Study Abroad Advisor I

University of Florida•Gainesville, FL

About The Position

This position involves holistically advising students on study abroad programs, serving as a subject-matter expert for faculty-led, exchange, and approved non-UF study abroad programs. The advisor will provide comprehensive support on academic fit, credit transfer, costs, financial aid, visa requirements, and the benefits of studying abroad. Responsibilities include hosting pre-departure orientations, facilitating student interactions, and advocating on their behalf with various administrative departments. The role also requires providing sensitive and compassionate support for students facing challenges abroad, including identity-based issues, medical or academic accommodations, health, behavioral, or personal difficulties, and crisis intervention. Additionally, the advisor will administer the application process, nominate students for exchange programs, manage faculty-led programs, and coordinate with external institutions. This includes evaluating and assigning grade and credit conversions, maintaining an expert understanding of university policies, and responding to inquiries. The position also involves coordinating study abroad programs with faculty directors and international institutions, participating in outreach events, collaborating on projects, assisting with scholarship reviews, and keeping current in the field through professional development opportunities.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree
Experience living or studying abroad

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in an appropriate area of specialization
Two (2) years appropriate experience in higher education or an education abroad setting
International experience (living, studying, teaching abroad)
Knowledge of a second language
Knowledge of best practices in Education Abroad
Familiarity with Terra Dotta, Salesforce, Microsoft Office, and Adobe Acrobat
Excellent verbal and written communication skills
Effective interpersonal and problem-solving skills
Experience developing presentations and speaking publicly
Demonstrated ability to work well in a team setting and with stakeholders from various backgrounds

Responsibilities

Holistically advise students and serve as subject-matter expert for a robust portfolio of faculty-led, exchange, and approved non-UF study abroad programs.
Provide comprehensive support to students on topics such as, academic fit, credit transfer, costs, financial aid, visa requirements and benefits of study abroad.
Host pre-departure orientations to prepare regional cohorts for international travel.
Facilitate student interactions and advocate on their behalf with administrative departments.
Provide sensitive and compassionate support when leading difficult conversations with students related to potential identity-based challenges abroad, students needing medical or academic accommodations abroad, students facing health, behavioral, or personal challenges abroad, or students in need of crisis intervention.
Administer application process for assigned portfolio, utilizing independent judgment when nominating students for exchange programs, managing faculty-led programs, and coordinating with external institutions and partners.
Follow established UFIC protocol related to application data input, the application process, and transcript processing.
Evaluate, interpret, and assign grade and credit conversions for study abroad transcripts from exchange partners, international and domestic institutions, and third-party providers.
Maintain expert understanding of university policies pertaining to academic programs abroad.
Respond to inquiries from students, parents, faculty and others regarding program policies, procedures and requirements, making referrals as appropriate.
Independently coordinate study abroad programs with faculty directors, as well as academic and administrative offices at UF.
Independently liaise for assigned programs between UFIC and overseas institutions, US study abroad providers and educational institutions.
Participate in outreach events such as freshman preview, study abroad fairs, info sessions, scholarship workshops, and re-entry events.
Collaborate with colleagues to complete projects and assist with scholarship application review and annual pre-departure conference.
Keep current in field standards and participate in professional development opportunities affiliated with study abroad, such as international site visits and international education conferences.
Other duties as assigned.