Financial Aid Counselor

As a Financial Aid Counselor, you will play a crucial role in assisting students in navigating the financial aid process and ensuring access to education through effective financial planning. Your responsibilities will include evaluating financial aid applications, counseling students on available aid programs, and providing information about funding options. This position requires a keen understanding of financial aid regulations, excellent communication skills, and a commitment to promoting accessibility to education.

We believe work should fit your life, not the other way around. Our hybrid schedule includes two days on site in our Albany office, with the flexibility to work remotely the remaining days. Spend less time commuting and more time focusing on meaningful work or personal priorities. Core hours are 8:30 AM–5:00 PM, including a 1-hour lunch, for a 37.5-hour week.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Financial Aid Advising:

Provide individualized counseling to students regarding financial aid options, eligibility criteria, and application procedures over the phone, email, text, and in virtual meetings.
Assist students in understanding different types of financial aid programs and amounts of funding available, including grants, scholarships, loans, etc.

Application Processing:

Evaluate and process financial aid applications, ensuring accuracy and compliance with federal, state, and institutional guidelines.
Collaborate with other departments to obtain necessary documentation and information for financial aid assessments.

Award Packaging:

Review financial aid packages based on students’ eligibility and financial need.
Communicate award information clearly to students, addressing any inquiries and providing additional guidance as needed.

Financial Aid Workshops:

Conduct workshops and informational sessions to educate students and parents about the financial aid process, application deadlines, and available resources.

Regulatory Compliance:

Stay current on federal and state financial aid regulations, ensuring adherence to compliance requirements in all aspects
of financial aid administration.
Attend trainings and conferences to enhance professional development.

Data Management:

Maintain accurate and confidential student records related to financial aid applications, awards, and communication

Student Service:

Provide excellent student service by promptly responding to inquiries, resolving issues, and guiding students through the financial aid process

Collaboration:

Collaborate with other departments, such as admissions and academic advising, to ensure a coordinated approach in supporting students’ financial needs.
Other duties as assigned to support the unit or the institution.

Qualifications: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Associate degree in a relevant field (e.g., finance, business, education).
Previous experience in financial aid administration or related field preferred.
Knowledge of federal and state financial aid regulations.
Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
Ability to interpret and explain complex financial information to diverse audiences.
Detail-oriented with excellent organizational and time management skills.
Experience in PowerFAIDS preferred.

The hiring salary range for this position is $40,875.00-42,000.00. The hiring salary range above represents the University’s good faith estimate at the time of posting.

Assistant Director-Financial Aid

Excelsior University is seeking applicants for the position of Assistant Director Financial Aid, in the Office of Student Financial Services. We are seeking a seeking a dynamic individual who thrives in a fast-paced environment, where critical thinking and creativity are valued skills in day-to-day processing.

The Assistant Director of Financial Aid plays a key role in supporting the leadership team with the daily operations of the department. This position oversees and manages the execution of at least one Title IV program, ensuring that policies and procedures are aligned with current federal regulations and are both effective and student centered. The successful candidate will be responsible for student packaging, repackaging, and counseling, while maintaining a deep understanding of the regulations governing the accurate administration of Title IV funds. Although the primary focus is on the efficient and compliant management of Title IV programs, this role also encompasses various aspects of the Financial Aid office.

