Director of Education Abroad and National Student Exchange

Position Summary

Founded in 1907, UCA has an enrollment of more than 10,000, of which more than 15% are graduate students. The university offers more than 90 undergraduate and 60 graduate certificate and degree programs, including doctoral programs in five disciplines. The undergraduate student body consistently scores above the national average on the ACT exam. UCA is proud of its tradition of teaching excellence and its contributions in research, scholarship, and creative activities. UCA seeks to attract students and employees that are dedicated to building a culture of diversity, belonging, inclusion, and equity.

The University of Central Arkansas offers a generous benefits package including a 10% match for TIAA retirement participation. Employees and their dependents may receive an 80% tuition discount for undergraduate and graduate courses.

The University of Central Arkansas is seeking to fill our open Director of Education Abroad and National Student Exchange position. This employee leads the Office of Education Abroad and National Student Exchange in the Center for Global Learning and Engagement. UCA students participate in short-term faculty-led programs, semester length exchanges, individual study abroad, and NSE Study Away programs.

The Director of Education Abroad and National Student Exchange leads the unit on campus that is responsible for essential high-impact mobility programs in global learning and engagement. The Director is responsible for working with third party providers and faculty to offer affordable faculty-led short-term programs and student semester exchange. The Director formulates and publishes health and safety policies and procedures and manages all aspects of education abroad applications and scholarships. The Director works with offices across campus to ensure students and faculty have successful academic experiences abroad. This position is critical to UCA’s mission of preparing students to live and work in “local, national, and global communities” (UCA Mission). Job Duties and Responsibilities The key duties of this position include overseeing the office staff (EA Advisor/NSE Coordinator and Peer Advisors) and managing the office to ensure smooth daily operations and a positive office environment for students, faculty and staff. In addition, the EA director oversees all study abroad and study away programs from start to finish—collecting and reviewing proposals, managing our VIA-TRM CRM platform, planning student outreach, developing marketing materials, receiving and reviewing program and scholarship applications, preparing program budgets, working with third-party providers (TPPs) or international partners to ensure quality of programming, conducting orientation for students and faculty leaders, organizing payment to TPPs, completing insurance enrollment and course registration for all participants, seeing participants off and remaining on call for the duration of the program should any issues arise.

