International Student Advisor

Universities of Wisconsin•Madison, WI

16h•Onsite

About The Position

International Student Services (ISS) seeks one individual committed to inclusive international student advising. International Student Advisors work as a team to advise F and J visa holders and serve as Designated School Officials (DSO) and Alternate Responsible Officers (ARO) to process immigration update requests consistent with federal regulations and UW-Madison policies. Each advisor is assigned a caseload and works closely with academic advisors and graduate program coordinators in their assigned School, College, or Department. This position will contribute to the ISS Policy, Procedure, and Practice Manual, deliver immigration-related learning content for campus partners and students, and support engagement efforts to foster a sense of belonging for international students. The position will report to one of the Senior International Student Advisors and is an essential member of the Advising Team (11 staff) within the ISS office (25 staff). The Advising Team is responsible for educating and empowering international students through their immigration and co-curricular advising support for F and J students and their dependents, periodic advising workshops and Lunch & Learn series, and immigration paperwork processing. ISS serves over 7,000 F/J nonimmigrant students and over 2,000 alumni on post-completion employment authorization, in addition to the J-1 student intern program and processing initial documents for admitted students. We utilize Terra Dotta ISSS batch software to maintain F/J international student compliance and communications.

Requirements

Demonstrated experience solving complex problems in cross-cultural contexts
Demonstrated commitment to inclusive education and engagement opportunities for international students
Demonstrated cross-cultural competency to educate and empower diverse audiences
Demonstrated communication skills (written and verbal) for multilingual audiences
Customer service in a fast-paced environment with competing demands
Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
Demonstrated proficiency with technology tools
Position requires proof of U.S. citizenship/legal permanent residence to serve as a Designated School Official (DSO) and Alternate Responsible Officer (ARO), per Department of Homeland Security.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of student leadership and identity development
Demonstrated knowledge of federal immigration regulations for F and J non-immigrant students
Previous Designated School Official (DSO) and/or Alternate Responsible Officer (ARO) experience
Experience with Terra Dotta ISSS software
Experience with PeopleSoft Student Information System
Experience living, working, or studying abroad
Proficiency in one or more languages in addition to English

Responsibilities

Advise a caseload of approximately 1,000 international students via appointments, drop-in advising, Terra Dotta Information Request, phone, and email
Support inclusive engagement and communication
Provide support to campus departments, represent ISS at meetings, and collaborate for greater international student support and inclusion
Educate campus partners to communicate nuances of immigration compliance and academic policy
Process immigration document updates and requests for all F/J students
Serve as Designated School Official (DSO) for F-1 students and Alternate Responsible Officer (ARO) for J-1 students
Proactively review and interpret immigration regulations and academic policies to advocate and implement compliant and inclusive advising practice
Prepare and deliver multi-modal training and information sessions for students, staff, and campus partners
Participate in regular ISS staff, advising check-in meetings, and IS Staff Dialogue Series
Interprets and communicates student rights, responsibilities, and options related to specific requests and situations
Collaborates with internal and external stakeholders to advocate for international students promoting their contributions to diverse communities
Prepares and delivers workshops for international students on topics related to visas, immigration updates, and employment authorization rules and regulations
Prepares, submits, and processes complex immigration documentation for incoming, current, and former students
Monitors regulations and activities to ensure institutional compliance with governmental agencies and institutional policies
Advises on student visa issues through individual consultations and workshops across various mediums