International Student Advisor

The Opportunity

The International Student Advisor – Flight Specialist serves as a Designated School Official (DSO) responsible for supporting F-1 and M-1 international students enrolled in flight training programs across the Daytona Beach and Prescott campuses. This position ensures full institutional compliance with federal immigration regulations while providing specialized, high-touch advising tailored to the unique academic and operational demands of aviation training.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as a Designated School Official (DSO) for F-1/M-1 international students enrolled in flight training programs, maintaining SEVIS records and ensuring compliance with federal immigration regulations.
• Interpret and apply complex immigration regulations within the context of aviation and flight training operations.
• Advise international students on immigration requirements including full-time enrollment, program extensions, reduced course loads, and employment authorizations (CPT, OPT, STEM OPT, and on-campus employment).
• Monitor flight training progression and identify compliance risks related to scheduling delays, weather interruptions, or changes in training plans; coordinate with Flight Operations to ensure training aligns with degree and visa requirements.
• Support students in maintaining lawful status while progressing through required flight certifications and ratings in accordance with academic and program standards.
• Process and manage DSO requests related to maintaining and restoring student status, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and compliance.
• Develop and maintain specialized resources tailored specifically to international flight students.
• Establish and maintain a process for tracking and validating off-campus flight training activities to ensure regulatory compliance.
• Maintain accurate and audit-ready documentation in support of SEVP compliance reviews and institutional reporting requirements.
• Assist with visa coordination and compliance for summer programs and international summer participants, ensuring proper visa classification and documentation.
• Support ISSS operations including international student orientation, check-in processes, and semester SEVIS registration activities.
• Serve as a backup DSO and provide cross-functional support to other members of the ISSS team as needed.

Qualifications

Required Education and Qualifications: Associate’s degree or completion of a program of 18+ months beyond high school required. Bachelor’s degree preferred, ideally in aviation, international education, student services, or a related field.

Required skills, knowledge, and abilities: Experience working with F-1 international students and SEVIS systems. Familiarity with flight training structures, FAA regulations, or aviation education strongly preferred. Strong understanding of aviation-related academic progression and training requirements. Ability to interpret and apply complex regulatory guidance accurately. Excellent communication and cross-cultural advising skills. Strong organizational skills with the ability to multi-task in a high-volume environment. High attention to detail and commitment to accuracy in compliance-related work. Ability to work collaboratively across departments, including flight operations and student services.

Required minimum work-related experience: 1–3 years of experience in international student services, advising, or flight-related academic/operational environments.