• Overseeing Education Abroad Advisor/National Student Exchange Coordinator and student workers including hiring process, paperwork, and ongoing training
• Managing daily office environment to foster a safe, positive workspace for all who visit
• Overseeing all UCA sponsored study abroad and study away programs from start to finish (Language Immersion, Faculty-Led, Semester Exchange and National Student Exchange programs) including: Collecting and reviewing new program proposals, Managing our VIA-TRM CRM platform Collecting and reviewing feedback on and updates to returning programs, Providing constant support and direction to faculty leaders, Connecting faculty with third-party providers (TPPs) or international partners to ensure quality of programming, and facilitating ongoing conversations, Organizing group flight itineraries in conjunction with flight coordinator Planning student outreach and developing marketing materials, Receiving and reviewing program applications, Preparing program budgets in collaboration with faculty and TPPs or partners abroad; Conducting orientation for students and faculty leaders, Organizing payment to Third Party Providers, Finalize and communicate program charges to Student Accounts, Completing insurance enrollment for all faculty and students, Completing course set up and registration for all participants, Managing transfer credit for semester length programs, Organizing group transportation to and from airport, Remaining on call for the duration of the program, should any issues arise, Developing Post-Program Surveys and Assessments.
• Overseeing all independent study abroad students including: Collecting and reviewing applications for independent study abroad programs, Coordinating TAG funding with Schedler Honors College, Providing support to students for questions related to international travel, Completing insurance enrollment upon request, Completing course set up and registration,
• Managing and collaborating on study abroad related scholarships at the campus level UCA Study Abroad Scholarship Forming scholarship review committees, Organizing applications and review processes, Coordinating with TAG and Adcock committees, Finalizing awards in view of available budget, Sending notifications to all applicants Coordinating awards with Fin. Aid and Compliance College of Business Study Abroad Scholarship Review eligibility Sending notifications to all applicants Coordinating awards with College of Business Coordinating awards with Fin. Aid and Compliance Nicole Wable Hatfield & Gay Garrigan Moore Scholarships Forming scholarship review committees, Organizing applications and review processes, Coordinating with other committees to prevent overaward, Finalizing awards in view of available budget, Sending notifications to all applicants Coordinating awards with UCA Foundation Adcock Scholarship Organizing applications and review processes, Sending notifications to all applicants Making awards in Blackbaud Coordinating awards with School of Language & Literature Coordinating award with UCA Foundation Schedler Honors College TAG Grant Review applications for independent study abroad Coordinating with other committees to prevent overaward
• Advising for study abroad related scholarships and fellowships nationally Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Increase student awareness through email communication and on campus events Advise potential applicants Certify applications Review applications during national selection process John S. McCain International Scholarship for Military Families Increase student awareness through email communication and on campus events Advise potential applicants Certify applications Critical Language Scholarship Increase student awareness through email communication and on campus events Advise potential applicants Review applications during national selection process Boren Award Increase student awareness through email communication and on campus events Advise potential applicants
• Overseeing study abroad provider contracts and maintain relationships with providers
• Overseeing MOU agreements and renewals and maintain relationships with international partners, including active engagement in online meetings, email correspondence, and travel to international conferences, or partner visits abroad,
• Overseeing all incoming exchange students including: Managing inbound (and outbound) semester exchange nominations, Providing application information and instructions to nominated students and partner universities, Managing exchange admission in Slate, Offering online meetings, welcome events, ongoing support throughout exchange program at UCA Maintaining working relationships with key administrative offices around campus, including Procurement/Travel Office, Student Accounts, Financial Aid, Registrar, Scholarship Compliance, Student Health Center, Admissions, Honors College, and others to ensure study abroad is successful and supported Working with Legal Counsel to create and maintain paperwork for study abroad program proposals, waivers, and forms Representing Education Abroad on several committees: Study Abroad Advisory Committee (and subcommittees), Global Learning Advisory Committee, National Fellowships Committee Maintain procedures and practices to ensure they are in line with office standards, including: Maintaining Faculty Leader Handbook Implementing Risk Management training for faculty leaders Updating UCA PD on students abroad each term Researching and creating relevant policies for our programs(Family Policy, Alcohol and Drug policy, Travel Policy) Maintaining Emergency Procedures Guides for all programs Remaining on–call to program participants and and responding to emergencies and student needs Overseeing International Travel Registry Overseeing and maintaining Office of Education Abroad website and social media Participating in on–campus events such as: Bear Facts, SOAR, campus tours, etc. Planning and attend events such as Welcome Dinners, Farewell Ceremonies, Graduation Recognition Ceremonies Compiling data for national Open Doors Survey and submitting report Overseeing ongoing orders for promotional items, office supplies, and applications/software

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities ● Ability to supervise and manage multiple tasks
● Strong customer service skills
● Strong computer skills required, including Google Suite, Microsoft Excel, and Social Media platforms
● Excellent organizational skills
● Demonstrable passion for working with diverse people of other cultures
● Ability to conduct business in a language other than English
● Intercultural communication skills
● Ability to work nights and/or weekends

Skills Considered Essential for Success -Knowledge of the organization and administration of higher education.
-Knowledge of state, federal, and university rules, regulations and procedures.
-Ability to work in a diverse and dynamic environment.
-Ability to work collaboratively and independently with common goals as a part of a team.
-Ability to make sound judgments.
-Effective interpersonal communication, writing, and organizational abilities.
-Civility in all interactions.
-Demonstrate effective follow-up. Required Education and/or Experience The successful candidate will hold at least a bachelor’s degree, have experience living and/or studying abroad, and a working proficiency in a language other than English. Preferred Education and/or Experience Three years work experience in a related field
Ability to conduct business in another language
Masters degree in a related field