Job Summary

Reporting to an Associate Director, the International Student and Scholar Advisor (ISSA) advises international students and scholars and accompanying dependents on obtaining and maintaining non-immigration status in the United States and serves as a resource to academic departments and other relevant campus partners. The ISSA will prepare, process, and maintain electronic records and documents in support of immigration casework related to F-1 and J-1 students, J-1 scholars, and other relevant immigration categories. The will contribute to ISSS programming efforts including the coordination of programs and immigration workshops. Contribute to orientation programs and pre-arrival information for new international students.

Essential Functions

Core Responsibilities:

• Serve as a Designated School Official (DSO) for the F-1 student program and an Alternate Responsible Officer (ARO) for the J-1 Exchange Visitor Program.
• Maintain advising caseload as determined by an Associate Director.
• Serve as the resource on visa and immigration matters to academic departments and other relevant campus partners.
• Collaborate and maintain excellent communication with academic departments and administrative units to provide exceptional services to international students.
• Educate and advise F-1 and J-1 students on immigration matters, including Curricular Practical Training (CPT), Optional Practical Training (OPT), Academic Training, international travel, personal, academic, and other related topics.
• Advise international scholars on immigration and other relevant matters.
• Advise or provide appropriate referrals to international students for career, personal, academic, and other related issues.
• Contribute to ISSS programming efforts including the coordination of programs and immigration workshops. Contribute to orientation programs and pre-arrival information for new international students.
• Perform additional duties as assigned to support Drexel’s international students and scholars (e.g., English Language Center (ELC) liaison, Communication/Marketing/Programming Coordinator, and SEVIS Coordination).

Other responsibilities:

• Serve as a valuable member of the ISSS team and support the Executive Director in development, implementation, and assessment of ISSS strategy and operations with the goal of continual enhancement of service delivery.
• Serve as an advocate and liaison for international students and scholars to internal and external constituencies.
• Maintain active membership in appropriate professional organizations such as NAFSA: Association of International Educators and participate in professional development opportunities. Adhere to NAFSA’s Statement of Ethical Principles.
• Participate in Enrollment Management & Student Success programs and activities.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree or Equivalent
• Basic knowledge and expertise in F-1 and J-1 regulations.
• Due to U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Department of State regulations, must be a U.S. citizen or a lawful permanent resident of the U.S.

Preferred Qualifications

• Ability to analyze, or willingness to learn to analyze, complex immigration issues.
• Excellent customer service, interpersonal, organizational, analytical and communication (oral and written) skills. Ability to identify priorities and meet deadlines.
• Ability to build and sustain excellent relationships with campus partners on behalf of ISSS.
• Ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment and to remain actively informed of ever-changing immigration policies that impact ISSS constituents.
• Basic knowledge of Student & Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) and Ellucian International Student and Scholar Management (ISSM).
• Proficiency in university databases/software. Microsoft Office suite, working knowledge of Banner and Ellucian products.
• Aware of Federal Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) implications on advising.
• Full understanding of ISSS’ critical role in the recruitment, retention, and overall experience of Drexel’s global community.

Location

University City, Philadelphia PA

Additional Information

This position is classified as Exempt with a salary grade of I. For more information regarding Drexel’s Professional Staff salary structure, https://drexel.edu/hr/career/ducomp/salstructure/

Special Instructions to the Applicant

Please make sure you upload your CV/resume and cover letter when submitting your application.

Review of applicants will begin once a suitable candidate pool is identified.

To apply, please visit: http://careers.drexel.edu/cw/en-us/job/499566?lApplicationSubSourceID=11231