Columbia College Chicago is an acclaimed undergraduate and graduate institution that provides a comprehensive education in the arts, communications and public relations. We constantly aim to reach our full potential as an educational innovator, incubator of new creative practice and generator of real-world success for young creatives. We are located in the heart of Chicago, across the street from historic Grant Park, and housed in some of the most iconic buildings in the South Loop.

Columbia College Chicago a private urban institution of over 6,000 undergraduate and graduate students, four-year College offering a distinctive curriculum that blends liberal arts, creative and media arts and business is currently searching for a Columbia Central Counselor.

Position Summary

• Deliver a holistic counseling experience for course enrollment information, academic records, financial aid, billing and payment with a continuous focus on academic and degree progress, financial wellness, student retention and graduation rates.
• Counsel, advise, investigate, problem-solve, and resolve issues for prospective, current, and former students and their authorized family members.
• Advise on in-depth financial aid questions assuring adherence to all regulations related to processing financial aid applications, financial aid eligibility, disbursement and refunds, cost of attendance budget components, different aid types, and special circumstances.
• Monitor individual progress of students’ financial and academic components and provide personalized plans or interventions to ensure students budget appropriately, maintain the lowest possible levels of debt, and academically succeed to prevent impacts to financial aid and timely degree progress and graduation.
• Manage caseloads of students and conduct proactive outreach to students who have been identified as being at-risk
• Work cooperatively with other college departments to assist students with questions or issues relating to their educational experience at Columbia College Chicago.
• Assist students with questions related to their Campus Card and U-Pass, including basic account troubleshooting, issuing new and replacement Campus Cards, creating U-Pass accounts for new students, and issuing new and replacement U-Passes.
• May supervise and delegate assignments to student workers ensuring work is complete and accurate and provide a supportive and educational work environment.
• Participate in college recruitment activities including, but not limited to, Admitted Student Days, Open House, and New Student Orientation
• Actively participate in all professional development activities such as trainings, committees, project teams, and other opportunities.
• May provide student services support to special populations of students such as veterans, international or graduate students.
• May serve as a veteran certifying official, if assigned.
• Perform other related duties and/or responsibilities as assigned.

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution required.
• Minimum of two years of previous experience in one or more of the following areas in a higher education setting: Student Financial Services, Registrar, Academic Advising, or One-Stop Services preferred.
• Experience working with database systems including data entry, queries and running reports.
• Detail-oriented, with the ability to learn and interpret Federal, State and college regulations, policies and procedures.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (with an emphasis in Excel skills) highly preferred.
• Effective use of interpersonal and communications skills including tact and diplomacy, customer service skills.
• Effective organization and planning skills, including familiarity with general financial planning concepts.
• Cultural awareness, problem-solving and analytical abilities, decisiveness, and professional discretion.
• Ability to interpret college, state, and federal policies and procedures, exercise professional judgment and exercise authority to make reasonable exceptions, as defined by one-stop management, to help students persist and graduate.
• Flexibility in adapting to changing conditions
• Ability to think creatively and apply innovative solutions to work environment and partner with other constituents to accomplish tasks.