Located 45 minutes from the Nation’s Capital, nestled in a history-rich community of southern Maryland, The College of Southern Maryland (CSM) has been twice named in the top 150 community colleges by the Aspen Institute with academic programs in over 100 disciplines. CSM is among America’s top 100 producers of Minority associate degrees in twenty categories, according to Diverse Issues in Higher Education.  CSM offers excellent health insurance benefits; State Retirement Pension plan; wellness programs; Code Green early closure Fridays in the summer; college closure for spring break and several major holidays, including the week between Christmas and New Year; and for several days in March for Spring Break.  We are an innovative institution committed to student success and well known for our flexibility to meet student and community needs.

35 % Financial Aid Application Review, Verification, and Processing

• Imports and processes Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) applications from the Department of Education to prepare students for awarding.
• Researches and resolves student record issues on the FAFSA application such as communication code notifications, information discrepancies, and residential and familial changes.
• Performs verifications and corrections on student files to ensure accuracy of FAFSA application.
• Verifies student eligibility for loan funds, identifies potential eligibility issues, and refers those issues to appropriate staff members.

• Evaluates all student records using standardized and ad-hoc reports to ensure all eligibility rules and policies are met.
• Collects and reviews financial assistance documents submitted by students for accuracy.
• Receives, reviews, scans, and links all documents submitted by students into Perceptive Content imaging software.
• Processes documents in multiple Perceptive Content queues to complete student files.
• Performs basic queries to locate imaged student records from Perceptive Content imaging software for other college staff for college related purposes.
• Maintains Colleague database integrity ensuring correct demographic data and financial record accuracy.

• The position serves as the primary contact for prospective students, current students, and visitors in the Financial Assistance Department.
• Provides accurate information regarding all areas of enrollment management (financial aid, admissions, advisement, recruitment, career services, and bursar office services) and assists customers in carrying out a wide variety of enrollment transactions.
• Navigates appropriate questions to determine each individual’s path to getting started at the college and obtaining financial assistance. (New student? Transfer student? Con ed? Credit?)
• Assists students with completing online FAFSA application and problem solves and resolves any concerns for students, parents, and internal customers.
• Monitors and manages generalized e-mail and chatbot accounts in regard to the Financial Assistance Department questions and issues with students’ financial assistance eligibility.
• Informs students on how their financial assistance is affected by withdrawing from and/or not completing classes.
• Coordinates with Bursar’s, Registrar’s, and Admissions offices to ensure financial aid awards are administered properly.
• Notifies students of changes in their financial assistance eligibility and cancellations.
• Provides correspondence to students requesting documentation to confirm discrepancies found using letters, e-mails, and phone calls.

• Participates in weekend FAFSA Help Sessions by helping students complete the FAFSA application as an outreach to the community. Attends recruitment events to provide financial aid information.
• Participates in various college wide recruitment activities, including but not limited to community outreach, Open Houses, FAFSA Help Sessions, You Can Afford College, Orientation Sessions and other recruitment activities.

• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Required Education and Experience:

• Associate’s degree
• At least one year of experience working in customer service with front-line customers

• Bachelor’s degree
• At least two years of office experience working with detail-oriented tasks and maintaining confidential records
• Experience in an academic setting

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Superior interpersonal skills dealing with the public, outside agencies and peers in a dynamic environment
• Computer (MS Office) and data management skills required (preferably with an integrated data system)
• Familiarity with Student Financial Assistance programs guidelines and procedures preferred
• Ability to work independently with professional integrity and discretion 
• Ability to organize and prioritize extensive workload daily

General Employment Information

The College of Southern Maryland is an Equal Opportunity Employer. 

Background Checks

The College of Southern Maryland conducts background checks in order to ensure the safety and well-being of the College's staff and students.  The final candidate for this position will be subject to the following background checks:  Criminal History Check and Sex Offender Registry Check.

Conflict of Interest policy

No College of Southern Maryland employee shall engage in or have a financial interest, directly or indirectly, in any activity that conflicts or raises a reasonable question of conflict with his or her duties and responsibilities. CSM Employees shall not at any time engage in any outside employment or independent consulting that would adversely affect their employment status or performance as employees at the college, create a conflict of interest, or, with the exception of constitutionally protected activities, would compromise or embarrass the college, or adversely affect professional standing. Any full-time college employee who also holds a full-time position or its equivalent in consulting elsewhere (whether permanent or seasonal) will be deemed to have a conflict of interest and will be asked to resign from one of the full-time positions.  Full-time employees must promptly disclose in writing, on a form available from the Human Resources Office, to the college all other full-time employment or its equivalent in independent consulting.  

Employment Frequently Asked Questions

Click here to find our frequently asked questions: https://www.csmd.edu/employment/frequently-asked-questions/index.html