The Office of International Education at the University at Albany, State University of New York, seeks to hire an Assistant Director for the International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) team. ISSS documents and supports over 1500 international students and 50 scholars from over 100 countries, as they engage in study, research, and teaching at the University at Albany.

Description of Duties

• As a DSO/ARO, provide advising to F and J international students and scholars on visa/immigration status and other international student-related issues, including special populations
• Provide oversight and manage the UAlbany SEVIS program, including managing daily batching and reporting, alerts and related communication messaging, biannual reporting calendar, and problem-solving/troubleshooting. Develop and provide training and support to campus DSOs and AROs regarding SEVIS, Sunapsis, and related regulatory changes impacting their roles
• Manage the Sunapsis international student and scholar case management system. Oversee operation and upgrades of this system, including its interfacings with other systems and the following:
  • student portal, including training on, building, maintaining, and updating system forms and checklist
  • Coordinating troubleshooting and user training for this system, including functioning as liaison to the software vendor and UAlbany ITS. Run related queries related to student traffic in the office and advising workflow.
  • Planning and providing training and support to approximately 10 campus DSOs and five AROs on Sunapsis issues including communicating with them about regulatory and Sunapsis-associated issues, challenges, and updates.
• Manage the daily operations of the Document Request Processing for enrolled and graduated international students/OPT recipients. This includes the following:
  • managing the design, assessment, and function of the student traffic/workflow
  • supervising student workers performing these and other duties - explaining to student workers the document request processes, responding to email and phone queries, and routing to professional staff when appropriate
  • managing staff calendars including making appointments, logging receipt of emails, calls, and paperwork, and routing to appropriate professional staff
  • reviewing paperwork for accuracy, confirming PeopleSoft SIS status, creating cover, status, and other letters for F and J students, and prepare outgoing documents for students.
• Manage general ISSS communication to international students, including the following:
  • social media and the weekly newsletter containing immigration policy/procedure updates, and educational, social and cultural events/activities
  • Create and disseminate messaging on Instagram, Facebook and other social media.
  • Assess ISSS website effectiveness, perform weekly routine web updates, and maintain related training capacity provided by the university.
  • Design and implement new webpages in consultation with the director.
  • Liaise with ITS and Communications and Marketing regarding communication plans, troubleshooting and system upgrades, including the upcoming transition to Drupple which will require data/information reformatting and transitioning.
• Manage the Orientation Assistant (OA) initiative, including training, assigning of roles, supervision, and gaining feedback of approximately 15 OAs per semester.
• Assist the Director and Associate Director with other orientation planning and execution, including maintaining the CIEGS/ISSS incoming student Master List and running term-based queries on new and continuing student enrollment numbers.
• Stay abreast of F-1 and J-1 student visa/immigration regulations
• Directly support the university's ability to maintain federal government certification to admit, enroll and retain international students resulting in annual revenue of tuition dollars
• Participate on various office and University committees related to ISSS activities or international-related initiatives
• Function as an ISSS liaison to a limited number of university departments and offices, and participate in professional development and training opportunities (e.g. NAFSA)

Required:

• Bachelor's degree and at least three years of experience working with international students in an advising, counseling, or similar capacity in a college or university setting
• Demonstrated ability to work with database systems and troubleshoot system errors
• Experience with Microsoft Office applications
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• As per Department of Homeland Security requirements, U.S. citizenship or permanent residency in order to serve as a DSO.
• Applicants must address in their applications the ability to work with a culturally diverse population

Preferred:

• Master's degree (completed or in progress) with at least one year of substantial experience in the following: working with international students in an immigration advising capacity in a college or university setting
• Experience as a DSO and/or ARO working with SEVIS and Sunapsis or similar international student/scholar case management system
• Supervising student workers
• Experience with database systems including developing and running queries from the student information system (SIS) for the purpose of compiling data for reports and other projects, including occasional requests from other campus departments and offices
• Prior experience working with international students, faculty, or scholars in a college or university setting
• Knowledge of SEVIS regulations and experience with PeopleSoft and/or Oracle
• Cross-cultural experience through study or employment abroad.

This is a promotional opportunity for current UAlbany employees.

Eligibility for Consideration:

• You must be employed at the University at Albany campus.
• You must be in a State-funded UUP professional position (MC employees are not eligible).
• You must have a permanent, term, or probationary appointment (temporary employees are not eligible).

For details concerning the University's Promotion Policy for Professional Employees, please see HR Memorandum 88-4.

Professional Rank and Salary Range: Senior Staff Assistant, SL3

The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, or Clery Act, mandates that all Title IV institutions, without exception, prepare, publish and distribute an Annual Security Report. This report consists of two basic parts: disclosure of the University's crime statistics for the past three years; and disclosures regarding the University's current campus security policies. The University at Albany's Annual Security Report is available in portable document format [PDF] by clicking this link http://police.albany.edu/ASR.shtml

Pursuant to NYS Labor Law 194-A, no State entity, as defined by the Law, is permitted to rely on, orally or in writing seek, request, or require in any form, that an applicant for employment provide his or her current wage, or salary history as a condition to be interviewed, or as a condition of continuing to be considered for an offer of employment, until such time as the applicant is extended a conditional offer of employment with compensation, and for the purpose of verifying information, may such requests be made. If such information has been requested from you before such time, please contact the Governor's Office of Employee Relations at (518) 474-6988 or via email at info@goer.ny.gov.

THE UNIVERSITY AT ALBANY IS AN EO/AA/IRCA/ADA EMPLOYER

Please apply online via http://albany.interviewexchange.com/candapply.jsp?JOBID=161789