International Student Advisor

**International Student Advisor (I/O: September 2024 - March 2025)** Status**: Initiatives & Opportunities: September 2024 - March 2025

**Hours**: Monday - Friday, 35 hours/week

**Home Campus**: Fennell (hybrid work arrangements available)

**Rate of Pay**: Payband I (Start Rate: $39.34 per hour)

**Posting Date**: September 9th, 2024

**Closing Date**: September 23rd, 2024 at 7:00 pm EST

Preference will be given to qualified employees within the Full Time Support Staff bargaining unit, Appendix D (in the role for 6 consecutive months) and RPT employees who have passed probation at Mohawk College.

We believe the rich diversity among our students and the communities we serve should be reflected within our workforce. As educators, we believe it is important to act and show leadership in advancing the principles of reconciliation, equity, diversity, and inclusion in our community.

Reporting to the Manager, International Student Services and Engagement, the International Student Advisor provides operational support and assistance to the International Student Services Department. The incumbent offers advising to students regarding their educational experience, immigration policies and processes; withdrawals; ensures students meet the admission requirements for program changes; have general academic program information. The incumbent will also interpret and provide advice on College policies and guidelines; personal matters and support contacts available within the College including Counselling, Peer Tutoring, MSA Student lawyer, Student Success Advisors and the health clinic services.

The International Student Advisor also serves as a point of contact for students in an ESL or bridging program to help them understand post-secondary education and potential pathways to College.

**What you’ll be doing**:
**Provides interpretation and advice to students by**:

- Responds to specific questions from International students related to their academic path, course load, co-op placements, course exemptions, compulsory withdrawal status and program changes.
- Works closely with Student Success Advisors to assist students who are out of sync to maintain a full-time course load as per study permit and post-graduate work permit guidelines.
- Interprets internal policies such as add/drop procedures, course exemption procedures, tuition refunds, fee deferrals and withdrawal procedures, and working within these policies while providing information and direction to the student.
- Advises students on personal matters and contacts available within the College - student lawyer, peer tutoring, health clinic, Counselling Department, Student Success Advisors, etc.
- Acts as a liaison between the International Student Services Department and other College departments to effectively assist the students, ie: counseling.
- Educates students on the community service agencies available to assist them.
- Provides interpretation of the various federal and provincial government policies and processes in relation to study permits, work permits, re-entry visas, Social Insurance Numbers and general immigration information on studying in Ontario.
- Works with the local immigration and government offices in support of international students with unusual situations needing interpretation of government processes and the impact their decisions will have on their studies in Ontario.

**Assists with functions provided by the International Student Services department by**:

- Tracking and connecting with students who failed to return to complete their studies and encouraging them to finish their studies. Advising Immigration when appropriate and providing comprehensive reports for College retention purposes.
- Tracking and ensuring eligibility for students who transferred into a new program in their first semester or requiring a program change.
- Tracking and connecting with students who were not admitted into their program of choice; advising students on options for future semesters if wanting to transfer out. Works with International Operations team to manage the waiting list and determine priority.
- Supports staff in the creation of immigration support letters for those students who have not completed a direct path in their studies. Identifies where the student was part time and why (i.e.,didn’t have pre-requisite, failed a course not offered until the next year).

**Contributes to the efficient operations of International Student Services**
- Supports International Awards and the Celebration of Learning by promoting to students.
- Supports the International Student Orientation, special events and presentations by encouraging students to attend, assisting and participating in the events themselves.

Other duties as assigned.

**What you’ll bring to the role**:

- 3-year diploma/degree in Social Services, Business Administration, International Business, Immigration Consultant, or equivalent education.
- Regulated International Student Immig