Via AWISA’s Job Postings.

Summary of Duties

The Student Services Coordinator/Advisor 1 provides essential and critical student immigration counseling and holistic support to continuing international students to ensure maintenance of immigration records and appropriate lawful status. This position often intersects between immigration regulations, academic regulations and holistic counseling/support to help students meet their educational and academic goals, with a primary focus on F, and to a lesser extent, J visa programs. The position is responsible for providing specialized immigration advice for international students and campus offices across the WSU system at all study plan levels. This position must stay up-to-date on complex, and, currently, ever-changing, immigration regulations and directly apply them to extremely complex student and scholar cases with a high level of focus on legality and record maintenance.

In addition, the position must be familiar with University academic and other policies and procedures related to international students as well as their dependents. Responsibilities include monitoring compliance with federal immigration regulations in alignment with applicable university policies, reviewing and assisting with the development of unit procedures and methodologies; explaining applicable policies, state and federal laws and regulations to international students, monitoring and updating the office case management system (SUNAPSIS) (this is a paperless office), tracking immigration status for students; training students and University colleagues on immigration matters, educating students on their visa status, how to maintain lawful status, and the consequences for falling out of status, presenting and assisting with cultural programming efforts for international students and the WSU international community.

This position must serve as a Designated School Official (DSO), for F visas, and may serve as an Alternate Responsible Officer (ARO), for J visas. As DSO and ARO, has legal responsibility and signature authority for institutional compliance with immigration requirements under federal law. This position works as a liaison with government agencies, organizations and various stakeholders, maintains compliance with federal immigration reporting requirements in SEVIS and elsewhere. This position requires knowledge of federal regulations governing F and J visa status.

Required Qualifications

Positions require a Bachelor’s degree and two (2) years of professional work experience in student services or related education/experience. A Master’s degree in a related field may substitute for one (1) year of professional work experience. Any combination of relevant education and professional experience may be substituted for the educational requirement on a year‐for‐year basis.

Additional Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in international studies, political science, counseling, education or a related field.
• Ability to work nights and/or weekends as needed.
• A Designated School Official (DSO) for SEVIS must be either a citizen or lawful permanent resident of the United States.
• At least three years of relevant professional work experience.
• Experience with common office software programs (Microsoft Office).
• Strong ability and skills in managing challenging or stressful circumstances meeting deadlines when handling multiple cases.
• High level of attention to detail and strong organizational skills.
• Strong interpersonal, cross-cultural, written and verbal communication skills, ability to establish professional relationships with international population and campus offices, and to speak in front of large groups.
• Excellent customer service skills and interpersonal skills; ability to interact with others in a warm, friendly and supportive manner, creating a climate of trust, consideration and mutual respect.
• Ability to work as a team as well as working independently.
• Demonstrated cultural sensitivity.
• Understanding of how immigration and academics intersect.
• Demonstrated ability to develop relationships and solve complex problems to ensure immigration regulations are met.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in international studies, college student personnel, or a related field.
• Experience in a university international office.
• Experience working and/or living abroad.
• Experience working on SUNAPSIS case management system.
• Knowledge or proficiency of a foreign language.

Full job listing and application on WSU’s website