Student Services Specialist

Working at INTO

As INTO continues to grow, so do the opportunities to join our global team. INTO University Partnerships collaborates with leading universities to provide international students with a personalized and highly supportive learning environment in which to acclimate to life on university campus and prepare for long-term academic success. INTO helps leading higher education institutions reach, recruit, and retain international students, promoting globally diverse campuses and providing life-changing learning opportunities. Since 2005, INTO has launched partnerships to internationalize universities in the US, UK, and Asia. To learn more, visit: www.intoglobal.com/working-at-into/

Our People Promise

We Grow Together

At INTO, we’re in the business of growth. From school to university. From home to somewhere new. From dreams to career plans to long-awaited first days. And we believe growth isn’t just for students – it’s for our people too.

At INTO, growth means opportunities to feed your curiosity, to develop your skills and your career. It means staying true to our start-up soul, boldly saying “yes” and constructively saying “no”. It means building deeper relationships. And it means playing your part in our wonderfully diverse international community. Our dedication to growth – for students, our university partners and agents, for each other, and for ourselves – sets us apart. It’s what makes INTO a uniquely rewarding place to be, and to make a difference.

At INTO, we grow together.

Job Overview

To provide support services for INTO Mason students to enhance and enrich their university experience. This position is a key member of the INTO Mason Student Services team and is responsible for INTO Mason student well-being, health, safety and integration with campus support resources. This position may supervise multiple student team members. This position is an integral part of the Student Services team.

Key Responsibilities

This is a valued role in a growing, dynamic organization, so the responsibilities of the position may change over time but will include the following:

Student Care

• Create and implement comprehensive and effective care and support services for INTO Mason students.
• Provide basic guidance and counseling to students, determining and referring students in need to appropriate resources.
• Maintain good working relationships with Counseling and Psychological Services, Campus Safety, Student Success Coaches, Student Health Services and other university providers to ensure quality services and advocate for international students.
• Communicate with parents, sponsors, and agents, in compliance with FERPA regulations, regarding health and safety of students of concern.
• Work with INTO Mason academic team to address issues of academic success, including assisting with attendance, academic probation processes, and follow up with students of concern.
• Develop and deliver proactive co-curricular programming initiatives to promote student well-being and adjustment.
• Document and maintain confidential student records relative to conduct and well-being.
• Serve on campus committees that pertain to student safety and well-being.
• Recruit, train, and manage pool of international student orientation leaders and mentors.

Conduct

• Guide INTO Mason students through the conduct process and provide them with information on appeal options and legal resources as needed.
• Work closely with Student Conduct and Housing and Residence Life to resolve conduct issues involving INTO Mason students. Facilitate follow-up meetings with students as needed.

Emergency Response

• Serve as primary contact for routine, urgent, safety, and well-being issues involving INTO Mason students.
• Coordinate with immigration services (OIPS) on care and emergency issues impacting students’ visa status.
• Review and continually refine emergency response procedures including policies, communication plans, and collaboration with George Mason University and INTO University Partnership stakeholders.
• Monitor, in collaboration with others at the Center, the INTO Mason Emergency Phone.

Arrivals and Housing

• Ensure adequate communication is provided to all students prior to their arrival.
• Serve as the main point of conduct for questions regarding airport arrivals and pickups.
• Order, assemble, and distribute linen packs for new student arrivals.
• Manage database of arrival requests, determine transport schedules and coordinate with local transportation agencies, airport staffing, and supervise airport pickups on-site.
• Collaborate closely with Housing and Residence Life and Dining Services in regards to on-campus housing, arrival and departure logistics, policies, meal plans and other relevant details.
• Work closely with Housing and Residence Life to maintain an updated database of students living in on-campus housing and make ongoing decisions about room placements and changes.
• Manage housing exemption applications and processes and decide exemption eligibility.

Student Experience

• Respond to inquiries from applicants, students, parents, and agents about the INTO Mason Student Experience.
• Monitor trends and behaviors of the INTO Mason student population to ensure students enjoy their student experience while receiving all necessary support.
• Meet with students to provide advising around their non-academic university experience (including but not limited to: engagement, health/wellness, etc.), triaging issues as they arise and making appropriate referrals.
• Provide support for other Student Services Coordinators maintaining a strong value of teamwork and collaboration.
• Advocate for the INTO Mason student experience on the larger campus by representing INTO Mason on campus committees, collaborating with other campus departments, and consistently promoting a positive image of INTO Mason students and the department.
• Perform student experience related tasks in CRM software (Salesforce) to ensure student records are kept up to date.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications & Experience

Essential:

• Undergraduate degree or equivalent education and experience
• Previous work with international students or experience living or working abroad
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and as a productive member of a team
• Willingness and ability to be on-call outside of normal business hours

Desirable:

• Experience working in a diverse environment with non-native English speakers
• Prior student advising/supervising experience
• Fluency in more than one language
• Experience with student programming in a university context
• Familiarity with cross-cultural communication styles and cultural adjustment

Skills and Competencies:

• An empathy for the international student experience
• Ability to manage relationships with peers, senior managers, university stakeholders, educational agents, and students from various cultural backgrounds
• Exceptional attention to detail
• Logistical and Planning skills
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communications skills
• Ability to problem-solve, prioritize, meet deadlines, and work under pressure
• Ability to develop, implement and refine systems and processes
• A willingness to adapt to a changing global environment

Reporting Line

This position reports directly to the Assistant Director of Student Experience.

Compensation & Benefits

This is a full time exempt salaried position INTO takes care of their employees and ensures they are well and thrive with a comprehensive benefits package which includes:

• Health Benefits
  • Medical
  • Dental
  • Vision
  • Company-paid Life Insurance & Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D)
  • Voluntary Life Insurance & Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D)
  • Company-paid Long Term Disability (LTD)
  • Short Term Disability (STD)
  • Accident Insurance
  • Critical Illness Insurance
  • Whole Life Insurance
  • Hospital Confinement Indemnity Insurance
  • Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
  • Dependent Care Account (DCA)
  • Commuter FSA: Transit & Parking
• Paid Leave of Absence - Maternity, Partner, Adoption, Fertility Treatment, Bereavement, Compassionate, and other Personal Leaves
• Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) – starting at 24 days per year; increases to 29 days annually after 2 years of employment
• Holidays – 11 paid annually
• 2 paid Volunteer days annually
• 401(k) retirement plan – up to 6% company match
• Educational Assistance
• Company-paid Health & Wellness Apps
• Rewards & Recognition programs
• Remote & Flexible Working options
• Company-paid Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs)
• Company-paid professional development courses

• Spirit Fridays (wear your Green and Gold)
• On-site dining
• INTO Mason sponsored events/ Campus perks

Location

This position is based at George Mason University.

How to Apply

Please click Apply at the top of the page to submit your Resume/ CV.

INTO University Partnerships provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. INTO University Partnerships complies with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities.

INTO George Mason University participates in E-Verify.

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