International Enrollment Counselor

International Enrollment Counselor
Charleston Southern University

Position Overview

Under the supervision of the Executive Director of the Center for Global Engagement, the International Enrollment Counselor oversees recruitment and admissions services for international students, ensures high-quality evaluation of foreign academic credentials, and learns and applies federal regulations pertaining to the reporting of international students. The counselor develops contacts with high schools, colleges/universities, agents, foreign study abroad advisors, and US Embassies; functions as a Designated School Official and Responsible Officer to issue visa documents and handles admission-related immigration issues for current and prospective students.

Key Responsibilities

Within the limits of authorized college policies, procedures, programs, and budgets, the International Enrollment Counselor is responsible for and has the authority to accomplish the following duties:

1.    Verify that all international applicants’ current immigration status is permissible for full-time study.
2.    Prepare admitted students for the visa issuance process and arrival in the U.S. through the creation of pre-arrival packets, registration in courses, and coordination of vaccinations and housing.
3.    Oversee the development and implementation of specific marketing and recruitment strategies for international students.  Visit (in-person or virtual) high schools, language schools, colleges, and universities to recruit international students.  Provide information about educational opportunities at the University.
4.    Initiate phone, print, and electronic contact with applicants and prospective students and provide follow-up with inquiries.
5.    Coordinate international admissions services. Become a proficient user in Slate, our enrollment management platform, and all other University platforms necessary for the position. Review and update admissions forms and letters.  Provide admissions counseling to prospective students (e.g., guide students who are not in F1 status who wish to be full-time international students).  Participate in planning and implementing international student orientation activities.
6.    Collect and review documents submitted for admissions (e.g., foreign and domestic educational transcripts and foreign and domestic bank documents as well as verifications from US sponsors, including employment verifications and Affidavits of Support).
7.    Coordinate articulation agreements and admission processes with partner institutions abroad.
8.    Collect and analyze complex data and information regarding international admissions for colleges and departments as well as partner institutions, foreign recruitment agencies, scholarship agencies, and international organizations.
9.    Oversee the maintenance of the international admissions databases. Track statistics gather data, and create reports (i.e., IIE, Japanese Census, ANDEO, etc.).
10.    Monitor compliance with government regulations, ensuring a high standard of cooperation with FERPA and Department of Homeland Security regulations with respect to admissions practices.
11.    Collaborate with staff and outside agencies in resolving complex prospective student issues relating to admission and all pre-arrival issues (e.g., VISA complications, payment of SEVIS fees, etc.).
12.    Establish cooperative and collaborative relationships with Education USA advisors and US Embassy officials as well as business and industry representatives in the United States.  Collaborate with US Immigration attorneys in the best interest of their clients seeking education.
13.    Oversee the work of student employees.
14.    Perform other related duties as assigned.

Required Skills and Attributes

Education:  A bachelor’s degree. While not required, if a candidate speaks another language(s), that would be considered advantageous to his/her candidacy.
Experience: Applicants must have excellent written and verbal communication skills, must be computer-literate with a working knowledge of Microsoft Office, and must have the ability to learn and utilize new computer software systems effectively.  The counselor must be able to work independently and as part of a team.  

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
•    Ability to work diligently, with initiative, from various locations
•    Knowledge of immigration rules and regulations.
•    Knowledge of college admissions policies and procedures.
•    Skill in reviewing/evaluating foreign transcripts.
•    Skill in delivering presentations.
•    Strong intercultural communication skills.
•    Skill in operating a computer and supporting software.
•    Ability to demonstrate cultural sensitivity and diplomacy.
•    Ability to prioritize multiple projects.
•    Ability to effectively communicate in oral and written form.
•    Ability to learn and apply federal regulations.

Application Process

Interested candidates should submit a resume, cover letter (if available), and faith statement and answer all mandatory application questions. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

About CSU

Located near historic Charleston, South Carolina, Charleston Southern University is a comprehensive institution offering a liberal arts curriculum to over 3,600 students and offers over 60 majors and graduate programs in Education, Business, Criminal Justice, and Nursing.  The mission of the University is “promoting academic excellence in a Christian environment,” and the vision is to be a Christian University nationally recognized for integrating faith in learning, leading and serving.  Charleston Southern has nationally accredited programs in nursing, business, education, music and athletics, and a budget of approximately $60 million.  Affiliated with the South Carolina Baptist Convention, Charleston Southern employs faculty and staff who are professing Christians.  For more information about the University, please visit www.charlestonsouthern.edu. 

Charleston Southern University is an Equal Opportunity Employer

This job description outlines the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.

Charleston Southern University is a Christian university and tobacco-free campus. We do not illegally discriminate on the basis of race, age, color, national or ethnic origin, disability, sex, religion, genetic information, veteran or military status, or any other basis on which the University is prohibited from discrimination under local, state or federal law, in its employment or in the provision of its services, including but not limited to its programs and activities, admissions, educational policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and University-administered programs. In order to fulfill its purpose, the University may discriminate on the basis of religion in employment. The University has been granted exemption from certain regulations promulgated under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 which conflict with the University’s religious tenets and core values.