Job Summary

Reporting to the Associate Director of International Students and Scholars, GCC Internationalization, the international student and scholar specialist serves as the primary contact and resource for international students and scholars, supporting their academic, personal, and cultural adjustment, while ensuring individual and institutional compliance with Federal immigration regulations. This role serves degree and non-degree seeking international students (including those from GGC’s English Language Institute), serves as a Designated School Official (DSO) and an Alternate Responsible Officer, and is the advisor to the International Student Association. These and other responsibilities may include driving students within the Metropolitan Atlanta area.

U.S. citizenship or lawful permanent residency is required to serve as a Designated School Official (DSO) in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), in accordance with federal regulations.

Responsibilities

• Manage documents related to international student enrollment and matriculation, including issuing immigration documents (I-20s and DS-2019s), maintaining accurate international student and scholar SEVIS records, assisting with international transcript evaluations, and verifying financial documents.
• Develop and implement pre-arrival processes (including housing and transportation) and orientation programs for international students and scholars
• Advise international students and scholars on immigration policies and procedures
• Advise students on cultural adjustment, academic planning and resources, student conduct/integrity, college support services, health insurance, and tax resources
• Assist in educating the campus community about the international student experience and provide technical training.
• Assist in the development, implementation, and assessment of programming for international students that addresses culture, cultural adjustment, leadership, and campus integration, including teaching the international student sections of first-year seminars.
• Support College-wide international recruitment, enrollment of international students, and international student persistence initiatives
• Assist with international student and scholar data collection and preparation of reports

Required Qualifications

• 4 Year / Bachelor's Degree from an accredited institution of higher education
• 2-3 years of professional experience in international student and scholar services or a related area concerned with immigration advising and institutional regulatory compliance
• Experience in using SEVIS
• Application of F-1 and J1 regulations
• Experience as a Designated School Official (DSO) experience

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience using student information systems (e.g., Banner), and electronic advising tools (e.g. Navigate, Terra Dotta)
• Demonstrated excellence in serving a culturally globally rich student population
• Familiarity with recruitment practices and strategies
• Knowledge of international transcript evaluation
• Active participation in NAFSA and/or other international student and scholar professional communities
• Fluency in a second language