"Academic Advisor, International Student Specialist"

Academic Advisor, International Student Specialist

Company:
Louisiana State University in Shreveport

Job Location:

Category:
Academic Advising

Type:
Full-Time

Summary

The Academic Advisor, International Student Specialist, works as a member of the LSUS Student Success Center, performing a range of tasks enhancing and supporting our academic advising team and students. This position is pivotal in assisting new and continuing international undergraduate students in their transition to and throughout LSU Shreveport. Primary responsibilities will be to guide and support international students through academic planning, cultural adjustment, and understanding immigration regulations, providing comprehensive academic advising and ensuring their successful integration into our academic and campus community. This role emphasizes personalized, holistic advising support for undergraduate international students. The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in advancing international student success and retention by removing barriers, fostering engagement, supporting academic achievement, career readiness, and ensuring compliance with relevant immigration policies.

The Academic Advisor, International Student Specialist, will serve as a generalist advisor, supporting undergraduate students of all backgrounds and majors, while specializing in international student support. The position requires close collaboration with the Assistant Dean for International Students and the Admissions and Records offices to ensure seamless support, accurate record-keeping, and regulatory compliance.

Reports to the Assistant Director of Academic Advising, Special Populations, and is a full-time, unclassified position. This summary is not intended to be a comprehensive or all-inclusive description of duties and responsibilities.

About Us:

The Student Success Center at LSU Shreveport champions student-centered excellence, offering comprehensive resources, services, and programs – including Academic Advising, Academic Success, Career Services, First-Year Experience, and more – to promote a smooth transition, build academic and life skills, foster persistence and resilience, and empower goal-oriented success.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in student personnel services, higher education, psychology, counseling, international relations, or a related field.
• (LSUS values skills, experience, and expertise. Candidates who have relevant experience in key job responsibilities are encouraged to apply – a degree is not required if the candidate meets the required years of experience specified in the job description.)
• 3 years of related experience, preferably in an international education or higher education setting.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Advanced degree in student personnel services, higher education administration, international education, psychology, counseling, or a related field.
• Prior experience in academic advising in higher education, particularly international student advising.
• Experience working with international student populations or cross-cultural programs.
• Knowledge of SEVIS and F-1/J-1 student visa regulations.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to assess student needs with empathy, active listening, and critical thinking, while considering cultural context.
• Strong understanding of student development theories and best practices.
• Knowledge of academic advising and admissions processes specific to international students in higher education.
• Knowledge of U.S. immigration regulations pertaining to F-1 and J-1 students, including CPT/OPT, reduced course load, and transfer procedures.
• Familiarity with international student pathways, cultural adjustment issues, and international student success initiatives.
• Effective time management and caseload management skills to prioritize and support wide-ranging student needs.
• Attention to detail with strong administrative skills and a commitment to accuracy in data entry, especially related to academic and immigration records.
• Sound understanding of how advising activities influence international student progress, outcomes, and timely degree completion, with a focus on precise decision-making and task completion.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain effective working relationships with other university offices, including Admissions, Records, and the Assistant Dean for International Students' office.
• Proven ability to work effectively under pressure while maintaining professionalism, collegiality, and excellent customer service in a diverse environment.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a team environment.
• Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills, with strong cross-cultural communication skills.
• Dedication to creating a welcoming, inclusive environment that benefits all students, particularly those from diverse international backgrounds.

Position Duties & Responsibilities

Academic Advising & Student Support

• Serve as a university-wide undergraduate academic advisor, guiding students through course selection, degree planning, and academic progress across all majors.
• Serve as the primary advisor for international students, providing personalized guidance and support throughout their academic journey, from pre-arrival to graduation.
• Conduct individual advising sessions to assist international students in understanding academic requirements, course equivalencies, and academic planning, considering the impact of immigration regulations.
• Collaborate with the Athletic Success Specialist on international student athlete advising and support.
• Administer and interpret assessment tools (e.g., College Student Inventory, Appreciative Advising Inventory) to better understand student needs and tailor interventions.
• Develop personalized success plans based on international students' academic backgrounds, interests, and goals, addressing potential cultural or language barriers.
• Advise on academic policies and procedures as they relate to international student visa status, such as full-time enrollment requirements and reduced course load requests.

International Student Support Programs

• Assist international students in navigating LSUS processes and procedures, including admissions, registration, and student services, with an understanding of their unique needs.
• Provide ongoing support and resources to help international students adjust to campus life, find on-campus employment if needed, connect with academic and co-curricular opportunities, and achieve their educational goals, including cultural adjustment support.
• Collaborate closely with key campus departments, including the Assistant Dean for International Students, Admissions, Records, Financial Aid, and other units, to streamline processes, enhance support services, and ensure compliance for international students.
• Collaborate on group outreach/educational events, such as international student orientation, cultural adjustment workshops, and immigration information sessions.

Career Development Integration

• Incorporate career readiness activities into academic advising, encouraging experiential learning, internships, and networking opportunities, with specific guidance on CPT/OPT regulations and U.S. job search strategies for international students.
• Support students in aligning coursework, co-curricular activities, and experiences with their career goals and post-graduation plans.
• Partner with Career Services to track career milestone achievements and ensure seamless support for long-term success, including understanding international student employment options.

Data & Continuous Improvement

• Maintain accurate, confidential student records and document advising interactions, including notes on immigration-related advice.
• Gather international student feedback to improve advising practices and support initiatives.
• Collaborate with the Admissions and Records offices to ensure accuracy of international student data, transfer credit evaluation, and academic records for compliance and reporting.
• Collaborate within teams and departments to analyze data and refine approaches to improve international student outcomes and retention.

Professional Development

• Stay informed about university policies, degree requirements, and emerging practices in student advising, particularly those relevant to international students.
• Pursue ongoing training related to advising, international student development, immigration regulations, career readiness, and culturally responsive practices.
• Engage in professional conferences, workshops, and certification opportunities in international education and advising to enhance advising skills.

Core Competencies:

• Communication: Ability to adjust communication style to suit the audience/customer/situation.
• Collaboration: Ability to work effectively in group settings.
• Service to Customer and LSU: Ability to focuses on providing positive experiences for stakeholders.
• Delivering Results: Ability to focus on achieving outcomes.
• Problem-Solving: Ability to overcome barriers to success.
• Leading Others: Ability to inspire, guide, and support individuals and teams towards achieving common goals.

Physical and Environmental Demands

Light Work – Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly (Constantly: activity or condition exists 2/3 or more of the time) to move objects. Physical demand requirements are in excess of those for Sedentary Work. Even though the weight lifted may be only a negligible amount, a job should be rated Light Work: (1) when it requires walking or standing to a significant degree; or (2) when it requires sitting most of the time but entails pushing and/or pulling of arm or leg controls; and/or (3) when the job requires working at a production rate pace entailing the constant pushing and/or pulling of materials even though the weight of those materials is negligible.

The above statements describe the general nature and level of work only. They are not an exhaustive list of all required responsibilities, duties, and skills. Other duties may be added, or this description amended at any time. Remains knowledgeable on current federal, state and local laws, accreditation standards or regulatory agency requirements that apply to the assigned area of responsibility and ensures compliance with all such laws, regulations and standards.

LSUS is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability status.

Application Requirements

The following documents must be included with application:

1. CV or resume
2. Three professional references
3. Cover letter outlining why you would be a good fit for this position

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