Financial Aid Counselor Basic Sciences

The Financial Aid Counselor Basic Sciences provides direct financial aid counseling and support to students enrolled in the Basic Science programs at St. Georges University. This role is responsible for guiding students through the entire financial aid lifecyclefrom initial application and loan packaging, to enrollment adjustments, ongoing financial literacy, and repayment preparationensuring compliance with federal and private loan regulations. As part of the student journey, the Counselor acts as a trusted advisor to students and families, helping them understand eligibility requirements, borrowing responsibilities, creditworthiness, and long-term financial planning. The Counselor plays a pivotal role in debt management, credit counseling, and private loan counseling, equipping students with the tools to make informed borrowing decisions, budget effectively, and prepare for successful repayment after graduation. This position will report to the Associate Director, Financial Aid - Advisement. Essential Functions Student Counseling & Advisement * Counsel Basic Sciences students on all aspects of federal and private loan programs, including eligibility, application processes, disbursements, and renewal requirements. * Provide individualized credit counseling to help students understand credit scores, creditworthiness, and their impact on loan approval and repayment. * Deliver private loan counseling, ensuring students fully understand loan terms, lender requirements, and repayment responsibilities. * Provide debt management counseling, helping students and graduates understand responsible borrowing, repayment options, and long-term financial impact. * Guide students through entrance and exit loan counseling, ensuring compliance with federal requirements. * Counsel students on budgeting, credit management, and meeting financial obligations to the University and their lenders. * Act as a primary point of contact for assigned caseload of active and prospective students, providing proactive outreach and timely responses. * Document all student interactions in RHACOMM (Banner) and Salesforce, ensuring accurate records for compliance and follow-up. * Respond to all student inquiries within 2448 hours, escalating complex cases to leadership or appropriate departments as needed. * Guide students through the VA process. Collaborate with the Enrollment and Financial Aid Operations team on VA certification. Application Processing & Aid Packaging * Review and evaluate financial aid applications, including ISIRs, to determine eligibility and resolve conflicting information. * Package federal and private loans in accordance with DOE regulations and lender requirements. * Review and Identify budget adjustments, cost of attendance recalculations, and aid revisions for students with curriculum or enrollment changes. * Certify private loan eligibility and ensure compliance with lender and federal requirements. Financial Literacy & Student Journey Integration * Develop and deliver financial literacy education for Basic Sciences students through one-on-one sessions, group workshops, and presentations. * Present at orientations, webinars, and class meetings to support student awareness of financial aid processes and responsibilities. * Provide ongoing outreach throughout the student journey, ensuring students understand financial aid at pre-matriculation, enrollment, mid-program, and graduation milestones. * Monitor completion of federal/private loan requirements, ensuring timely compliance. Collaboration & Compliance * Partner with Admissions, Registrar, Bursar, and Student Affairs to ensure seamless integration of aid with enrollment, billing, and student services. * Maintain strict compliance with federal regulations, FERPA, Title IV, and lender policies. * Evaluate unusual or extenuating circumstances submitted by students for professional judgme