Program Specialist - Veterans Services

Overview

General

Purpose:

Under general supervision, assists with planning and implementing the college Veterans Services program and assists with operation of the Veterans Resource Center; acts as a School Certifying Official (SCO) and processes and certifies student applications for Veterans Administration educational benefits in accordance with legal guidelines; monitors student progress and processes appropriate documents for the payment of veterans benefits; provides technical assistance and provides access to veterans and student services resources to students, staff and the public;

assists with monitoring program compliance with federal, state and District codes, rules and regulations; and performs related duties as assigned.

The duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to this class.

• Provides input in selecting, training and providing day-to-day lead work guidance and direction to other program staff, tutors and student aides; assigns, schedules and monitors work for completeness, accuracy and conformance with District, department and legal/regulatory requirements and standards; monitors workflow to ensure mandated deadlines are being met in an optimal manner; provides information, instruction and training on work procedures and technical, legal and regulatory requirements.
• Provides input to supervisor on employee work performance and behaviors; assists in ensuring a fair, open and inclusive work environment in accordance with the Districts mission, goals and values.
• Facilitates day-to-day operation of the Veterans Resource Center; oversees and participates in front-desk coverage, explains and screens veterans and their dependents for a variety of programs and services; meets with students to discuss VA educational benefits; assists students in accessing student and community services such as attending events and workshops, tutoring and academic support, counseling appointments, career research, accessing mental health resources, housing and financial assistance.
• Screens student needs for Counselors and schedules student counseling appointments; independently performs research for Counselors and other faculty on specific student issues and resolves routine issues.
• Acts as School Certifying Official (SCO) in accordance with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs School Certifying Official Handbook; reviews student files and documentation and determines eligibility for appropriate VA educational program benefits and provides necessary forms; consults with VA officials and other certifying officials for clarification and assistance with complex problems.
• Monitors student enrollment to ensure compliance with the educational plan developed by the Veterans Counselor to avoid under/over payment and institutional liability; processes and signs student enrollment certifications, unit changes and enrollment verifications; monitors student schedule changes, tracks student ongoing eligibility for benefits and notifies students regarding changes in benefit status; processes VA documents/forms related to educational benefits in District and VA systems.
• Runs a variety of reports and audits student grades, attendance and academic status; adjusts student data and certifications in appropriate systems, following established procedures in making on coding that impacts student benefits and student success measures; prepares and sends correspondence for students regarding VA eligibility, student status and other information; assists students with resolving VA payment problems; researches data, posts and clears holds on student records;
  
  initiates student petitions to waive enrollment fees; processes advance pay requests.
• Maintains student VA records in accordance with VA regulations and audit records to ensure accuracy; responds to requests from other educational institutions/agencies for the verification of student status and records; ensures proper releases are on file to safeguard student privacy; responds to subpoenas and public records requests following established guidelines.
• Serves as the functional specialist for VA software and electronic databases and program account/datacoding in District student information systems; tracks and inputs program statistical and student data into appropriate systems often requiring independent decision making on coding that impacts student success measures and program funding; assists with conducting studies and analyses to identify program enhancements and/or new veterans programs and support services and to evaluate the effectiveness of current programs;
  
  prepares files for auditors; generates reports for District, state and federal agencies; prepares for review and submits statistical records and reports; assists in data collection for program…