Assistant Director of Financial Aid

Posted Wednesday, April 6, 2022

Virginia Military Institute is accepting applications for the position of Assistant Director of Financial Aid.  Reporting to the Director of Financial Aid, the Assistant Director must maintain knowledge of all Federal, state, and institutional regulations, policies and procedures. In contributing to the day to day operations of the office, with a goal to serve cadets, prospective cadets, and their families, the successful candidate must possess strong communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills.  

Responsibilities of the Assistant Director will include:

• Certify educational loans from private banks
• Assist in the oversight and reconciliation of the Federal Direct Loan Program
• Assist in the processing of Parent PLUS Loan applications
• Assist in the Verification of files selected by the Department of Education
• Act as liaison with the VMI Alumni Agencies
• Award and reconcile individual scholarship funds
• Assist in the awarding and coordination of Institute Honors Scholarships and Departmental awards
• Review and revise financial aid policies and procedures
• Assist in the administration of summer session financial aid as applicable
• Assist in the administration of Study Abroad financial aid as applicable
• Maintain awareness of all NCAA compliance procedures and coordinate with the Athletics Department to load financial aid information into the designated database for the purpose of creating Squad Lists
• Counsel cadets, prospective cadets, and their families about VMI’s financial aid opportunities
• Participate in admissions functions
• Attend regional, state and national training conferences
• Perform other duties as required

The Assistant Director must also become proficient with associated software and websites (MS Office, Ellucian Colleague, Entrinsik Informer, NSLDS, COD, CPS) used to support the processing of financial aid. 

Bachelor’s degree required; master’s preferred. Previous experience working in a financial aid office or in higher education preferred.  The successful candidate will demonstrate superior customer service skills in addition to having a commitment to furthering the educational goals of all current and prospective cadets.  This is a full-time administrative faculty position with a full benefits package. 

Salary is commensurate with education and experience. 

Candidates must apply on-line at:  Assistant Director of Financial Aid- Job Application

Please include a letter of application, resume, and telephone numbers and addresses of three references. 

Information about VMI

Virginia Military Institute was founded in 1839 as America's first state supported military college located in the historic Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. VMI was the second institution of higher education created by the Commonwealth of Virginia, after the University of Virginia.  The City of Lexington, Virginia and the greater Rockbridge County offer a stimulating cultural atmosphere, a relaxed rural pace, and a diverse economic base to make life both pleasant and rewarding. In keeping with its founding principles and unlike any other senior military college in the United States, VMI seeks to enroll young men and women of exceptional talent, curiosity, and character in an academic community in which innovative teaching and active learning are complemented by an intensive military regimen focused on educating the “whole” cadet.  The Corps of Cadets is comprised of 1,700 cadets and is wholly undergraduate. The institute grants degrees in 14 disciplines with half enrolled in engineering, science, and half the liberal arts.  All VMI cadets are required to participate in the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC). U.S. News & World Report has ranked VMI among the nation’s top undergraduate public liberal arts colleges since 2001. NCAA Athletic competition requires commitment in time and effort to compete at the NCAA Division I level complimented by a participation in club sports, intramurals, and other military training activities. 

The Institute’s efficacy is well demonstrated by generations of VMI alumni. Notable alumni of VMI include a Nobel Peace Prize winner, 11 Rhodes Scholars, seven Medal of Honor recipients, a Pulitzer Prize winner, college presidents, and generals and flag officers.  VMI’s endowment, $700 million, is the 4^th largest in the Commonwealth of Virginia and the 40^th largest for public colleges or universities in the country, regardless of size.

VMI supports a positive work-place environment focusing on operational excellence, regulatory compliance, and continuous improvement. VMI provides a workplace that is warm, welcoming, energetic, and cohesive in support of the Institute’s mission in developing leaders of character. We operate with a high sense of civility, distinguished by strong ethical behavior, in line with VMI’s foundational characteristic: honor.

In a continuing effort to enrich its academic environment and provide equal educational and employment opportunities, VMI encourages women, minorities, disabled individuals, and veterans to apply.  

The Virginia Military Institute is committed to providing an environment that emphasizes the dignity and worth of every member of its community and that is free from harassment and discrimination based on race, sex, color, national origin, religion, age, veteran status, sexual orientation, pregnancy, genetic information, against otherwise qualified persons with disabilities, or based on any other status protected by law. In pursuit of this goal, any question of impermissible discrimination on these bases will be addressed with efficiency and energy and in accordance with VMI General Order 16. General Order 90 addresses complaints or reports of retaliation against those who have opposed prohibited practices, those who have filed complaints or reports of prohibited practices, and those who have testified or otherwise participated in the enforcement of General Order 16. 

Information About Lexington, VA

For 200 years in Lexington, the junction of Main and Washington Streets has been the busiest spot in town. In the 1700s Main Street was part of the Great Wagon Road and was often jammed with horses and wagons. Three courthouses have anchored the southeast corner, and the Alexander-Withrow House (home of The Georges), on the opposite corner, dates from 1789.

Lined with historic buildings, farm-to-table restaurants, bright galleries, and welcoming boutiques, downtown Lexington is easy to love. And with red brick sidewalks tying it all together, it's also easy to explore on foot.

With power lines hidden underground, historic architecture, and Washington and Lee University and Virginia Military Institute in view, downtown Lexington looks much as it did in the 1860s. The museums and cultural events on the two campuses are open to the public, offering world class speakers and entertainment. The downtown of Lexington is robustly supported with an active Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Development Association, and the Lexington Visitors Center generating $136M in tourism revenue.

In addition to its charming downtown, Lexington offers a premium outdoor experience and fun for the whole family, including but not limited to Rockbridge Outdoors, Hulls Drive-In Theater (family centric experience), Virginia Horse Center, Safari Park, Natural Bridge State Park, Boxerwood Nature Center and Woodland Garden. The Rockbridge Area Recreation Organization provides several recreational programs. Carilion Rockbridge Community Hospital, located in Lexington, provides a 25-bed critical access hospital offering inpatient and outpatient care as well as outreach activities.  It can be summed up as…Small Towns, Big Backyards and all the Roads that Connect It.

The Lexington community is also very proud of its two schools (one elementary and one middle school; the high school serves the entire county) with small class sizes, modern buildings, safe streets and high percentage of those that ‘walk’ to school. Lexington City Schools create a positive climate in which students feel safe and valued. There are many opportunities for development outside the standard curriculum, such as the Roots and Shoots Garden, where the students learn about where food comes from and what is harvested that is then used in the school cafeteria.