DIRECTOR OF INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS' RESOURCE CENTER & STUDY ABROAD

Northwestern State University seeks a Director of International Students' Resource Center & Study Abroad. A successful candidate will be responsible for international services in promoting, recruiting, and enrolling international students and students studying abroad; facilitates services for students and departments of cross-cultural educational experiences; manages budget and staff; supports the internationalization of the University; serves as the liaison with the various universities with whom we have agreements.

To Apply:

Submit electronically: 1) a letter of application, 2) a current CV, 3) official transcripts, and 4) a list of three professional references with complete contact information to: apply@nsula.edu

Northwestern State University is a State as a Model Employer (SAME) agency.

 

The successful candidate will be subject to a background check, as a condition of employment.

 

NOTICE OF NON-DISCRIMINATION (FULL DISCLOSURE)

 

It has been, and will continue to be, the policy of Northwestern State University to be an equal opportunity employer. All employment decisions are based on job related standards and must comply with the principles of equal employment opportunity.

In keeping with this policy, the University will continue to recruit, hire, train, and promote into all job levels the most qualified persons without regard to race, color, gender, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, age, veteran status, or retirement status. All personnel actions, such as compensation, benefits, transfers, layoffs, training, and education are administered without regard to race, color, gender, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, age, veteran status, or retirement status.

The University is committed to equal opportunity for student success by providing access to educational programs, tuition assistance, and social and recreational activities for all students without regard to race, color, gender, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, age, veteran status, or retirement status.

Additionally, the University provides equal access to the Boy Scouts of America and other designated youth groups.

Student complaints or inquiries related to Title IX should be directed to the Director of Student Advocacy and Title IX Coordinator, Julie Powell (318-357-5570), Room 308 of the Friedman Student Union or email obannonj@nsula.edu.  Employee Title IX issues should be directed to the Executive Director of Institutional Effectiveness and Human Resources, Veronica M. Biscoe (318-357-6359), Room 111 Caspari Hall or email ramirezv@nsula.edu.

In accordance with Section 35.106 of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), all participants, applicants, organizations, and interested individuals are advised and notified that the ADA Coordinator for Northwestern State University for facilities is the Director of University Affairs, Jennifer Kelly (318-357-4300), located in New Fine Arts, 104 Central Avenue, Ste. 102 or email andersonje@nsula.edu. For student academic services, contact the Director of Access and Disability Support, Taylor Camidge (318-357-5460) located in Room 108-C Watson Memorial Library or email camidget@nsula.edu.  For faculty/staff accommodations and services, contact Executive Director of Institutional Effectiveness and Human Resources, Veronica M. Biscoe (318-357-6359), Room 111 Caspari Hall or email ramirezv@nsula.edu.

Required: Bachelor's degree. Work experience in coordinating or directing international programs, including one year's supervisory experience.

Knowledge of international recruitment strategies, and marketplace. Knowledge of immigration policies, procedures, and practices. Knowledge of policies and procedures regarding visas, TOEFL, etc. Knowledge of study abroad policies and procedures. Knowledge of the evaluation of international transcripts, admission, and USCIS documentation of international students. Management and supervisory skills. Interpersonal/human relations skills. Verbal and written communication skills. Counseling/advising skills. Analytical and organizational skills.

Responsible for Organizing and Maintaining Current health coverage contracts for the International Resource Center.

Creates and updates as needed a roster of international students.

Reports to Campus stakeholders about the international fees, invoices, deadlines, and adjustments and makes corrections to fees posted if necessary.

Assists prospective international students on visa information, applications, and NSU enrollment processes.

Liaison for Study Abroad opportunities for students through Bilateral Agreements and partner universities through the International Student Exchange Program.

Promotes opportunities to Study Away at colleges and universities throughout the U.S., Canada, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands through the National Student Exchange program. NSU students can study at another campus for a semester or year.

Collaborates with other departments and units to work on programming and promoting study abroad, such as Phi Beta Delta, FYE, Inclusion & Diversity, Campus Housing, Academic Departments, etc.

Organizes Campus Tours for new arrivals in tandem with mandatory arrival orientation, organized in collaboration with FYE. Must contact all service units to arrange times for the tour. Must contact Sodexo to order meals. Campus Tour is the Friday before classes start. All students must receive the arrival orientation. If they cannot attend on the day of the tour, one-on-one orientations must be scheduled.

Maintains working relationships with departments and units across campus, especially the ones receiving more international students, such as CAPA and athletics.

Organizes Mini soccer tournament every spring, in collaboration with WRAC, FYE, Inclusion & Diversity.

ETA MU Chapter Coordinator for Phi Beta Delta. Meetings bi-weekly or monthly, depending on the programming schedule.

 
Admissions, recruiting, and retention: Daily and as needed.

