The School Certifying Official (SCO) serves as the university's primary administrator for U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) education benefits programs and is responsible for ensuring
institutional compliance with federal regulations governing veteran and military-affiliated student benefits. The SCO provides comprehensive support to veteran, active-duty military, reservist, National
Guard, and eligible dependent students by certifying enrollment, maintaining accurate records, advising students regarding educational benefits, and coordinating services across the university. The School
Certifying Official will serve as a key asset in coordinating a data-driven strategy for distilling enrollment information to support recruitment and retention of veteran and military-affiliated students.
As a student-centered professional, the SCO promotes the Catholic University of America's commitment to service, academic excellence, and support for military-connected students while ensuring compliance
with all applicable federal, state, VA, and institutional policies. Service is delivered in person, by telephone, and via e-mail and other electronic media.
The projected hourly pay range for this position, which represents the full range of anticipated compensation, is: $27.47 ($50,000) to $32.97 ($60,000)
1. Provides comprehensive customer service to all constituents in the areas of student records and student accounts.
2. Performs service functions in accordance with standards set by the Director and Assistant Directors in the areas of:
-Enrollment Services (including Consortium, Study Abroad, and Dual Enrollment)
-Third-party Billing
-Military and Veteran Student Services
-Student Accounts
-Enrollment and Degree Verifications
-Class Scheduling and Course Catalog
3. Serves as the university’s primary School Certifying Official for students receiving
education benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs. This task includes
the duties below, among others:
-Reports student enrollments to the VA in accordance with Federal guidelines
-Tracks and submits updates to student course enrollment
-Ensures students are only taking authorized courses and are enrolled only in
authorized programs
-Monitors funds received by the VA, validates and verifies all payments are
received, and processes overpayments and school debt letters.
-Maintains VA files for annual review purposes
-Advises and assists students with VA education benefit applications
-Maintains required level of training per VA requirements
-Monitors VA and Federal guidelines to ensure the university and students are
adhering to current regulations
4. Department of Defense Tuition Assistance (TA) Point of Contact:
-Maintain the University’s applicant-facing DoD Tuition Assistance portals (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard) in order to maximize
the university’s enrollment potential
-Confirm university practices comply with the United States Department of Defense
Submit application and re-enrollment packets with Army Human Resources Command (in relation to Army Advanced Civil Schooling Graduate Students),
Naval Postgraduate School (in relation to Navy Mid-Career Graduate Students) and Air Force Institute of Technology (for Air Force Mid-Career Graduate Students)
5. Maintains up-to-date knowledge of and is able to explain academic and financial
policies and procedures to all constituents, including FERPA, federal and DC
regulations, and university policies.
6. Interacts with other university offices as necessary to provide quality customer
service and referrals.
7. Maintains a collaborative working environment with all team members.
8. Responds to constituent needs through a variety of channels including, but not
limited to, phone and email.
9. Represents the Office of Military & Veteran Student Services at outreach events
including, but not limited to, resource fairs, orientation, recruitment sessions, etc.
10. Maintains working knowledge of policies and procedures in other university offices as they relate to the student experience.
11. Provide general assistance to the University Veterans Upward Bound Program as
required.
12. Other duties as assigned
Bachelor's degree with one to two years of general administrative experience.
Experience as a VA School Certifying Official preferred
In lieu of a Bachelor’s degree, 5 years of work experience in a student services discipline or higher education administrative office or 2 years of work experience as a SCO will be considered.
Experience working in an academic environment preferred.
Military experience preferred but not required.