Director of International Student Services

Vassar College•Poughkeepsie, NY

About The Position

Reporting to the Associate Dean of the College for Student Growth and Engagement, the Director of International Student Services supervises one administrative staff member and supports the success, engagement, and regulatory compliance of international students and scholars. Working as a pivotal member of the Student Growth and Engagement (SGE) office, the Director will maintain and update community resources and tools in keeping with current best practices in the field. The Director will also work closely with students, faculty, and other administrators to create social, cultural, and academic programming meant to foster strong leaders and that highlights Vassar’s mission.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in a related field.
Five years of experience in the international student field.
Experience administering and advising with F-1 and J-1 regulations and SEVIS compliance.
Demonstrated proficiency developing processes or procedures in relation to regulatory guidance, managing budgets and supervising staff.
Successfully advising and supporting students in a higher education setting.
Strong interpersonal, organizational, and communications skills.
Commitment to the mission and values of a liberal arts institution.
Ability to manage complex, confidential matters.
Ability to work collaboratively in a diverse academic environment.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in a relevant field.
Experience serving as a Primary Designated School Official (PDSO) or Responsible Officer (RO) certified through the U.S. Departments of State and Homeland Security.

Responsibilities

Direct operations of OIS including budget management, strategic planning, service delivery and ongoing process improvement.
Serve as the institutional advisor related to immigration and visas including functioning as the Primary Designated School Official (PDSO) and Responsible Officer (RO) certified through the U.S. Departments of State and Homeland Security.
Ensure institutional compliance and filings with SEVIS (Student Exchange Visitor Information System).
Process I-20s and DS-2019s for all new students and scholars.
Monitor F-1, J-1, and other visa records for regulatory compliance.
Maintain up-to-date information on regulations, policies and practices (internal and external) pertaining to international students.
Review and approve immigration related applications and required documentation.
Coordinate an arrival and orientation process for all new international students and scholars.
Advise international students on immigration procedures, registration, change of status, leave of absence, and other issues; facilitates immigration paperwork and data processing.
Assist international and overseas students in overcoming cultural, linguistic, academic, social, and structural barriers in order to thrive at Vassar and in the United States.
Participate in campus-wide committees relevant to support individual students and student communities.
Build partnerships with community organizations to support the office and relevant local projects external to the Vassar community.
Network with alumnae/i affinity groups and other constituencies that can support the OIS student communities and other campus life initiatives.
Collaborate with Student Growth & Engagement resource centers such as the ALANA Center, the Women’s Centers, and other campus partners such as the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life in support of students and campus-wide initiatives.