International Student Advisor

Berklee College of Music•Boston, MA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

Berklee's Office of International Student Services (ISS) is seeking an enthusiastic International Student Advisor (ISA) to serve as a vital resource and Designated School Official (DSO) for approximately 600 global artists. This role involves balancing federal compliance with empathetic support, assisting international creatives with immigration systems, cross-cultural differences, and life in the U.S. The work directly supports the next generation of creative leaders.

Requirements

Must be a U.S. citizen or U.S. legal permanent resident as mandated by federal regulations for all DSOs.
Bachelor's degree.
Professional or paraprofessional experience in International Education or Student Affairs working directly with diverse international student populations.
Exceptional intercultural competency.
High emotional intelligence.
Acute attention to detail.
Ability to facilitate large group discussions for non-native English speakers.
Flexibility to work occasional evenings and weekends.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in student affairs, counseling, or international relations.
Bilingual proficiency.
Personal experience living, studying, or working abroad.
Familiarity with SEVIS batch systems, ISSM, Colleague, or PowerCampus.

Responsibilities

Research, interpret, and apply federal F-1 regulations to individual student situations.
Maintain compliant reporting to federal agencies via SEVIS and ISSM as required by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Keep data pristine within student information systems (Colleague and PowerCampus).
Counsel students on maintaining lawful status, part-time enrollment permissions, practical training (OPT/CPT), program extensions, and campus employment.
Issue Form I-20s and support USCIS applications like change of status or reinstatement.
Advise on non-immigration matters including cultural adjustment, campus resources, financial logistics, and career development.
Serve as a campus-wide resource for faculty and staff on intercultural topics.
Assist in planning and delivering international student orientation each semester, focusing on cross-cultural transition and academic expectations.
Help maintain web-based policy manuals, manage compliance communications, and recruit, hire, train, and supervise ISS student employees.
Participate in NAFSA and regional professional networks to track global and national regulatory shifts.