International Student Advisor

ABOUT THE BAC:

Boston Architectural College is looking for an International Student Advisor to join the Office of International Student Services. The BAC welcomes international students from over forty countries, and the international student population makes up over 25% of the total on-site student population.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

The position of International Student Advisor is a full-time exempt position of 40 hours per week reporting to the Director of International Student Services. This role will focus on serving international students on campus and abroad through their study at the BAC focusing on immigration advising, acculturation, programming and general requests.

I. Responsibilities and Duties

Responsibilities may include, but are not limited to:

Immigration Advising & SEVIS reporting:

• Advise international students on maintaining F-1 status, serve as a Designated School Official (DSO)
• SEVIS data entry and management
• Process routine student requests, such as CPT, OPT, RCL, Program Extensions, etc.
• Assist with presentations and workshops regarding new immigration regulations and campus-wide training sessions regarding relevant information (e.g., DHS guidance updates, OPT, CPT Workshop, etc.)

• Stay abreast of US federal regulations affecting international students; interpret and apply these regulations to ensure institutional compliance with DHS and DOS regulations

• Gather data and provide information related to student retention, attrition, and the utilization of resources by international students
• Communicate complex immigration regulations to students and campus partners

International Student Programming/Community Building:

• Assist in design and implementation of the New International Student Orientation Program in fall and spring semesters to prepare students for studying and living in the U.S. as well as understanding the F-1 immigration regulations  
• Actively participate in annual International Education Week programming in tandem with other campus partners to deliver meaningful programming to the international student population and the BAC community
• Manage International Mentor-Mentee program
• Work collaboratively with academic and administrative offices across campus to implement a comprehensive set of support services and programs for international students that encourage and facilitate their integration, acculturation, engagement, and retention.
• Create co-curricular opportunities for all international student involvement as well as assist in programming to integrate international students into campus and community life
• Support and advise international students on cross-cultural adjustment and personal issues related to living and studying in a new environment
• Refer international students to appropriate offices as needed for a variety of academic and personal matters
• Other duties as assigned by supervisor

II. Standards of Professionalism

1. Team and Interpersonal skills:  Success in this position requires positive relationships with other team members including support staff and more senior staff.  These people must thus be approached in a way that makes them feel valued as individuals and team members and takes into account the necessities of work as seen from their perspective.

1. Service Orientation:   Success in this position requires a service-oriented perspective in which, to the greatest extent possible, students and faculty are treated in such a way as to feel valued and well served in their contacts with the school through you.

1. Confidentiality and discretion:  Success in this position requires the ability not only to maintain the confidentiality of prospective students, students, and faculty records, but also the ability to discern when it is appropriate to divulge privileged, if not necessarily confidential, information.

III. Qualifications

1. Minimum of one-year previous experience in an administrative role, higher education setting strongly preferred.
2. Experience living, studying or working abroad required.
3. Previous role as Designated School Official (DSO) preferred.
4. Bachelor’s degree required.
5. Fluency in foreign language preferred.

 IV. Requirements

1. Must be able to work regular evenings weekly and weekends as required.
2. Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills. Meticulous attention to detail, accuracy, and deadlines; discretion; and proficiency with standard computer software.
3. Must be a US Citizen or permanent resident to serve as a Designated School Official (DSO). Information for Employers About Citizenship Status Discrimination Rev. April 2024
4. Must be flexible in terms of position description duties and responsibilities.