Financial Aid Coach

**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**:
**Student Support**:

- 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.
- 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.
- Determine student eligibility for internal, external and government scholarships and grants.
- 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 makes decisions on OSAP and bursary appeal cases that are within the authority of the Financial Aid Office.
- Provide budget coaching to clients and when appropriate refer to outside sources of financial assistance programs.
- Plan, promote and execute financial aid activities that support recruitment, retention, and individual financial literacy of students.
- Work with academic advisors to support retention and continued financial support of at-risk students.
- 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 students on repayment options available to student borrowers, repayment assistance programs and on maintaining good standing on outstanding loan debt.

**Administrative and Records management**:

- Make case notes after client meetings where appropriate
- Enter and maintain Student OSAP records via Ministry and DC on-line systems.
- 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.

**Verification of and release of Aid funding**:

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

**Marketing, Presentations/Workshops**:

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

**QUALIFICATIONS**:

- A minimum of a three-year advanced diploma or degree in Business or related discipline.
- A minimum of five (5) years of related work experience in a financial aid office.
- 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.