International Student Advisor
About The Position
The International Student Advisor – Flight Specialist serves as a Designated School Official (DSO) responsible for supporting F-1 and M-1 international students enrolled in flight training programs across the Daytona Beach and Prescott campuses. This position ensures full institutional compliance with federal immigration regulations while providing specialized, high-touch advising tailored to the unique academic and operational demands of aviation training. This role requires a strong understanding of F-1/M-1 visa regulations as they apply to flight training, including enrollment requirements, program timelines, training progression, and practical training eligibility. The advisor will also maintain a working knowledge of aviation certification pathways, flight rating structures, and the operational factors that impact student progression such as weather delays, scheduling constraints, and training interruptions. The International Student Advisor – Flight Specialist plays a critical role in helping students maintain lawful status while successfully advancing through their flight programs. This position collaborates closely with Flight Operations, campus partners, and the Executive Director of International Student Services and Scholars (ISSS) to ensure regulatory compliance and student success within a highly regulated and time-sensitive training environment.
Requirements
- Eligibility to serve as a Designated School Official (DSO)
- Experience working with F-1 international students and SEVIS systems
- Familiarity with flight training structures, FAA regulations, or aviation education strongly preferred
- Strong understanding of aviation-related academic progression and training requirements
- Ability to interpret and apply complex regulatory guidance accurately
- Excellent communication and cross-cultural advising skills
- Strong organizational skills with the ability to multi-task in a high-volume environment
- High attention to detail and commitment to accuracy in compliance-related work
- Ability to work collaboratively across departments, including flight operations and student services
- 1–3 years of experience in international student services, advising, or flight-related academic/operational environments
- Flight training, aviation education, international student advising, or student services within a higher education setting
Nice To Haves
- Bachelor's degree preferred, ideally in aviation, international education, student services, or a related field.
- Experience working in aviation-based academic programs or flight training environments is highly desirable due to the regulatory and operational complexity of the role.
Responsibilities
- Serve as a Designated School Official (DSO) for F-1/M-1 international students enrolled in flight training programs, maintaining SEVIS records and ensuring compliance with federal immigration regulations.
- Interpret and apply complex immigration regulations within the context of aviation and flight training operations.
- Advise international students on immigration requirements including full-time enrollment, program extensions, reduced course loads, and employment authorizations (CPT, OPT, STEM OPT, and on-campus employment).
- Monitor flight training progression and identify compliance risks related to scheduling delays, weather interruptions, or changes in training plans; coordinate with Flight Operations to ensure training aligns with degree and visa requirements.
- Support students in maintaining lawful status while progressing through required flight certifications and ratings in accordance with academic and program standards.
- Process and manage DSO requests related to maintaining and restoring student status, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and compliance.
- Develop and maintain specialized resources tailored specifically to international flight students.
- Establish and maintain a process for tracking and validating off-campus flight training activities to ensure regulatory compliance.
- Maintain accurate and audit-ready documentation in support of SEVP compliance reviews and institutional reporting requirements.
- Assist with visa coordination and compliance for summer programs and international summer participants, ensuring proper visa classification and documentation.
- Support ISSS operations including international student orientation, check-in processes, and semester SEVIS registration activities.
- Serve as a backup DSO and provide cross-functional support to other members of the ISSS team as needed.
Benefits
- Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage
- Wellness programs that include preventive care and fitness memberships
- Flexible spending and health savings accounts
- 100% tuition coverage for yourself for one undergraduate and one graduate degree
- Discounted tuition rates for your spouse and dependent children up to age 26
- ERAU contributes an annual 6% gift of your base salary to your retirement plan
- ERAU offers a 4% matching contribution to your retirement plan
- 18 days of personal leave in your first year
- 9+ paid holidays, including the day after Thanksgiving and the week between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
Education Level
Associate degree
