International Student Advisor

Position Summary: Governors State University, University Park, Illinois, seeks to hire an International Student Advisor. This position, and the responsibilities it entails, will directly impact the ability of international students to stay in the United States legally, their educational experiences, training, job opportunities, and career fulfillment here and abroad. The successful candidate will serve as Designated School Official (DSO) with signing authority as approved by the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of State and will be authorized to access student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). This position also assists the Primary Designated School Official (PDSO) in SEVIS maintenance, self-audits, and federally mandated registration/reporting.

The major responsibilities of this position include but are not limited to: 1) foreign national student immigration and advising within the Office of International Services; 2) processing SEVIS applications and general office administration; 3) responding to internal and external inquiries regarding immigration and other matters. Additionally, this position will review, maintain, and process all documents and records as required by USCIS during student's study at Governors State University; maintain up to date understanding of immigration regulations and other federal, state and local laws or policies impacting non-immigrants; and coordinate information needed for issuance of I-20 documents; and assist international student services to counsel students on maintaining, changing, or reinstating their immigration status. This position will collaborate on the planning and logistics of international student orientation each semester.

The successful candidate must be a self-starter, thorough, accurate, and timely in their work ethic, and persistent in overcoming obstacles and achieving challenging goals.

Governors State University is the only regional, public, comprehensive university in Chicago's south suburban area, serving approximately 7,750 students. GSU provides affordable and accessible undergraduate and graduate education to culturally and economically diverse students with undergraduate tuition that is the most affordable in the state. Established in 1969, GSU emphasizes excellence, access, and innovation. Students benefit from the university's high academic quality, range of convenient class times, increasing hybrid and online, and off campus offerings, and outstanding educational value. GSU is committed to securing and maintaining academic accreditation for programs where accreditation is available. Furthermore, GSU seeks to become a national leader in successful transfer of community college students to universities and recently introduced the Dual Degree Program with features such as tuition lock-in at GSU for academically eligible community college students who commit to earn an Associate Degree and attend college full-time.

The campus, conveniently located in University Park, Illinois, is characterized by the quiet of its scenic 760 acre campus amidst vigorous suburban and business growth, towns of character and interest, along with Metra access to the vibrancy of the Chicago Loop, just 35 miles away. The campus and surrounding community enjoy the excellent cultural offerings of Governors State University's Center for Performing Arts, as well as its acclaimed Nathan Manilow Sculpture Park.


Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor's degree and two year immigration advising;
Familiarity with the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS);
U.S. citizenship or U.S. permanent resident as required by federal law to serve as Designated School Official (DSO) for the F-1 student program;
Knowledge of SEVIS procedures and processes and knowledge of FERPA;
Advising experience in an international student and scholar office; and
Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively in international and intercultural situations and have commitment to diversity.