Description

The Study Abroad Advisor is primarily responsible for advising and supporting students throughout the entire study abroad process, from advising to re-entry, maintaining the Terra Dotta website and social media, promoting study abroad programs to the Loyola community, recruiting a diverse population, increasing the number of students studying abroad and ensuring compliance with Loyola procedures

Examples of Duties

Essential Functions :Work with students

• Advises students on study abroad opportunities and the procedures involved with study abroad,
• Works with students to identify appropriate study abroad programs for students' academic needs, personal/professional goals and budget.
• Ensures compliance with best practices for study abroad.
• Develops and delivers study abroad information, orientation, including health and safety information, and re-entry sessions.
• Maintains communication with study abroad students while abroad to notify of university deadlines, scholarship deadlines, and address issues regarding culture shock, health and safety, etc.
• Assists Director in work with returnees to evaluate programs, obtain feedback on programs and experiences for future students, ease transition and promote study abroad.
• Coordinates applications, interviews and selection of students for Loyola and ISEP exchange programs.
• Assists students with financial aid and scholarship applications, e.g. Freeman Asia, Gilman, and other study abroad scholarships.
• Hires, trains, and supervises peer advisors
• Serves as alternate emergency contact for summer programs.
• Monitors CDC and State Department Travel Warnings to ensure that students and faculty directors are aware of relevant information.

Expected Knowledge and Relationships

• Develops expertise and understanding of the University's curriculum, degree requirements, and academic policies to ensure accurate and proactive advising for students
• Develops knowledge and expertise on Loyola programs and locations
• Works cooperatively with faculty and other administrative offices/units on campus
• Liaises with appropriate colleagues inside and outside the University (on-campus offices, partner schools, security and insurance agencies, etc.) to handle case and crisis management in the event of study abroad emergencies; rotating on-call duties with the rest of the CIE team

Promotion and Marketing

• Develops and implements on-campus study abroad marketing plan
• Manages presence in social media websites
• Promotes study abroad opportunities to the Loyola community.
• Recruits a diverse population for study abroad.
• Coordinates presentations to classes, student organizations, residence halls and honor societies.
• Represents the Center for International Education at campus recruitment fairs for prospective students and orientation programs for incoming Loyola students.
• Organizes the annual study abroad fair and the Loyola fair for parents' weekend.
• Maintains and updates the CIE study abroad website
• Contributes to and edits on-line international newsletter.
• Maintains and develops content for handbooks, newsletters, website, and other informational literature for students, faculty, parents, and other offices, following best practices for study abroad

Program Development

• Works with Director to develop and identify new programs and locations and to establish agreements between Loyola and other institutions abroad.
• Develops and maintains on-line orientation and re-entry program.
• Works with Director to develop a required reflection component for all study abroad students.

Additional Responsibilities: Administration

• Administers online nomination/application/approval processes for programs, monitoring compliance with requirements and policies and maintaining accurate and up-to-date student records (through the use of Terra Dotta software).
• Selects, trains and supervises Study Abroad Peer Advisors.
• Maintains resource center for study, work, research and travel outside the U.S.
• Oversees the maintenance of student records related to study abroad including application materials and related information.
• Assists Director in completing study abroad statistical reports.
• Updates study abroad procedures for university.
• Maintains, collects, and updates program data in the Terra Dotta system and pulls reports and queries as needed.
• Assists with the collection and analysis of study abroad data and program feedback
• Supervises registration and insurance
• Attendance and presentation at study abroad conferences.
• Performs other duties as assigned by Director of the Center for International Education.

Typical Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required, Master's preferred.
• Minimum of 1 year of previous experience in study abroad advising or international educational exchanges preferred.
• A minimum of one semester study abroad experience preferred.
• Strong computer and social media skills (word processing, database, spreadsheet, desktop publishing, social media sites/apps).
• Strong language skills, both oral and written.
• Demonstrated sensitivity to cultural differences.
• Demonstrated ability to work with detail and perform duties without close supervision.
• Ability to make mature and professional decisions even in the absence of policy.
• Ability to juggle multiple tasks and work under pressure.
• Knowledge of a second language highly desirable

Physical Requirements:

• Physical ability to do essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodations.