Director of International Student Services and Study Abroad - Framingham State University

Framingham State University • Framingham, MA

367d • $85,000 - $95,000 • Remote

About The Position

The Director of International Student Services and Study Abroad helps fulfill the division of Student Success's mission of supporting students through their journey from matriculation through graduation by helping international students attend our institution and helping our domestic students experience international opportunities. This person is also charged with rebuilding, post-COVID, study abroad exposure, interest, and numbers. The person in this position functions as the Principal Designated School Official (PDSO) and Responsible Officer (RO) for the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). In addition to the data reporting required for SEVP, the person in this role will also be responsible for data collection, analysis, and reporting not only about international student populations but study abroad participation.

Requirements

• Master's degree and minimum of 5 yrs experience in international student and scholar services
• Experience in study abroad program development and management
• Experience in international student advising and support
• Experience with USCIS, immigration laws, F-1/J-1 visas, and SEVIS for international students, scholars, and faculty
• Excellent interpersonal, organizational and communication skills
• The ability to work with students from diverse cultural backgrounds

Nice To Haves

• Verbal fluency with Spanish and/or Portuguese

Responsibilities

• Develop, manage, and deliver comprehensive support services for international students: including but not limited to visas, immigration paperwork, campus housing, course registration, orientation, tax filings, and work authorization
• As PDSO/RO, manage and monitor all F-1 and J-1 immigration policies and procedures to ensure compliance with the U.S. State Department
• As PDSO/RO, train and monitor DSOs/AROs for issuance of immigration documents and immigration policies and procedures
• Support Academic Affairs and/or academic departments when they bring foreign scholars to teach or do research on campus through the policy adherence process and the incoming scholar during the immigration process
• Serve as the primary resource for advising all international English Language Program applicants needing an F-1 visa or change of status
• Develop and implement, in partnership with the VP of Student Success, a comprehensive plan for rebuilding Study Abroad while maintaining the department's high level of diversity in the populations of students who study abroad
• Develop, maintain, and evaluate affordable program and direct-enroll options attractive to students in a wide variety of majors
• Advise and counsel students regarding program and course selections, approvals for transfer credit, financial aid, scholarship opportunities, and pre-departure preparations, including visas
• Regularly evaluate all program affiliations, exchanges, and agreements according to best practices (per NAFSA and the Forum on Education Abroad) and the needs of FSU students
• Collaborate with other departments and divisions and outside the university to build funding support for study abroad
• Responsible for oversight of all short-term academic programs abroad
• Develop comprehensive guidelines for faculty/staff-led study abroad tours and support faculty and staff who are developing the programs, especially but not limited to issues of safety, security, financial constraints, evaluation of programming, and recruiting student participants
• Serve as emergency contact for faculty and staff who are abroad with students
• Responsible for supervising, developing, and training office staff, including Study Abroad Program Assistant, Study Office workers, and Global Ambassadors (students)
• Develop and manage the office's annual budget
• Serve on campus committees, especially those that focus on global education opportunities, international students, and diversity, equity, and inclusion
• Accountable for ensuring that equal opportunity, equity, inclusion, and diversity are integrally tied to all actions and decisions in areas of responsibility.

Benefits

• Full-time, exempt, benefits-eligible position
• Starting salary range is $85,000-95,000
• Union title of Director

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Industry: Ambulatory Health Care Services
• Education Level: Master's degree