We believe work should fit your life, not the other way around. While it is preferred that team members be located in Albany, NY, or a nearby area, remote work options will be considered. This role follows a hybrid schedule with two days per week onsite in the Albany office, and the flexibility to work remotely on the remaining days. Spend less time commuting and more time focusing on meaningful work or personal priorities. Core hours are 8:30 AM–5:00 PM, including a 1-hour lunch, for a 37.5-hour workweek.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Administer Title IV program (s) for the university including, but not limited to; awarding, verification and assisting in reconciliation in collaboration with other units of the University and
Common Origination and Disbursement (COD).
Ensure compliance with all Federal Title IV regulations, develop and maintain policies and procedures.
Work in collaboration with the Associate Directors and Director to prepare for and engage in th annual A-133 audit.
Responsible for remaining up-to-date with changes in regulation as well as interpreting and implementing those regulations within assigned program(s).
Responsible for communicating all changes, related to assigned program(s), to all stakeholders.
Responsible for creating and maintaining process flows for assigned program(s).
Work to promote academic success, increase retention, decrease time toward graduation, and improve the overall educational experience of students.
Support the development of the whole student by providing excellent customer service and resolution of issues through telephone, email, virtual meetings, and preparation of written correspondence for financial aid.
Serve as an information resource for all incoming students, transfers, and re-entering students as well as internal staff.
Assist with developing, revising, and updating processes of financial aid related to Title IV program administration along with creating and/or editing any required forms and publications.
Participate in professional development.
Engage in and support the development and administration of Student Financial Services.

This position requires a Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of 2 years of experience in a financial aid or related student service administration.
Candidate must demonstrate experience in student financial aid regulations, financial aid software and proficiency with Microsoft Word & Excel.
Strong communication skills, attention to detail and strong problem solving skills are essential.
The ideal candidate will have experience with PowerFAIDS financial aid management system and demonstrate an interest in promoting distance learning higher education to a diverse adult student population.

The hiring salary range for this position is $48,000.00 – $50,000.00. The hiring salary range above represents the University’s good faith estimate at the time of posting.

Instructional Designer

We’re seeking an experienced, collaborative, and motivated individual to lead the design of course development projects. The Instructional Designer is responsible for designing and developing online courses that align with Excelsior University’s academic standards and best practices for adult learning. Working closely with SMEs, instructional technologists, media developers, and other members of the Instructional Design and Development team (IDD), the Instructional Designer ensures that course content is pedagogically sound, accessible, and aligns with Excelsior’s course design standards. The ideal candidate has experience in higher education course development and expertise in instructional design principles, online learning technologies, and assessment strategies. This role plays a key part in maintaining course quality and supporting Excelsior’s commitment to delivering an exceptional learning experience for students.

This position is based out of the university’s home office in Albany, NY with the option of considering remote candidates. Remote employees will have mandatory occasional travel for meetings, conferences, and professional development opportunities. Remote employees are expected to be available during work hours 8:30 am – 5:00 pm Eastern time. The University will supply necessary equipment to perform the essential functions of this job (e.g., Laptop, docking station). Employees are responsible for having a workspace where they can participate in virtual meetings without multiple interruptions and noise.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Collaborate with SMEs to design and develop engaging online courses.
Apply instructional design principles to structure content and create relevant, engaging learning experiences.
Guide SMEs in analyzing and assessing the application of appropriate and effective instructional strategies, tools, and assessments to achieve identified learning outcomes.
Ensure course content aligns with Excelsior’s course design standards, accessibility guidelines, and online learning best practices.
Partner with media developers to create high-quality course materials, including videos, simulations, and interactive elements.
Review and refine course content to ensure clarity, coherence, and alignment with learning objectives.
Collaborate with other instructional designers to enhance Excelsior’s course development methodologies and resources.
Qualifications: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Bachelor’s degree in Instructional Design, Educational Technology, or a related field.
3+ years’ experience designing and developing online courses for higher education.
Strong knowledge of instructional design models (e.g., Backward Design, Bloom’s Taxonomy).
Strong relationship-building skills.
Familiarity with best practices for online learning and adult education.
Ability to guide SMEs in structuring content for effective online delivery.
Experience with learning management systems (LMS), preferably Canvas.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
Ability to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.Strongly Preferred Qualifications:
Master’s degree in Instructional Design, Educational Technology, or a related field.
Experience developing courses for non-traditional, adult learners.
Prior experience working in a centralized course development model.
Proficiency in accessibility standards and universal design for learning (UDL).
Experience using data and learner analytics to inform course improvements.
The hiring salary range for this position is $61,000.00 – $68,000.00. The hiring salary range above represents the University’s good faith estimate at the time of posting

