International Student Advising Specialist

The Role

The International Student Advising Specialist (ISAS) is responsible for advising students, faculty members and administrators in complex overlapping immigration and academic issues related to international student success. The ISAS provides integrated immigration and academic case-specific analysis, guidance and decisions; as well as, student success education to new and returning international students. 

As a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) or Regulated International Student Immigration Advisor (RISIA) the ISAS executes the highest level of comprehensive advising to support international undergraduate student retention and success; including, but not limited to: study permits, work permits, academic program decisions, medical insurance, employment and cultural transitions. The position involves the professional and competent application of advising procedures in a confidential and ethical manner in accordance with standards set by the Canadian Bureau of International Education (CBIE), the Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council (ICCRC) and applicable professional associations. 

The ISAS is responsible for updating staff and administrators on new policies and issues of relevance to international students by sitting on college-wide committees, presenting at meetings, and providing updates via formal and informal college communication channels including the website, intranet and email. The ISAS supports international student admissions, exchanges and international partnership agreement development by assessing international course credit transfer and course pathway options for students with a variety of international educational experiences. Responsibilities 1) International Student Advising (1:1) a) Establishes a professional, welcoming and coaching-style relational rapport with international students by engaging in active and empathetic listening and appreciative inquiry techniques to support a positive advising experience for the student.b) Diffuses emotionally charged or hostile advising situations by providing guidance to both staff and students involved, including referral when appropriate.c) Uses interviews, student questionnaires, student records, knowledge of College programs, and knowledge of immigration law to support student alignment of their academic, immigration, work and personal goals and circumstances by providing case specific advising on:i) program choice, change, course selection, course loadii) work/study program options and limitations of study and work visasiii) post-graduate work permit (PGWP) eligibility and applicationiv) whether or not taking academic breaks will impact (PGWP) eligibility and academic program progressv) non-academic questions, such as international student athlete eligibilityvi) impacts of study abroad for international students on PGWP and academic program progressd) Supports student post-graduate work and immigration plans by providing case specific immigration that is compliant with immigration law and IRCC rules related to study and work permits, visas, medical insurance, employment, dependents and related issues.e) Uses student service expertise to assess non-academic student support needs related to mental health, financial concerns, or health and safety related issues and refers students to both internal and external student services and resources and follows-up as appropriate.f) Writes professional communications to visa offices and immigration programs regarding student cases and intervenes where mistakes occurred or cases require special attention to ensure students are represented fairly.g) Manages complex cases involving student immigration, wellbeing and other matters by liaising with, and providing leadership to, other staff on campus to provide seamless support and services for international students (e.g. Enrollment Services, Student Affairs and Services, Faculty Members, and Career Centre).

2) International Student Success Programming a) Leads immigration and academic success components of orientation programming.b) Prepares and updates documents such as orientation information booklets, manuals and other publications for international students on academic & immigration success-related topics.c) Plans and delivers international student success program (workshops and co-curricular course content) aligned with student-lifecycle and interest needsd) Conducts co-curricular international student success program reviews each semester with input from participants, organizers, and external contributors.e) Designs and delivers awareness and education programs to faculty and staff related to international student success and immigration related topics; such as, common questions received by faculty from international students, international student patterns for program and course preference, and intercultural communication tips and tricks for front line staff working with international students.f) Creates and curates content for regular international student communications (e.g. newsletter, social media, posters) to raise awareness of international student success programming, immigration updates, events and availability of services.

3) International Program Articulation a) Analyzes international programs, courses and international exchange standards to prepare reports for the Director of Global Engagement and International Student Services on program course/credit alignment for new and existing international articulation arrangements.b) Maintains and updates existing course/credit reports with international colleges and universities to reflect any additions or removal of course and program options.c) Utilizes the BC Transfer guide and the Douglas College transfer database to analyze case specific issues related to course and program transfer in order to ensure accurate recognition for prior academic work. 4) Administration and operations a) Maintains and updates student records in according to IRCC, BC FIPPA, and Douglas College policies.b) Provides recommendations to the ISAS Supervisor and International Student Services Manager to improve administrative procedures for record keeping.c) Provides recommendations to the ISAS Supervisor and International Student Services Manager to improve online and in-person student services.d) Represents Douglas College International externally from time-to-time to government and professional organizations such as; IRCC, Canadian Border Services Agency, BC Provincial Nominee Program, Services Canada, Health Insurance BC, and the local MP’s office.e) Interprets and complies with IRCC Operation Manuals, Operational Bulletins, ICCRC policies and Codes of Ethics, and relevant privacy legislation in order to meet legal and reporting requirements.f) Contributes to the updating of training and procedures manuals within the International Student Service (ISS) area to support onboarding and upgrading of employees.g) Plans and implements on-campus immigration-related communications for relevant non-ISS staff and faculty that are accurate, consistent and in line with immigration legislation and regulations. 5) Expert Consultation a) Provides legally sound advice to colleagues, academic and student service departments on immigration legislation, regulations and policies in order to ensure College-wide compliance with IRCC rules and regulations.b) Provides in person or written case specific and policy-level consultation to Douglas College departments and staff regarding international student immigration-related issues (study rules, work rules, immigration implications of decisions for students); such as, working with faculty members to verify student claims and/or resolve complex issues related to international or immigration issues impacting student success.

