International Student Advisor

About the role

Amherst College has taken a leadership role among highly selective liberal arts colleges and universities in successfully diversifying the racial, socio-economic, and geographic profile of its student body. The College is similarly committed to enriching its educational experience and its culture through the diversity of its faculty, administration and staff. Amherst College invites applications for the International Student Advisor position. The International Student Advisor is a full-time, three-year term position.

Responsibilities

• Serves as a Designated School Official (DSO) and Alternative Responsible Officer (ARO) in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS)
• Translates complicated immigration regulations into institutional policy and individualized advising content
• Provides reliable immigration advice and support to incoming and current international students in F-1 and J-1 status (on topics such as: travel, employment, enrollment, status maintenance, change of status, visa applications, and more)
• Meets with students individually and in groups, and in virtual and in-person settings; provides clear advising verbally and in writing
• Serves as liaison to immigration-related federal agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of State
• Serves as liaison to immigration-adjacent state and federal agencies, including the Registry of Motor Vehicles, Social Security Administration
• Participates in regular professional development opportunities both regionally and nationally to develop and maintain skills, knowledge, and best practices
• Keeps accurate records of advising encounters and helps to maintain immigration status records of non-immigrant students
• Ensures compliance with institutional policy as well as federal immigration regulations and guidance relating to non-immigrant students
• Updates and monitors multiple databases, including Workday (institutional), SEVIS (federal), and participates in the implementation of a new