Job Description Summary: | The George Washington University (GW) International Services Office (ISO) is searching for a Senior International Services Associate. The GW ISO team is a fast-paced, results-driven group where initiative, teamwork, attention to detail, and customer service are highly valued. The International Services Office (ISO) at the George Washington University facilitates international educational exchange through its services and programs. It serves as the primary administrative, programming, and advising office for the GW international community.
Reporting to the Director of the International Services Office, the Senior International Services Associate will be responsible for the following:
Federal Compliance – Serves as a: - Designated School Official (DSO) in relation to compliance with F-1 student admission regulations of the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
- Alternate Responsible Officer (ARO) in relation to compliance with J-1 exchange visitor student admission regulations of the U.S. Department of State (DOS)
- Primary school official responsible for compliance with F-1 and J-1 student admission requirements of the DHS Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS).
- Maintains SEVIS compliance, as well as compliance with federal rules and regulations, and internal GW and ISO policies
- Interprets and provides guidance on federal government policies and procedures that relate to the admission of international students and exchange visitor students, and that relate to their dependents accompanying or following to join. Makes policy recommendations to the Director on matters affecting international student immigration document issuance.
Receipt of Admission Data and Documents, and Creation of ISO Admission Record
- Oversees admissions data intake Sales Force/Target X, or direct input to Sunapsis. Reviews and creates individual electronic admission records in the ISO data system that is used for client/case management and SEVIS batch processing.
- Tracks new admission submissions each business day to identify all newly submitted admissions for two or more semesters. Receives, tracks, monitors, and processes digital admission document packets from all GW international admission offices, utilizing all appropriate data systems (including Banner, SalesForce/Target X, Sunapsis, SEVIS) .
- Identifies and resolves problems that relate to international student admission processing with the above data systems, including coding and other errors that prevent electronic data downloads and transmissions. Works with the appropriate international admissions office to request error corrections as well as confirm that admission data and document systems are configured/used properly by all international admissions personnel in order to ensure accurate and efficient digital document and data transmission.
Admission Evaluations, Problem Identification, and Problem Resolution - Evaluates admission data/admission document packets on each international student applicant.
- Review financial documentation submitted by prospective students, their private financial sponsors, and their financial institutions Works to identify fraudulent and unacceptable documents. Works to identify deficiencies in financial documentation and communicates with the admitting academic unit so that they can provide clear guidance to the student regarding how to address deficiencies.
- Reviews and evaluates passport, visa and immigration status documentation submitted by prospective international students. Determines the most appropriate visa and nonimmigrant status for each prospective student and processes the admission accordingly. Identifies and assists the student and/or the admitting academic unit in resolving any potential problems that could result in a student being unable to obtain an appropriate visa and/or nonimmigrant status that permits lawful study at GW.
- Approve, deny, or place into suspense the ISO visa and immigration processing required to effect the academic admission based upon the review and evaluations of admission documents and data, and upon the results of efforts by the admitting academic unit, the prospective student, and/or the financial sponsor to address identified deficiencies.
Execution of Immigration Forms Required to Effect the Admission of International Students - Utilizes GW and DHS data systems to prepare and submit, via batch data transmission, requests for all visa/immigration documents needed by admitted international students, their spouses, and their minor children to:
- apply for an appropriate visa to a DOS visa officer in the nonimmigrant visa (NIV) section of a US embassy or Consulate, and, subsequently apply for “admission” to the United States, in an appropriate immigration status, to a US Customs and Border
Protection (USCBP) officer at a US Port of Entry (POE ). - Identifies and resolves data deficiencies that might prevent successful batch transmission and processing. Receives from the SEVIS, via batch data transmission, the appropriate federal forms for each admitted student and each dependent.
- Signs physical copies of each admission Certificate of Eligibility as a DHS/DOS recognized and authorized university official.
Training, Data Systems Coordination, and Management - Coordinates with all GW international student admissions offices in the 10 schools and colleges to plan and implement an annual series of training programs for the appropriate staff.
- Organizes, convenes, and conducts briefing and debriefing meetings following major admission periods to evaluate performance and identify areas needing improvement. Works with appropriate international admissions offices and personnel, and with appropriate ISO staff, to implement improvements. Represents the Office to Enrollment Management.
- Collaborates with ISO colleagues, admissions liaisons, and others across the University to manage and improve data systems that are used to cooperatively process international student admissions.
- Manages staff to include the International Services Assistant
The position is based at GW’s Foggy Bottom Campus in Washington, D.C. The incumbent may perform other related duties as assigned. The omission of specific duties does not preclude the supervisor from assigning duties that are logically related to the position. |