• Review admission standards for international students.
• Update admissions standards on the website as needed.
• Advises prospective students from first inquiry, program eligibility, admissions criteria, until admissions, visa processes, class registration, class substitutions, arrival, and housing placement. Degree-seeking and inbound exchange students. Communication by e-mail, phone, Messenger, WhatsApp, Teams, Zoom. Daily.
• Collaborate with the Graduate School and Graduate Program coordinators to determine program eligibility to comply with immigration policies for international students. Daily.
• Respond to all requests for information from partner universities, including organizing online information sessions with interested students. Daily.
• Coordinates the communication between students, academic departments, and units such as housing and the foundation that offers scholarships for international students. Daily Liaison between the university and the evaluating agencies for foreign academic credentials. Daily
• Receives and monitors all official English Proficiency test scores. The director must create an institutional account in DUOLINGO, IELTS, and TOEFL to be able to access official test scores. Scores sent by students are not official.
• Manages the administration of International Admissions ensuring that all aspects of admission requirements and registration are completed, and all information is entered in Banner. Daily
• Monitors International Admissions paperwork and communicates with all stakeholders on campus to keep them informed about the admission status of international applicants (such as Athletics, academic departments, faculty recruiters, and Graduate School). Daily. Manages the international student health insurance program. Daily at the start of every semester, and semester to semester. (Tasks described on 1st page).
• Serves as an international education program liaison to business office and third-party billing for health insurance.
• Assists students with any issues that arise throughout their stay. Falling out of status, holds, appeals. Daily and as needed.
• Monitors class enrollment, grade point averages, and bills, to maintain status and retention.
• Collaborate with other departments to assist in recruitment and enrollment efforts. Such as meetings, translation of documents, and outreach. As needed.
• Guides and assists international Graduate Students during the application process.
• Transfer credits to the Registrar's Office for Exchange students abroad.
•  Requests class substitutions for dual degree students.
• Helps international semester visitors to register for classes.
• Request class permits as needed.
• Organizes airport pick-ups as needed for incoming international semester visitors:
• Makes vehicle reservations.
• Renew the permit to be an authorized driver as needed.
• Organizes the Friday Walmart Shuttle for international students.
• Assists incoming international semester visitors with the paperwork needed from their home institutions during the application process, during their stay at NSU, and after their departure.
• Informs interested partner institutions and applicants of the process to come to NSU as a student intern.
• Assists international student interns in the application process.

 F-1 program, and J-1 program. Daily and as needed.

• Coordinates and assists in arrival orientations with the Designated School Official and Alternate Responsible Officer in the Student Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) for the new incoming international students with F and J visas. Arrivals cover all aspects of how to maintain status, a quick overview of on-campus and off-campus employment authorization, services on campus, etc.
• Stays up to date with visa and immigration policies related to international students to ensure students and institutions remain in compliance and certified to receive international students.
• Serve as liaison to deans, department heads, faculty, and administrators in assigned schools and colleges. Develop and maintain an in-depth knowledge of the academic programs, as well as relevant policies and procedures within each assigned school/college to apply immigration regulations accordingly.
• Collaborate with the Admissions Office, Graduate Studies, professional schools, Undergraduate Studies, and Student Affairs to monitor and advise international students regarding their registration and progress toward their educational objectives, particularly those related to maintaining legal status compliance.
• Collaborate with university leadership and other staff to develop best practices, policy development, guiding principles, strategies, and plans for international students.
• Manage office budget to pay for professional development, memberships such as NAFSA, events, materials needed, travel, and shuttles.
• Counsel students throughout the recruitment cycle, from inquiry to enrollment status, and will also help students when they arrive in the U.S. for the first time to pick them up from the airport and get them settled into their dorms or residences.
• Maintains communications with all incoming international semester visitors while they complete the application process.

 Additional student advising and tasks:

• Advise international populations regarding requirements such as social security cards, health insurance, and Louisiana ID.
• Provide transportation to the SS office, and DMV as needed.
• Updates Catalog and Student Handbook. Yearly
• Prepares requisitions for the purchase of supplies and printing materials to promote the ISRC programs and events.
• Prepares SACSCOC report. The last report in the folder: ISRC > SACSCOC
• Prepares letters of recommendation and certificates of attendance as requested.
• Assist with the on-campus employment process.
• Enter student time sheets in Banner.
• Monitors and assigns tasks to student workers.

NSE & ISEP:

• Coordinates the National Student Exchange Program (NSE), and the International Student Exchange Program (ISEP), for incoming and outgoing exchange students.
• Updates page profile yearly.
• Completes training and tasks as required by each program.
• Coordinates all procedures related to sending students out on exchanges and assists students in managing administrative tasks such as registration, application, visa process, purchasing plane tickets, and transferring back credits.
• Promotes the program, approving and selecting applicants; prepares them for placement; pre-placement advising; ensures that advising agreements are completed in NSE and ISEP platforms.
• Attends the NSE Annual Conference.
• Responsible for monitoring the payment of annual membership fees for NSE and ISEP. o Provides study abroad advising and support for ISEP applicants.
• Identifies and promotes ISEP and NSE opportunities amongst students and with academic departments.
• Makes room, board, and pick-up arrangements for incoming NSE and ISEP arriving students.
• Organizes and supervises activities for incoming NSE and ISEP students.

 Agreements:

• Responsible for managing new and existing memorandums of understanding with foreign institutions.
• Maintains communications with partner universities abroad.
• Organizes and executes the Summer Program in Mexico.
• Work with international partner institutions on collaborative projects, such as seminars and summer programs.
• In collaboration with academic departments, develop dual degree programs.
• Assists students in the visa application process to study abroad.
• Provides guidance and information to faculty interested in creating new agreements.

Social Media:

• Manage social media platforms: Instagram, FB, and Twitter.