Student Financial

The College of Veterinary Medicine invites applicants to apply for the position of Student Financial & Awards Services Coordinator. This on-campus position (with some hybrid flexibility) supports Enrollment and Student Services in the College of Veterinary Medicine, serving 400–500 veterinary and graduate students and overseeing more than $700,000 in scholarships and $25,000+ in merit awards. This position's primary role is to advise students on financial aid, including state HOPE Scholarships, federal grants, and loan programs, while also providing guidance on budgeting, debt management, and repayment options. Additional responsibilities include UTCVM scholarship distribution and authorization, coordinating data for the Scholarship Committee, working with the UTK Financial Aid Office to process awards, and supporting DVM students with complex financial aid needs. The counselor also serves as a financial planner for graduating students.

UTCVM Scholarship Distribution & Enrollment Services Support:

• Manage UTCVM scholarship distribution and related enrollment services.
• Refine and maintain scholarship data forms for student submission through Scholarship Manager (or similar systems).
• Communicate with students regarding form completion and provide clear instructions.
• Compile and filter scholarship data for review by the awards committee in selecting recipients.
• Assist with award processing and monitor student account balances, coordinating all federal/state aid processing and compliance tasks with UTK's Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships. 
• Track external scholarship opportunities (e.g., Chewy, Merck, Zoetis) and advise eligible students to strengthen competitiveness; maintain relationships with external award providers.

Cross-Functional Support: 

• Provide backup support for admissions operations as needed, including applications, registration, matriculation, and graduation audits.

Financial and Career Support:

• Promote financial literacy as an advisor, to support veterinary and graduate students in meeting accreditation requirements.
• Stay informed on veterinary school costs and payment strategies to better advise students.
• Deliver presentations to prospective and admitted students (and their parents) on personal finance, educational debt, and financial aid processes (collaborating with UTK's Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships on all financial aid processes). 
• Advise students on key deadlines, requirements, financial aid options, and repayment strategies based on Financial Aid-prepared reports, dashboards, or aggregated non-FTI data.
• Provide financial literacy programming across the curriculum, including updates on financial aid and loan repayment during clinical phase orientation in collaboration with the Center for Financial Wellness for alignment and consistency. 
• Serve as a liaison with employers, recruiters, industry representatives, and student leaders, ensuring effective communication and resource connections.

Student Business Practices:

• Partner with college business managers to support student organizations in planning and executing fundraising efforts, including guidance on product selection and scheduling for maximum effectiveness.
• Serve as a liaison with employers, recruiters, industry representatives, and student leaders, directing them to appropriate channels for advertising and communication with target audiences.

Senior and Other Student Awards Support:

• Collaborate with college business managers and UTIA Advancement to manage the collection and distribution of monetary and non-monetary awards for veterinary student achievement.
• Prepare correspondence, track payments, maintain records of award criteria and selections, and archive documentation.
• Coordinate the collection and distribution of physical awards, such as plaques and certificates.

University Liaison:

• Serve as college liaison to UTK OneStop, UTK Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships
• Serve on relevant college or university standing or ad hoc committees
• Help trouble-shoot individual problems with university administered financial aid and use of excess funds.

Required Qualifications:

• Education: Bachelor's degree in finance, business administration, higher education, student services, or a related field.
• Experience: 2 years of experience in financial administration, student services, awards management, or a related area.
• Knowledge, Skills, Abilities: Knowledge of federal and state financial aid regulations, university scholarship policies, and student support services. Understanding of personal finance, budgeting, and educational debt management. Proficiency with scholarship management systems, student information systems, and data tracking tools. Strong communication and interpersonal skills for advising students, parents, faculty, and external partners. Ability to provide guidance on financial aid, scholarships, and repayment options, making independent and informed decisions. Skilled in project coordination, organization, and multi-tasking in a fast-paced academic environment. Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise discretion with sensitive student and financial information.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Education: Master's degree in finance, business administration, higher education, student services, or a related field.
• Experience: Experience in a university financial aid, bursar's office, business or student services office. Experience managing financial transactions, scholarships, or awards programs. Financial Planner certification.
• Knowledge, Skills, Abilities: Familiarity with Microsoft Office products (or similar). Ellucian Banner, OnBase, and/or TeamDynamix experience preferred.

Work Location:

• Knoxville, Tennessee       
• On-Site with hybrid opportunities

Compensation and Benefits: 

• UT market range: MR05
• Find more information on the UT Market Range structure here
• Find more information on UT Benefits here

Application Instructions:

To express interest, please submit an application with the noted below attachments. 

• Resume
• Cover Letter
• List of 3 Professional References

About The College:

The UT College of Veterinary Medicine (UTCVM), located in Knoxville, was established by an act of the Tennessee Legislature in 1974 and is part of the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture.

UTCVM is one of 33 veterinary colleges in the United States and provides opportunities for Tennessee students while serving pet owners and the livestock industry as well as protecting public health, enhancing medical knowledge and generating economic benefits to the state and nation.