Merced College is a midsized community college located in California’s Central Valley. Founded in 1962, the college serves more than 16,000 students, with room to expand on its 267-acre main campus and 120-acre Los Banos site, as well as at our innovative Business Resource Center in Downtown Merced. The City of Merced, incorporated in 1889, offers historical sites, affordable housing and access to the Bay Area and Sacramento. Merced is known as the Gateway to Yosemite National Park and the Sierra Nevada mountains, and is home to the University of California’s newest campus, UC Merced. Our tree-shaded, growing community of just over 80,000 includes multiple biking and walking trails as well as access to several lakes — large and small — throughout the county.

The Financial Aid Technician serves a vital role keeping the Financial Aid Office in compliance with federal and state regulations for various financial aid programs. We are looking for an organized, detail-oriented person who likes to work in a fast-paced environment and can adjust to change quickly. If this sounds like you, and you are dedicated to the success of students, Financial Aid invites you to apply.

Merced College Vision

Merced College will provide transformative and empowering educational experiences to meet student and community needs.

Merced College Mission

Growing our community through education and workforce training:

• lifelong learning
• basic skills
• career technical education
• transfer
• degree/certificate programs

Ensuring student success through equitable access, continuous quality improvement, institutional effectiveness, and student achievement.

General Description:

Under direction, to perform difficult and specialized clerical duties in the provision of financial aid services involving federal and state compliance issues; and to do related work as required.

Representative Duties:

• Attends various meetings and workshops on and off campus and serves as a liaison for the assigned program area
• Conducts confidential interviews with students and potential students to assure accurate and complete financial aid packaging
• Coordinates assigned program area for the purpose of ensuring the program will meet the needs of students seeking financial aid, while meeting the needs of the district
• Determines appropriate actions for a variety of problems in financial aid program guidelines
• Oversees program activities in compliance with local, state and federal regulations
• Evaluates students and ensures performance standards are met for the effective operation of the assigned program
• Maintains a variety of confidential and non-confidential records
• Monitors accuracy of financial aid records and assures correct application process of local, state and federal funds.
• Prepares a variety of complex files and records that document activities, provide reference, convey information, and comply with established financial, legal and/or administrative requirements
• Processes a variety of applications and forms as needed in determining the status of students in financial aid programs
• Researches a variety of topics to ensure compliance with relevant regulations and information for planning
• Resolves a variety of program issues and ensure students receive full benefits of financial aid
• Tracks student participation for the purpose of ensuring student eligibility for the assigned program area
• Performs all tasks of a Financial Aid Advisor
• Other related duties as assigned

Knowledge of:

• Modern office practices and procedures
• U.S. Department of Education (USDOE) and the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) computer software

Ability to:

• Maintain complex clerical records
• Perform clerical duties with speed and accuracy
• Train and supervise student workers
• Apply professional judgment
• Perform arithmetic computations rapidly and accurately
• Work independently
• Type at 45 words per minute
• Work cooperatively with others
• Demonstrate sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, and ethnic backgrounds of community college students

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Required:

• Associate's degree AND three (3) years of applicable experience
  OR
• Bachelor's degree
  OR
• The equivalent education and experience
• Sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, and ethnic backgrounds of community college students

Desired Qualifications:

• Knowledge of and/or experience with MS Word, Excel, Student Information System/Enterprise Resource Planning.

PHYSICAL DEMAND AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT

The conditions herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individual with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.

Environment:

Work is performed primarily in an office environment with some travel to different sites; incumbents may be required to work extended hours including evenings and weekends.

Physical Ability to:

• Hear and understand speech at normal levels
• Communicate so others will be able to clearly understand normal conversation
• Read printed matter and computer screens
• Stand or sit for prolonged periods of time
• Bend and twist, stoop, kneel, crawl, push, pull
• Reach in all directions
• Work at a desk, conference table or in meetings of various configurations
• Operate office equipment requiring repetitive hand movement and fine coordination including use of a computer keyboard

Vision

See in the normal visual range with or without correction.

Hearing

Hear in the normal audio range with or without correction.

How to Apply:

• Submit a complete application by the closing date/time on the Merced College career pages at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/mccd/transferjobs

Required Documentation:

• Letter of interest addressing your qualifications for the position (cover letter)
• Resume
• Legible unofficial college transcripts; transcripts must include the degree major and date the institution granted the degree; official copies are not required unless applicant is hired
• List of three professional references (no reference letters permitted)

If Applicable:

• Foreign transcripts must include a U.S. evaluation and translation completed by an approved organization per the State of California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. https://www.ctc.ca.gov/credentials/transcripts
• Equivalency Review Form (Required for applicants who do not possess the stated minimum educational qualifications and are seeking consideration on the basis of equivalency). http://www.mccd.edu/offices/hr/jobs/eqforms.html

Only the required documentation as listed above will be accepted for this recruitment. Any additional documentation will be removed from your application profile.

Interview Information:

Those applicants deemed highly qualified for the position will be invited to appear for oral interviews before a screening committee. A limited number of candidates will be invited to interviews. Interviews may be scheduled onsite or via Zoom. Applicants are required to ensure access to the necessary technology to participate in a Zoom interview and will be responsible for their travel expenses, if necessary.

Employee Benefits:

Employee Benefits: Health benefits for the employee and all their eligible dependents cost employee’s only $12 per month and provide access to PPO medical coverage, PPO dental coverage, VSP Vision coverage, and more! Please visit our Merced College Benefits website for more details about our incredible employee benefits. In addition, sick leave and retirement benefits are also provided.

Condition of Employment:

The selected candidate must be fingerprinted and tested for tuberculosis at his/her own expense prior to the start of employment. In compliance with the Immigration Reform Act of 1986, all new employees are required to verify their identity and the right to work in the United States. Merced College does not sponsor visas. All offers of employment are subject to approval by the Board of Trustees. The applicant must be able to perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodations.

Individuals with disabilities may request any needed accommodation to participate in the application process. Please submit your request with your application to the Human Resources Office.

Merced Community College District is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Merced College offers a wide range of employee benefits at minimal cost to the employee.

CLASSIFIED Health Benefits
Cost is $12.00/month for 10 months/year. There is no cost during June and July. $12.00 covers the following as long as the members use Plan providers: