Assistant Director of the International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO) at Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts

Job Description:

Clark University

Location: Worcester, MA Category: Staff and Administrators Posted On: Mon Mar 24 2025 Job Description:

The International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO) is located within Clark's Office of Global Engagement and provides immigration advice and documents for the international community at Clark. The ISSO staff advises more than 2200 international students, faculty members, scholars, and their dependents from over 80 countries.

The International Student and Scholars Office provides services and programs to support Clark University's international students, scholars, and employees as they seek to achieve their academic and professional goals. We collaborate closely with our colleagues in Clark's schools, departments, and administrative offices to ensure that our students, scholars, and employees have extraordinary experiences as members of the Clark community.

The Assistant Director (AD) serves as one of Clark's primary immigration compliance officers and assists the Director with the oversight of SEVIS data integrity within the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). The AD will assume the duties of Director in their absence.

Major Responsibilities:

• Serve as Designated School Official (DSO) and Alternate Responsible Officer (ARO)
• Keep current on changes and updates to immigration regulations
• Oversee the record-keeping system used for SEVIS reporting.
• Ensure compliance with date retention regulations for US government documents; destroy documents on a regular schedule based on retention regulations.
• Maintain and upgrade Clark's SEVIS batch/data management (Terra Dotta) system
• Train ISSO staff on data management system and SEVIS reporting requirements.
• Serve as the ISSO liaison with Clark ITS Department to ensure technology is being used effectively and efficiently.
• Maintain and update data related processes as needed; troubleshoot any issues in Terra Dotta and with the creation of reports and queries.
• Provide advice to assigned case load of F-1 and J-1 international students.
• Disseminate information to international students and scholars regarding maintenance of valid immigration status, immigration regulatory changes, employment authorization, etc.
• Develop, design, and distribute queries/reports to necessary to identify and communicate with students who need to take reporting actions.
• Responsible for OPT and OPT STEM student advising and application filing processes. This includes data collection and periodic reporting to the US government during the OPT period.
• Create and implement immigration workshops for students.
• Assist the ISSO Director for developing and conducting orientation programs and activities for international students.
• Serve as a liaison between assigned academic units and the ISSO; provide relevant trainings to the academic units to keep faculty and staff informed on immigration regulations and best practices for compliance.
• Develop and distribute reports regularly to assist campus partners in predicting the incoming international student population.
• Collaborate with Director in creating and documenting office policy and procedures designed to improve office efficiency and overall student satisfaction
• Support the Office of Global Engagement with programming and other initiatives
• Support the Director with scholar and faculty immigration advising and document processing
• Recruit, hire, train, and supervise graduate assistants and student employees to support ISSO operations
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Job Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree; Master's degree in higher education, international education, or another related field preferred
• Ability to understand and analyze complex immigration regulations and create procedures to maintain Clark's immigration compliance.
• 3+ years of F-1 and/or J-1 immigration advising and SEVIS reporting in a post-secondary institution.
• Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident to meet U.S. Department of Homeland Security requirements for Designated School Officials
• Demonstrated experience leading projects related to implementation of technology aimed at
• improving efficiency and effectiveness of work tasks and managing complex data projects.
• Demonstrated intercultural competency; commitment to student service and ability to work effectively with students, faculty, and university representatives from diverse cultural backgrounds.
• Strong technical skills and analytical skills and the demonstrated ability to improve and develop office processes
• Strong customer service experience; proven organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Proven ability to maintain confidential information.
• Prior experience with SEVIS batching systems and Banner Software preferred.
• A commitment to diversity, and the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships within Clark's diverse communities

Additional Information:

At Clark University we believe that diversity of experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds leads to a more innovative and productive work environment. We welcome and encourage individuals of all backgrounds to join our team and contribute their unique ideas to help us achieve our goals.

Clark University offers a generous benefit package for full and, if applicable, part-time employees that include; paid time off, generous retirement plan, group health and dental insurance, life insurance, and tuition, along with use of many campus amenities. For a complete list of benefits for eligible employees visit here.

To review the Clark University Police Department Annual Security and Fire Safety Report visit here.

Equal employment opportunity, including veterans and individuals with disabilities.

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