Clinical Instructor – Towanda, PA

Part-time clinical instructors report to the Department Chair and communicate with the instructional faculty overseeing the course/content area they are teaching. Excelsior University provides fully developed courses with materials and activities to allow the faculty to focus on the students. They should expect to provide prompt response to student needs, offer timely formative feedback on student work, and demonstrate their clinical expertise through selecting, supervising, and evaluating students’ clinical experiences. In addition, Excelsior looks for our part-time clinical instructors to demonstrate commitment to student success by supporting institutional engagement and retention initiatives, reaching out to struggling students and collaborating with instructional faculty and support staff to ensure students have access to all available resources that impact success.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Successfully complete Excelsior University and clinical site-specific onboarding and training requirements
Fulfill all requirements and adhere to all institution policies identified in the Excelsior University Clinical Faculty Handbook.
Work 2 non-consecutive weekends at a clinical site during an 8-week course term. The required work hours during a clinical weekend consist of Friday clinical orientation (2 hours) Saturday and Sunday clinical days (12.5 hours each, 6:30am-7:00pm both days).
Grade all clinical assignments using the included rubrics by the course-specific due dates
Remain present for the entire clinical day, adhering to the full duration of clinical hours indicated.
Plan and coordinate patient assignments for each student in the clinical group, consistent with the course and clinical objectives.
Demonstrate competency with nursing skills and associated technology (EHR, automated medication dispensing system, smart intravenous pumps, etc.)
Demonstrate familiarity with assigned clinical unit(s), facility policies and procedures; complete all facility required training.
Participate in pre- and post-clinical activities with assigned students within Canvas LMS.
Conduct synchronous Zoom sessions with students as indicated by the course.
Exhibit content and skill-based expertise when engaging with students; provide relevant evidence based professional examples pertinent to the topic.
Provide students with individualized feedback summarizing strengths and areas in need of improvement.
Complete individual clinical evaluation rubrics for each student in a timely manner.

Qualifications: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

A master’s degree in nursing from a program with institutional accreditation.
Active, unencumbered NYS RN license.
Minimum of 5 years of RN experience in varied clinical areas, caring for patients across the lifespan.
Current clinical experience within an acute care hospital setting.
Experience supervising nursing students and/or new graduate RNs.
Strong verbal and written communication skills, with ability to present information clearly, concisely, and accurately; friendly, persuasive speaking and writing style.
Experience with various modes of educational technology, including video conferencing software.
Current BLS certification.

Compensation for serving as a Clinical Instructor is $5,000.00. Payments are processed on a bi-weekly payroll cycle beginning with the next feasible pay period after the close of late registration. Please note all teaching fees are subject to federal, state, and/or local withholding taxes.

The Senior Director of IT M&A Integration & Shared Services is a hands-on technology leader responsible for directly leading post-close IT integration and building a scalable, shared-services IT operating model for Excelsior University and its acquired or merged institutions.

This role assumes consultant-led pre-close planning and takes ownership at close to execute Day-1 readiness, post-merger integration, and transition to centralized IT services. The Director will actively manage system consolidation, platform rationalization, data migration, and operational rollout, ensuring continuity of academic and administrative services for adult learners.

The role is highly program-oriented and execution-focused, requiring the ability to actively manage complex integrations, lead technical teams, and make hands-on decisions about systems, processes, and shared services.

Core Responsibilities

Hands-On Post-Close IT Integration

Lead Day-1, Day-30, Day-90, and Day-180 IT integration activities, including direct configuration, deployment, and cutover support for systems.
Translate pre-close plans into actionable, executable integration tasks, coordinating teams and consultants in real time.
Personally oversee technical execution across:
- ERP (Finance, HR)
- Student Information Systems (SIS)
- CRM, LMS, and academic platforms
- Integration middleware and APIs
- Identity & Access Management
- Data, analytics, and reporting platforms
Ensure continuity of services for adult learners and faculty with minimal disruption, intervening directly as needed.

