The Assistant Director of Financial Aid serves as a key operational leader within the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid (OSFA), supporting the effective delivery of and compliance with federal, state, and institutional financial aid programs. Under the direction of senior leadership, the Assistant Director ensures accurate application of policies and procedures across assigned aid programs, contributes to quality assurance efforts, and supports the day-to-day processing and communication of aid. This position plays a critical role in supporting student access, retention, and timely degree completion by ensuring operational efficiency and regulatory alignment. Supervision Exercised Required Qualifications Bachelor's degree and one year of experience in financial aid counseling or in a higher education student service, or financial services related setting OR Associate's degree and four years of experience in financial aid counseling, in a higher education student services, or financial services related setting. Excellent written, verbal, and public speaking communication skills. Demonstrated ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities, and perform under pressure with high accuracy. Commitment to maintaining compliance, confidentiality and data integrity in accordance with FERPA, federal, state, and institutional aid policies. Preferred Qualifications Demonstrated expertise in administering Title IV programs and interpreting federal and state regulations. Strong analytical and decision-making skills, especially in applying professional judgment and reviewing aid eligibility. Experience with enterprise systems (e.g., Colleague, Banner, Regent, COD, NSLDS, FPP). NASFAA credentials or other professional certification in financial aid. Knowledge of Michigan financial aid programs. Experience developing and delivering training or policy guidance. Duties & Responsibilities Executes day-to-day functions of assigned financial aid programs (e.g., Federal Direct Loans, Federal Pell Grant, Michigan Achievement Scholarship, institutional scholarships), ensuring timely and compliant processing. Applies federal regulations to evaluate unusual circumstances, exercise professional judgment, and make decisions that impact aid eligibility. Processes appeals for the federal Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policy and other academic criteria to determine continued aid eligibility. Responds to student and parent inquiries by phone, email, social media and in person; provides clear guidance on aid options, requirements, and problem resolution with the expectation of the highest level of customer service. Assists with the maintenance of the OSFA website in partnership with University Communications to ensure up-to-date and accurate content. Processes the awarding of $1.5 million in endowed, departmental, and annual scholarships, ensuring eligibility criteria are met and awards do not exceed cost of attendance or unmet need per federal and university regulation and policy. Reviews and assists student eligibility for federal loans, ensuring adherence to grade-level progression, annual limits, and lifetime aggregate limits; counsels students on repayment options and resolves federal loan history issues. Collaborates with the Athletic Compliance Office to ensure student-athlete aid is awarded in compliance with NCAA, institutional, and federal regulations. Manages awarding processes and collaborative outreach for specialized graduate and professional programs, including Physical Therapy, Speech-Language Pathology, Physician Assistant, and Audiology. Supports compliance through documentation, review of internal processes, and proactive identification of potential issues. Reviews Department of Education Dear Colleague Letters, Federal Registers, Electronic Announcements, and policy updates as released to ensure they are following guidance and policy in their work. Provides internal and external financial aid presentations to prospective students, families, faculty, and partners; represents the office at campus and community outreach events. Contributes to training and procedural documentation efforts to promote consistent and compliant aid processing across assigned programs. Participates in professional development, conferences, and federal/state training to remain current on regulatory changes. Assists in compliance with federal and state regulations governing financial aid to prevent audit findings, institutional liability, and student harm. Supports accurate disbursement and processing of over $220 million in annual aid across federal, state, and institutional programs. Communicates high-stakes information to students and families clearly, empathetically, and accurately. May supervise or provide functional guidance to student employees as assigned. Acts as a subject matter expert and supports staff training, procedural development, and quality assurance. Supervision Exercised None. Message to Applicants Central Michigan University is dedicated to fostering an environment that is reflective of the communities we serve. We are especially interested in highly qualified candidates who will advance and promote CMU's mission, vision, and leadership standards. You must submit an on-line application in order to be considered as an applicant for this position. Cover letters may be addressed to the Hiring Committee. Employee Group Professional & Administrative -Salary Staff Pay Level Pay Range $44,000 - $55,000 Division Student Recruitment & Retention Department Office of Scholarships & Financial Aid Position Status Regular Position End Date Employment Status Full-Time

FTE 1.00

Position Type 12 month Weekly Work Schedule Mon-Fri, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. / weekends and evenings as needed Location Mount Pleasant, MI About the Department About CMU Central Michigan University has a more than 125-year legacy of preparing students to become leaders and changemakers in their communities and in their personal and professional lives. We serve nearly 15,500 students on our Mount Pleasant campus, in satellite locations around the state and throughout the country, and through flexible online programs. Many of our approximately 300 undergraduate, master's, specialist and doctoral programs in the arts, media, business, education, human services, health professions, liberal arts, social sciences, medicine, science and engineering are nationally ranked for excellence. CMU leads the nation in leadership development programming through our Sarah R. Opperman Leadership Institute, and we are proud to be among only 5% of U.S. universities in the top two Carnegie research classifications. Our faculty work with graduate and undergraduate students in areas such as Great Lakes research, medical innovation, engineering technology and more. Central is home to 17 men's and women's Division 1 sports including football, basketball, gymnastics, baseball, wrestling and more. Our student-athletes achieve great success in competition and in the classroom, capturing Mid-American Conference championships and maintaining an average cumulative GPA of 3.17. CMU is located in Mount Pleasant, a community that blends the best of small-town living with big-city amenities. It's part of the culturally varied and vibrant Great Lakes Bay Region that also includes Saginaw, Bay City, Midland and the state's largest Native American community, centered on the Saginaw Chippewa Isabella Reservation in Mount Pleasant. Area residents enjoy the mix of outdoor activities, cultural events, shopping and dining options, and family attractions. Other major Michigan destinations and attractions — Lansing, Grand Rapids, Detroit, Traverse City, wineries, beaches, golf and ski resorts, and many more — are within easy reach of the city's central location in Michigan's Lower Peninsula. CMU employees enjoy access to a nationally recognized wellness program along with health care and benefits that exceed regional, state and national norms. CMU Leadership Standards Central Michigan University is a place where we value students and work for their success, where we act as family, and where employees are engaged, appreciated and have extraordinary opportunities to make a difference. We intentionally maintain and strengthen the hallmark CMU culture that sets us apart from our peers by expecting CMU leaders and employees to model the following Leadership Standards and develop them within their teams. Please review the Leadership Standards before applying for this position.