Study Abroad Student Assistant

University of Portland Portal•Portland, OR

1d•Onsite

About The Position

This position helps to support the initiatives of the Study Abroad Office by guiding study abroad program participants through the pre-departure orientation process (such as coordinating and hosting meetings), by assisting office visitors (answering phones and e-mails), by engaging in study abroad recruitment (info sessions, events, one-on-one peer advising), by providing administrative support for the office (such as processing forms, managing the study abroad portal platform), social media engagement (Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook) and by completing special projects as assigned. Student Assistants are invited (and encouraged) to propose projects that are aligned with their areas of passion and expertise that support the work of the Study Abroad Office. Student Assistants must maintain confidentiality of all non-public student information. Study Abroad Student Assistants will work collaboratively as a team, and all will do peer advising, but one or two may take the lead on social media management, one or two may take the lead on helping with administration of the study abroad portal, supporting the Study Abroad Ambassador program, etc. Student assistants will work 5 or more hours a week (usually around 4.5 hours in the office working on projects/tasks and student peer advising) and must commit to attending regular staff meetings (one half-hour each week), which are required. Student Assistants will help coordinate and facilitate events/meetings such as recruitment events and pre-departure sessions and occasionally need to shift their hours to attend events. Some of the in-office working hours may be spent covering the front desk/reception area of the office. Study Abroad is part of the Office of International Engagement which also includes International Student Services ( ISS ). Our office shares the same physical office space in Buckley 114 with Undergraduate Scholarly Engagement, so visitors to the office may have questions regarding study abroad, or may have questions which need to be directed elsewhere. The Study Abroad Office currently has a total of two open Student Assistant positions for the upcoming academic year. Student Assistants will begin training during the first week of classes, with the first event being held on Friday, August 28th. Applications are due by August 12th, 2026, with the goal of holding interview the week of August 17th.

Requirements

Past UP Study Abroad experience (on any semester or short term/summer program through the UP Study Abroad Office)
Self-motivated
Great organizational skills
Proactive attitude
Ability to work both independently & as a respectful part of a team
Strong communication skills (speaking one-on-one with other students as well as public presentations to students or UP Families)
Awareness and appreciation of cultural differences
Ability to provide excellent service to all students, visitors, and UP employees
Comfortable giving presentations and speaking to groups
Punctual and dependable
Willing to occasionally work outside of normal office hours
Must commit to attending regular staff meetings (one half-hour each week)

Nice To Haves

Competence with Microsoft Office suite
Ability to learn new skills and technologies
Experience managing various social media platforms
Experience with online design platforms (such as Canva)
Experience with other online communication tools (blogging, web design, etc.)

Responsibilities

Guiding study abroad program participants through the pre-departure orientation process
Coordinating and hosting meetings
Assisting office visitors by answering phones and e-mails
Engaging in study abroad recruitment (info sessions, events, one-on-one peer advising)
Providing administrative support for the office (processing forms, managing the study abroad portal platform)
Social media engagement (Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook)
Completing special projects as assigned
Proposing projects aligned with areas of passion and expertise that support the work of the Study Abroad Office
Maintaining confidentiality of all non-public student information
Working collaboratively as a team
Doing peer advising
Potentially taking the lead on social media management
Potentially taking the lead on administration of the study abroad portal
Supporting the Study Abroad Ambassador program
Attending regular staff meetings
Coordinating and facilitating events/meetings such as recruitment events and pre-departure sessions
Occasionally shifting hours to attend events
Covering the front desk/reception area of the office