Program & Portfolio Management (Execution Focused)

Serve as hands-on Program Director for IT M&A initiatives, not just governance.
Establish and manage integrated project plans, dependencies, and resource allocations.
Actively track progress, remove obstacles, and make real-time technical decisions to keep programs on schedule.
Coordinate internal teams, vendors, and consultants through direct task-level engagement, ensuring execution integrity.

Shared Services Design & Implementation

Lead the hands-on design and rollout of a centralized IT shared-services model for acquired institutions.
Define and implement shared services, including:
- Application support and administration
- Integration and data services
- Identity and access management
- IT service management (ITSM)
- Vendor and contract management
Personally guide configuration, process standardization, and operational setup, ensuring services are fully operational.
Transition acquired institutions from transitional support models to Excelsior-led shared services, actively managing tasks and issue resolution.

Platform Convergence & Rationalization

Partner with Enterprise Architecture and functional leaders, with direct hands-on involvement in:
- Assessing system overlap and redundancy
- Consolidating platforms
- Migrating, configuring, or decommissioning applications
Ensure platform decisions are executed according to plan, maintaining continuity and performance.

Vendor, TSA & Third-Party Management

Manage post-close Transition Services Agreements (TSAs), with hands-on coordination of tasks and dependencies.
Directly oversee vendor deliverables, milestones, and technical execution.
Reduce reliance on TSAs through active operational leadership and technical execution.

Change Management & Stakeholder Engagement

Partner with academic and administrative leaders, actively leading hands-on change execution.
Communicate integration progress and technical status to stakeholders.
Support faculty, staff, and learners through transitions, including resolving technical or operational issues directly.

Risk, Security & Compliance

Ensure integration activities meet security, privacy, and compliance standards.
Directly participate in system configuration, access control, and audit readiness tasks.
Maintain continuity of critical services during system transitions, including hands-on incident resolution.

Required Qualifications

Experience

10+ years in IT leadership with hands-on operational and integration experience.
Demonstrated experience leading post-merger IT integration or large-scale IT transformation programs, including direct technical and system execution.
Strong background in program and portfolio management, with hands-on accountability for deliverables.
Experience operating in software-centric environments (ERP, SIS, CRM, LMS, data platforms).
Experience designing or running centralized or shared IT services, with direct operational involvement.

Skills & Competencies

Hands-on leadership in complex, multi-stakeholder IT programs.
Strong governance, risk, and execution discipline.
Ability to execute technical tasks directly, including configuration, deployment, and operational handoffs.
Vendor and contract management expertise.
Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience in higher education, particularly online or adult-learner institutions.
Familiarity with SIS, ERP, CRM, LMS, and data platforms commonly used in higher education.
Experience working alongside consulting firms during M&A integrations.
Enterprise Architecture exposure, including:
- Understanding of application, integration, and data architectures
- Ability to evaluate platform fit, redundancy, and scalability
- Experience partnering with Enterprise Architects to support system rationalization and convergence
ITIL, PMP, PgMP, or similar certifications.
Experience supporting growth through repeatable acquisition and shared-services models.

Success Metrics

Day-1 and post-close milestones achieved with minimal learner disruption.
Successful transition from transitional support to shared services.
Reduction in redundant systems and services.
On-time, on-budget integration delivery.
Positive stakeholder satisfaction across institutions.
Measurable improvement in service consistency and operational efficiency.

Reporting & Collaboration

Reports to: CIO
Works closely with:
- Enterprise Architecture
- Academic and administrative leadership
- Finance and HR
- External consultants and system integrators

Working Conditions

Hybrid work environment based in Albany, NY.
Periodic travel to partner institutions or vendors as needed.
Travel varies based on active integration programs.

The hiring salary range for this position is $130,000.00 – $140,000.00. The hiring salary range above represents the University’s good faith estimate at the time of posting