Description

A collaborative, equity-minded leader to serve as Equitable Funding Support Navigator. The Equitable Funding Support Navigator is responsible for creating, assessing, and continuously improving the policies, processes, and practices necessary to facilitate equitable student learning and success; deliver excellent service; and accomplish the work of the Student Services division. The Student Services division includes financial aid, enrollment, outreach, and student life and student support services.

This role reports directly to the Director of Financial Aid and serves as an integral member of the Financial Aid team who, in addition to responsibilities for coaching students through financial processes to ensure continued aid eligibility during their educational journey at CGCC, will also be cross-trained to support financial aid processing and communication functions and serve as a back-up to the Financial Aid Coordinator. The successful candidate will work collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders and be driven by a genuine desire to advance the College’s Mission and Priorities. Accordingly, the Equitable Funding Support Navigator will provide excellent service with a focus on closing equity gaps in educational access and attainment, and will work to promote inclusive prosperity throughout the Columbia Gorge region.

Who We Are…

Columbia Gorge Community College (CGCC) is an inclusive environment where the unique contributions of our diverse students, employees, and the community are honored and valued. We expect all employees to foster a climate of belonging that supports all students and employees in achieving success.

Mission: CGCC prioritizes equitable access to education, empowers all students through learning, and drives inclusive prosperity throughout our community.

Vision: As an institution of higher education, CGCC innovates and excels, champions equity and inclusion, and nurtures belonging among our students, employees, and the community.

Priorities:

• Ensuring equitable access to education
• Advancing equitable student learning and educational outcomes
• Fostering economic growth, inclusive prosperity, and a thriving community

Guiding Principles: Open Communication, Respect, Integrity, Collaboration, and Equity and Inclusion.

Where We Are…
Columbia Gorge Community College serves a diverse region in north-central Oregon and south-central Washington. CGCC acknowledges we are on the homelands of the Confederated Tribe of the Yakama Nation and neighboring tribes as well as the 14 bands along the Inchi I’wana (Columbia River). Our main campus is within the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area in The Dalles, Oregon. We also have a beautiful site in the city of Hood River.

What the Area Offers…
Nestled in the breathtaking beauty of the Columbia River Gorge, our College offers more than just a job; it offers a unique lifestyle. Imagine waking up to stunning mountain views, enjoying outdoor adventures in your backyard, and being part of a tight-knit community dedicated to educational equity and innovation.

Organizations like Comunidades, The Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission, Washington Gorge Action Programs, and The Next Door are representative of the groups that span the Gorge area to provide community resources and leadership. Manufacturing, technology, and IT companies are expanding rapidly in the area, which is home to companies such as Insitu, Tofurky, Cardinal Glass, Sagetech, HoodTech, and Google. Portland is roughly an hour away, with its various urban attractions and access to international travel.

What You Will Do…

In this role, the Equitable Funding Support Navigator will work toward creating equitable and sustainable opportunities for students as they seek to fulfill their financial commitments to Columbia Gorge Community College, so as to increase college readiness, success, and degree completion. The Navigator will seek to provide support to reduce or eliminate debt burden through awareness of funding opportunities for student tuition and cost of attendance, including Federal Financial Aid (Title IV), state-supported aid, scholarships, military and veteran benefits, and additional grant opportunities.

Key Responsibilities & Core Functions

• Student Coaching & Financial Planning: Provide comprehensive coaching and navigational support to help new and continuing students create financial plans, address the cost of attendance (tuition, housing, transportation), and navigate the Student Portal.
• Financial Aid Administration & Review: Assist students with applying for and maintaining financial aid; review applications, Institutional Student Information Records (ISIRs), and exceptional circumstances to ensure compliance with Department of Education Title IV and state requirements.
• Specialized Student Support: Serve as a dedicated resource for independent students, those with unusual financial circumstances, and veteran students, including managing veteran certification with the Department of Veterans Affairs.
• Account Assessment & Payment Solutions: Assess students’ accounts to determine financial obligations, guide them through CGCC payment plans for out-of-pocket balances, and provide financial impact counseling for course withdrawals or pauses.
• Academic Progress & Retention Monitoring: Support the regular assessment of Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP), exercise professional judgment on appeals, conduct timely check-ins, and refer at-risk students to the Advising and Counseling teams.
• Community Outreach & Education: Facilitate financial literacy education and collaborate with K-12 partners and Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) to coordinate outreach activities, financial aid nights, and awareness events.
• Data-Driven Success Initiatives: Partner with recruitment and advising teams to utilize retention, completion, and tuition data to implement initiatives that significantly improve on-time graduation and transfer rates.

Requirements

What You Bring...

Preferred Experience

• Diverse Student Support: 1+ years of experience supporting and fostering inclusion among culturally diverse college student populations. 2 years of professional experience, preferably within a community college setting.
• Veteran Services: Experience supporting student veterans and their dependents.
• Student Guidance: Experience helping students navigate college environments and career paths.
• Retention & Outreach: Knowledge of data-driven retention strategies and proactive outreach for at-risk students.
• Financial Aid Mastery: Knowledge of financial aid programs, including needs analysis, verification, and packaging.
• Program Coordination: Strong ability to plan, coordinate, and organize group activities and initiatives.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) strongly preferred. 

Educational Background

• Associates Degree required in liberal arts, accounting or business or related field from an accredited college or university. (Bachelor's degree preferred).
• Any combination of education and experience equivalent to a Bachelor’s degree AND evidence of promoting equity-minded and diversely represented communications and materials, AND experience and evidence in responsiveness to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, and ethnic backgrounds of community college students and employees as these factors relate to the need for equity-minded practices.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Personal Qualifications

• Ability to welcome, nurture and value people of all backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences, as well as promote an environment that values differences.
• Formal training or experience in best practices and programming that improves the persistence, academic standing, and graduation rates of underrepresented and first generation college students.
• Ability to engage, support, and mentor students from equity-seeking populations with an emphasis on race equity.
• Communicate effectively with students and a variety of campus offices to achieve grant objectives.
• Practical knowledge of retention strategies and data-driven methods of identifying students who may be at risk of not continuing their education and skills for applying information to initiate direct student contact resulting in achievable results.
• Must have excellent computer skills utilizing a variety of computer software and experience with database management or developing and maintaining data tracking.
• Commitment to a student-centered learning environment and student success.
• Ability to work with an insight into the needs of first-generation and/or underrepresented college students.
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public.