Assistant Director, International Student Services

Overview

and Responsibilities

Saint Mary's University of Minnesota is seeking an Assistant Director for International Student Services who is eager to contribute to its Lasallian Catholic mission of awakening, nurturing, and empowering learners to ethical lives of service and leadership. We invite individuals to help transform lives through education, inspired by the Catholic Intellectual Tradition’s quest to understand the human experience through faith and reason and its embrace of all who are dedicated to learning from one another through authentic conversations in search of the truth. We are especially interested in and give preference to candidates who demonstrate a vision to create and nurture initiatives that will advance our mission within the scope of their duties and who will foster a culture of dialogue that, with respect for all people, supports the search for meaning and purpose in pursuit of excellence.

The Assistant Director provides immigration advising for international students (prospective, incoming, and current) accepted into academic programs at the university; serves as a SEVIS Designated School Official (DSO) to assist with the creation and update of immigration documents; and assists with onboarding and programming for international students.

• Reviews and determines eligibility of prospective students and issues immigration documents necessary to obtain the F-1 visas; advises students on the process for obtaining the student visa at the US embassy; serves as a DSO to students in F-1 visa status per DHS regulations.
• Advises international students, as well as their dependents, and helps them maintain lawful immigration status through continuous education on immigration regulations, policies and procedures.
• Serves as a primary contact for international students to build relationships that connect them with university services, on-campus resources, and programs necessary for success in the classroom and beyond; including student needs based on cultural adjustment, educational planning, and academic/personal concerns or difficulties.
• Conduct educational outreach to disseminate information on immigration, academics, mental health, and topics of interest to international students and scholars.
• Oversee assigned student success alerts and International Student and Scholar Services outreach.
• Prioritize student retention focus.
• Ensures institutional compliance with federal regulations by performing timely and accurate registration and reporting of all F-1 students to the U.S. government.
• Monitors academic progress of international students and reports this information to DHS on a regular basis, using an internet-based US government tracking system, SEVIS.
• Prepares and coordinates the submission of student immigration documents.
• Responsible for the maintenance of the policy and procedures manual for international student advising.
• Maintains data and generates reports on a regular basis to support University international initiatives.
• Serves as a resource for requirements and regulatory changes and updates to international student laws and procedures.
• Interprets and implements Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) as they pertain to a student's right to privacy and accuracy and retention of academic records.
• Coordinate and oversee arrival services and other related arrangements (eg housing, registration, etc) for new incoming international students and scholars.
• Utilize targeted pre/post arrival student support communication.
• Assist in the coordination, planning, and implementation of orientation programs for new international students and scholars.
• Correspond with incoming students before their arrival and ensure they have registered properly; answer questions and connect students to other pre-matriculation resources.
• Maintain relationships with international agents, managing contract requirements and payments.
• Coordinate programming for international students and collaborate with appropriate offices.
• Identify opportunities for current students to connect with alumni, particularly in relation to career tracks and career readiness.
• Develop metrics for assessing programming efforts.
• Demonstrate and nurture cultural competence when working with students, faculty, and staff.
• Essential personnel in the event of crisis.
• Maintain knowledge of U.S. immigration policies, USCIS regulations, and SEVIS procedures by attending professional development workshops and conferences, reading government.
• Serve on various division and university committees as needed.

Qualifications

• Applicants must be a citizen of the United States or a lawful permanent resident in order to serve as DSO.
• A bachelors degree is required; a masters degree in a related field is preferred.
• Experience using and comfort with technology (basic office programs, student information systems, higher education software, etc), as well as the ability and willingness to quickly learn new computer-based programs.
• Familiarity with the Student Exchange and Visitor Program (SEVP), SEVIS management, and US Customs and Immigration Services (USCIS) regulations pertaining to F visa holders, preferred.
• The ability to interpret and apply complex guidelines, rules and regulations is required. Strong problem-solving skills, including the ability to synthesize data and take action based on complex information are essential for effective performance.
• Excellent communication skills are required.
• The ability to organize and prioritize tasks and manage competing demands.
• Demonstrate ability to collaborate with colleagues and to work independently on efforts that support individual, institutional and department goals.

Application Requirements

Apply online at and include a cover letter, resume, and contact information for three professional references.

Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota believes inclusion and human dignity contributes to a robust academic and work environment and is critical to achieving the University's mission in an increasingly diverse society. Individuals with expertise and diverse skills from underrepresented groups are especially encouraged to apply. Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. The successful candidate must support, respect, and advance the mission of Saint Mary's University as a Lasallian Catholic institution.

Saint Mary’s offers a comprehensive benefit package including health, dental, vision, life and disability insurance, flexible spending, retirement pension plan, and both undergraduate and graduate tuition remission plans.

All offers of employment are contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background check.

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