Job no: 493110

Work type: Full-time

Location: Chester

Categories: Administrators

Widener University is currently seeking a Program Coordinator in the International Students Services Office who is eager to contribute to its mission of empowering our community of learners to discover and create better futures. Reporting to the Director of Immigration Services, this role performs essential duties that serve many facets of the Widener student community. Primarily, the Program Coordinator coordinates Widener University's study away opportunities, including working with incoming and outgoing study abroad students and domestic and international exchange students. The Program Coordinator also works closely with the Student Affairs Division and Office of Student Engagement to design and implement student programming that engages Widener's international student community. We are especially interested in and give preference to candidates who demonstrate values of respect, integrity, and excellence and who show a background of passionate work in this field.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES (including, but not limited to):

Essential duties:

• Serves as advocate to support the University and division's strategic diversity initiatives to create a welcoming campus for all students by incorporating multicultural perspectives and frameworks into the programs offered.
• Partners with campus stakeholders to improve services and updated policies to enhance the experience for international students and faculty.
• The Program Coordinator designs, promotes, and coordinates study abroad opportunities for current Widener University students looking to expand their educational experiences globally and students from all over the world looking to study abroad at Widener University.
• The Program Coordinator serves as the main NSE (National Student Exchange) Coordinator for Widener University.
• The Program Coordinator designs, promotes, and works with the Student Affairs Division and other student success partners to implement programmatic activities that support international students and showcase the important role that internationalization plays in the university's education, research, and clinical missions.
• Collaborates with campus partners to develop International Student Services office programming that supports the retention and overall success of international students, including the International Student Orientation, collaboration with campus partners on intercultural, career, wellness, and social activity programing; including the larger Inclusion & Belonging initiatives.
• Serve as liaison to campus stakeholders in regard to the intersection of immigration regulation and academic success.
• Assist with advising cultural student organizations by serving as Advisor of student organizations, attending student organization events, and helping student organization leadership plan and implement events.
• Provide support for international student success and retention at all levels: undergraduate and graduate.
• Manage International Student Services social media and web presence, both independently on ISS webpage and collaboratively on university wide pages.
• This individual acts as a key campus resource for international students in transitioning to and through the collegiate journey.
• Represents the institution and collaborates with key constituent groups, both internally and externally such as NAFSA.
• Performs all other duties as assigned.

Secondary responsibilities:

• Serves as a Designated School Official (DSO) and Alternate Responsible Officer (ARO) for student visa holders' population for the Chester, Wilmington, and Harrisburg campuses.
• Serve as a campus liaison with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Department of State (DOS), the Department of Labor (DOL), the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), and other federal authorities and organizations as needed.
• Oversight, in collaboration with the Director, for immigration compliance with regulations for the F-1 visa program and J-1 visa program.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS (education/training and experience required):

Required:

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent required.
• Minimum of 1 year of experience working with international populations or equivalent collective experience. Candidates should be able to display competency in working with individuals of different cultural, religious, linguistic, national, and ethnic backgrounds. Preference given to individuals who have previously worked specifically with international students.
• Minimum of 1 year of experience working with incoming and/or outgoing study abroad students or equivalent collective experience.
• Minimum of 1 year of experience coordinating international student and/or cross-cultural programming or equivalent collective experience.
• Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office software programs (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, etc.).
• Ability to learn new technology and self-motivated to stay current with emerging technologies.
• Experience using feedback data and learning assessments (such as formal and informal surveys, comparisons of expected versus actual outcomes, etc.) as a tool to measure the effectiveness of the department's programs.
• Is a U.S. citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident as required to become a DSO/ARO as per DHS regulations.
• Student-centered and demonstrate a commitment to their own personal and professional growth.

Preferred:

• Experience as a DSO and/or ARO.
• Working knowledge of and experience working with Terra Dotta and SEVIS.
• Working knowledge of and experience working with Slate or other CRM tools.
• Working knowledge of and experience working with Colleague or other higher education ERP system.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND/OR UNUSUAL HOURS:

• May need to be available early morning, evening, and weekends, and may need to participate in international travel as needed to meet the needs of the department.
• Lifting up to 25lbs.
• Frequent walking, standing, and climbing stairs.
• Good manual dexterity.
• Usual office environment: routine sitting at a desk occasionally standing, bending, stooping, or kneeling.
• Ability to be mobile between workstation and other buildings on campus.

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Widener University is committed to fostering an inclusive community in which faculty, staff, and students from a variety of backgrounds, cultures, and personal experiences are welcomed and can thrive. We are an equal opportunity employer and are committed to providing equal educational and employment opportunities for all persons without regard to age, color, national origin, race, religion, disability, veteran status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, or status as a protected veteran.

Some positions may be eligible for a hybrid or remote work arrangement that may include a partially or fully remote work location, consistent with Widener's Flexible Work policy.

Widener University, an independent, metropolitan, doctoral-intensive university, connects curricula to social issues through civic engagement. Dynamic teaching, active scholarship, personal attention and experiential learning are key components of the Widener Experience. Located in Chester, PA, Widener's main campus is nestled between Philadelphia, PA and Wilmington, DE, with Law Schools located in both Harrisburg and Wilmington. For more information about the university, please visit our website at www.widener.edu.

EOE M/F/V/D

Advertised: 12 Feb 2024 Eastern Standard Time

Applications close: