General Summary

Under the guidance and supervision of the professional staff in the Office of International Students and Scholars, the graduate assistant will primarily serve as a general peer advisor to the international student community. They will oversee and improve the efficiency of front desk operations and procedures, train and oversee student employees, and assist with other OISS initiatives.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

• Be a knowledgeable initial contact for international students requiring assistance (via e-mail, over the telephone, and in person at the OISS front desk).
• Provide basic non-immigrant advising to F-1 and J-1 students based on OISS, EMU, and  federal policy and regulation.
• Assist professional staff in the development and implementation of the new student arrival process, including orientation/SEVIS check-in.
• Manage front desk statistics and evaluate the effectiveness of front desk processing and operations.
• Assist professional staff with various projects related to student data management.
• Represent the OISS at special cultural functions (some evening and weekend events required).
• Manage OISS newsletter and other communications.
• Train and oversee student office employees.
• Other duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications:

• Sensitivity to cultural differences.
• Ability to handle sensitive issues with student records.
• Strong communication skills, especially with non-native English speakers.
• Demonstrated attention to detail.
• Ability to sit for long periods of time at the computer; job requires heavy concentration.
• Ability to work under pressure in a busy, stressful environment.
• Ability to learn quickly and efficiently.
• Experience with computer software including Microsoft Office and Google Apps (Mail, Drive, Calendar, Etc.).

Preferred Qualifications:

• Previous experience working in a higher education institution.
• Experience working with Banner.
• Knowledge of basic immigration regulations.
• Knowledge of university policies and procedures.
• Previous experience working in a professional environment.
• Familiarity with the EMU campus.

Special Instructions:

Due to the student-support focus of the role, remote work is not possible. Occasional off-site work may be required to help with programming events.