrolment reports to band funding offices for sponsored students.
- Develop customized strategies to help Indigenous students overcome financial obstacles.
- Research, develop, and present information on Indigenous financial aid programs and services at meetings and workshops for prospective and current students as well as internal, and external partners.
- Participate in on-campus and off campus recruitment events to promote Indigenous Financial Aid Programs and ensure applicant, parent, and student inquiries are answered appropriately.
- Read, interpret, and understand supporting documentation including, but not limited to, immigration records, protected person status documents, transcripts, legal affidavits, marriage certificates, death certificates, CRA income tax returns, Band funding documents and government assistance documents.
- Interview students regarding financial issues, family history, personal choices, academic issues, and assess and evaluate the information provided.
- Inform students of government and institutional policy, rules, and regulations to which they must adhere while receiving financial assistance.
- Process appeals including, but not limited to, issuing notifications of ineligibility, placing restrictions on files, and approving assessment appeals.
- Interpret inform