6) Continuous Improvement and Networking a) Maintains certification as a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) or Regulated International Student Immigration Advisor (RISIA) by completing required annual professional development requirements.b) Stays current on IRCC policy changes and assesses changes in relation to student study, work, and immigration case-specific advising. Assesses IRCC rule changes to inform academic program coordinators and College-wide policy when relevant.c) Stays current on all programs offered by the College available to international students in order to ensure academic-related information for case-specific immigration/academic advising is accurate.d) Stays current on BC Transfer Guide and popular sending and receiving programs relevant to international students at Douglas College in order to ensure academic-related information for case specific advising and pathway (assessment and upgrading) options are available to students.e) Stays current on industry-standard international transfer credit guides, resources and related news in order to facilitate exchange credit analysis and articulation and pathway articulation development.f) Represent Douglas International as a contributing member to cross-functional teams and learning communities of practice within Douglas College related to student services.g) Participates as an active member in provincial and national associations such as the Canadian Bureau of International Education, British Columbia International Education Association, and the Canadian Association of College and University Student Services to stay current in the fields of immigration and academic advising and annually reflect on current best practices in the field.h) Stays current of trends in international student employment opportunities through regular collaboration with the Douglas College Career Centre in order to provide relevant work-integrated-learning.i) Participates in ongoing training to ensure current functional knowledge of College service areas, technologies, and policies.

7) Performs other duties as required such as: a) Processes a variety of correspondence, reports, and other documents.b) Leads or contributes to Douglas international and College-wide projects; such as, participating on service standard working groups and advising software upgrade projects.
c) Mentors and trains new staff in Douglas International on ISAS related duties.
d) Provides orientation and training to staff faculty and staff external to Douglas International on immigration/international student issues when requested.e) Maintains confidential student and partner data in Douglas College student records systems.
f) Maintains confidential immigration documentation in Douglas International agent & student database.
g) Creates and maintains content and student information in Douglas learning management system.
h) Maintains Douglas International partner database articulation and exchange agreement content.
i) Prepares and updates informational materials, posters, websites, etc.j) Requisitions new materials.

To Be Successful in this Role You Will Need 1. Successful completion of a bachelor degree in a related discipline from a recognized post-secondary institution and a minimum of 4 years related work experience, or a combination of credentials and experience considered equivalent.2. Certification as a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) or Regulated International Student Immigration Advisor (RISIA); and be in good standing with the Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council (ICCRC).3. Experience supervising student assistants or volunteers.4. Extensive knowledgeable of Citizenship and Immigration Canada, Immigration and Refugee Protection Act/Regulations, and policies and procedures pertaining to international students5. A strong understanding of the post-secondary system in BC, including course and program transfer amongst BC institutions, and Douglas College programs of study, admission criteria and learner pathways.6. Excellent working knowledge of Douglas College programs including admission requirements, programs of study and Douglas College program offerings, admissions criteria and learner pathways.7. Demonstrated knowledge and experience in credential evaluation, and in program articulation and transfer credit processes at Douglas College pertaining to international partners.8. Comprehensive understanding of Douglas College policy and procedures as they relate to students in general and international students in particular.9. Knowledge of international student concerns related to study, work, immigration and well-being.10. Knowledge of post-secondary student lifecycle and service needs from ‘new student to alumni.’11. Excellent interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills including written and verbal fluency in the English language.12. Good interviewing skills with students.13. Good emotional self-management and conflict resolution abilities.14. Good working knowledge of routine office systems and procedures such as filing systems, administrative control systems, and standard forms of business communication.15. Demonstrated ability:a. to interact effectively and tactfully with people of various backgrounds and culturesb. to communicate persuasively, assertively, diplomatically and tactfully verbally and in writingc. to collaborate and seek help when faced with complex or challenging situationsd. to critically analyze, reason, problem solve and exercise sound judgmente. to ensure accuracy of information and enter data accuratelyf. to maintain a high degree of confidentialityg. to effectively use time management to prioritize tasks for self and groupsh. to effectively lead and support project-based work using planning toolsi. to research complex topic and synthesize information into briefs or succinct communicationsj. to create and deliver engaging presentations for large groups in formal and informal settingsk. to adapt speaking style and register for audiences of different cultural backgrounds and positionsl. to effectively engage with large groups of people in workshop or educational formatsm. to work as a team or independently, with a minimum of supervisionn. to maintain high levels of customer service while under task, time or interpersonal pressureo. to work within an environment where there is a constant flow of enquiries, requiring attention to detail, endurance and stamina and the need to stay focused over prolonged periods of timep. to advocate on behalf of others for correction of an error or change in procedureq. to retain, organize, utilize and communicate a vast range of information to support othersr. to provide exceptional client-centered service on a consistent basis to multiple stakeholder groupss. to create and maintain a professional network16. International experiences and second language skills are assets.17. A working knowledge of student information database systems such as Banner is an asset.18. Knowledge of adult educational design and co-curricular learning principles is an asset.19. A working knowledge of learning management systems such as Blackboard is an asset.20. A working knowledge of social media platforms such as Twitter, Instagram, FaceBook, etc. is an asset.21. Technical skills: MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, MS Teams, MS Planer, Zoom, all at an intermediate or higher level.

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