Coordinator of International Student Advising

About the Role

The Coordinator of International Student Advising is a critical position within the advising team of the International (F1) Student Program (ISP) division. This role oversees and provides exceptional student care, advising, and support to ISP (F1) students from initial enrollment through graduation and post-graduation activities, including OPT and OPT-STEM extensions. The coordinator assists in developing advising policies and procedures, manages registration changes, and supports the Graduation team with unique issues related to ISP students. This position ensures F1 students receive high-level customer service and problem-resolution while balancing advocacy for students, university standards, and SEVP guidelines. The role also helps establish an online international community that reflects IWU’s National and Global mission of learning, loving, praying, and sharing.

This position is designated as remote; however, preference will be given to candidates who reside within commuting distance of Merrillville, Indiana, or Forney, Texas. The selected individual will be expected to maintain a consistent in-person presence at ISP residency events held at these educational centers.

Responsibilities

• Demonstrates a Christian worldview and upholds the University's Christ-centered mission in interactions with students, faculty, and staff.
• Assists the advising team in developing policies and procedures related to ISP student advising and support.
• Provides a high level of individual and general student care through in-person, phone, email, video conferencing, and instant chat.
• Problem-solves for students encountering academic roadblocks and collaborates with other university divisions to resolve issues.
• Identifies common student needs and develops proactive supports and activities to assist students.
• Refers students to supportive services such as tutoring, career development, pastoral care, and personal counseling.
• Assists at-risk students and helps them develop academic plans for degree or certificate completion.
• Uses university student information systems and databases to access and manage student information.
• Maintains current students’ I-20s and administers SEVIS activity as a Designated School Officer.
• Provides academic advice on immigration/visa regulations, university policies, academic probation, major/course selection, leave of absence, and graduate school admission.
• Oversees the processing and management of graduated students for Post-Completion OPT and STEM OPT extensions.
• Acts as a liaison/advocate for students with campus departments, educational institutions, and government agencies to resolve high-pressure immigration issues.
• Attends and assists with student face-to-face residencies.
• Advises and assists international students and their dependents on U.S. visa processing, maintaining immigration status, SEVIS compliance, employment authorization, and other legal/financial issues.
• Uses AI tools to support daily work activities, enhance output quality, and improve efficiency within defined processes.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• All employees must possess a strong Christian commitment and adhere to the standards outlined in the IWU Community Lifestyle Statement.
• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred.
• Three (3) years of experience in higher education, with preference given to those with focused advising experience for F-1 International Students.

Skills

• Demonstrated skills in team building and collaborative leadership.
• Strong oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Leadership experience, including responsibility for operational functions in a complex organization.
• Ability to develop and manage operational and capital budgets.
• Strong working knowledge of non-traditional adult higher education programs in the online environment, specifically for International Students.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Empathetic and caring attitude toward students and their needs.
• Excellence in human relations skills.

Values

IWU, in covenant with God's reconciling work and in accordance with Biblical principles of our historic Wesleyan tradition, commits to build a community that reflects Kingdom diversity. We foster an intentional environment for living, teaching, and learning that exhibits honor, respect, and dignity. Our community values each member's earthly and eternal worth, refutes ignorance and isolation, and embraces deliberate and courageous engagement that exhibits Christ’s commandment to love all humankind.