International Student and Scholar Services Coordinator (Temporary)

The Chronicle Of Higher Education, Inc.; Stockton (CA); On-site; USD 30,000 - 44,000; Part time

Job summary

The Chronicle of Higher Education, Inc. seeks an International Student and Scholar Services Coordinator (Temporary) to oversee immigration compliance, SEVIS administration, and advising for the university’s international population.

As a Designated School Official (DSO) for F-1 students, you will focus on I-20 issuance, SEVIS updates, and OPT guidance, with some Study Abroad support. This 40-hour/week, six-month position may extend.

Qualifications

• Must be a U.S. citizen or U.S. legal permanent resident and eligible for DSO designation.
• Experience with SEVIS, I-20 issuance, and OPT guidance is required.
• Bachelor's degree or higher with relevant experience may substitute for one year of education per policy.

Responsibilities

• Serve as DSO and maintain SEVIS compliance and reporting.
• Manage I-20 records and SEVIS data integrity.
• Advise on post‑completion OPT and STEM OPT processes and timelines.
• Provide limited OPT workshops and written guidance to students.
• Collaborate with Admissions for data accuracy for I-20 issuance.
• Generate routine and ad hoc reports on OPT/STEM OPT and compliance.

Skills

DSO experience

Immigration knowledge

Customer service

Organizational skills

Written/verbal communication

SEVIS familiarity

Data reporting

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Microsoft Office/365

CRMs

Tableau

Power BI

Job description

International Student and Scholar Services Coordinator(Temporary)

The International Student & Scholar Services Coordinator delivers critical immigration compliance, SEVIS administration, and advising for the University's international population. Serving as a Designated School Official (DSO) for F-1 students, the role focuses on I-20 issuance, SEVIS record updates, and compliance tasks, with a primary emphasis on F-1 Optional Practical Training (OPT), especially post-completion OPT and STEM OPT. In addition, the coordinator provides limited support to the Study Abroad team by assisting with application processing and responding to general inquiries from prospective Study Abroad participants. This is a 40-hour/week position for six (6) months with a possibility for extension.

Essential Functions

Immigration Compliance & SEVIS Administration

• Serve as a DSO; ensure SEVIS compliance and timely reporting in accordance with federal regulations.
• Create, update, and maintain I-20 (F-1) records and associated digital/physical files; manage SEVIS actions and data integrity (FERPA compliant).
• Monitor immigration alerts, deadlines, and policy changes; apply updates to institutional processes and documents.

F-1 OPT Focus: Advising & Case Processing

• Lead end-to-end post-completion OPT case processing: advise on eligibility/timelines, recommend OPT in SEVIS, issue updated I-20s, and maintain SEVIS employment and address updates throughout the OPT period.
• Track and manage OPT compliance: monitor unemployment day limits, reporting deadlines, and SEVIS alerts; send reminders; update records based on student reports.
• Support STEM OPT extension processes: review training plan (Form I-983) for completeness, advise on timelines and reporting obligations, process material change updates, and maintain required records and validations.
• Provide targeted OPT workshops/briefings and written guidance (e.g., emailed instructions, checklists, web FAQs) to streamline student compliance and reduce case errors.
• Offer limited, triage-level F-1 advising beyond OPT (e.g., travel signatures, routine status maintenance, simple program extensions/transfers), referring complex/non-OPT matters to senior staff.

Collaboration & Compliance Communication

• Collaborate with Admissions to ensure complete and accurate data for timely I-20 issuance for admitted F-1 students.
• Draft and maintain immigration compliance content (webpages, FAQs, email templates, guides, presentations) with an emphasis on OPT clarity and accuracy.
• Communicate immigration policy updates and key deadlines to students, faculty, and staff; route complex issues appropriately.

Reporting & Administration

• Produce ad hoc and routine reports from ISSM/SEVIS (e.g., OPT/STEM OPT caseloads, reporting compliance, document issuance metrics).
• Develop simple dashboards or visual reports (e.g., in Excel, Tableau, or Power BI) to track OPT/STEM OPT compliance trends, SEVIS alerts, and processing timelines.
• Analyze data to identify patterns, bottlenecks, and compliance risks, and share actionable insights with leadership for process improvement.
• Perform administrative tasks such as correspondence, appointment scheduling, and records management.

Minimum Qualifications

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or U.S. Legal Permanent Resident and meet the eligibility for both the USDHS's regulatory requirements to be a Designated School Official (F-1 program) and the U.S. Department of State's J-1 Visitor Program as an Alternate Responsible Officer.
• Working knowledge of immigration laws, regulations and procedures.
• Bachelor's degree; in lieu of a degree, two (2) years of full-time relevant experience may substitute for one (1) year of post-high school education.

Preferred Qualifications

• Two (2) years of experience providing support to business operations or student services in a professional setting.
• Knowledge of the SEVIS system.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office/365 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) and comfort with databases/CRMs.
• Strong customer service, organizational, and written/verbal communication skills; ability to handle sensitive information with discretion.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively, prioritize tasks, and meet deadlines in a fast‑paced environment.
• Experience working with international students in higher education or a comparable environment.
• Two (2) years of experience as a DSO or general familiarity with F-1/J-1 federal regulations and SEVIS processes.
• Experience with ISSM (or similar international case management systems).
• Demonstrated success in OPT/STEM OPT advising and case management.
• Experience creating dashboards or visual reports using tools such as Tableau or Power BI.
• Ability to communicate effectively with people from various cultural backgrounds and experience supporting diverse populations.
• Demonstrated experience advancing equity, inclusion, and belonging in a university setting.

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative but not definitive of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. This is an in-person role, and the successful candidate must be willing to relocate within California, preferably within 25 miles of the Stockton Pacific campus. Requires extended periods of sitting and repetitive hand/wrist motion while using a computer keyboard and phone. Occasional standing, walking across campus, climbing stairs, bending, stooping, and reaching. Occasional lifting, up to 25 pounds.

Work Schedule

Work is conducted during standard business hours, with occasional evening and weekend responsibilities.

Travel & Other

Some travel may be required. A valid driver's license is required, and the incumbent must meet the University's fleet rules to be eligible to drive for University business.

Hiring Range

Hiring Range: $28.00 per hour. We consider factors such as, but not limited to, scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate's qualifications, internal equity, as well as market and organizational considerations when extending an offer.

Background Check Statement

All applicants who receive a conditional offer of employment are required to execute a release and authorization for a background screening.

AB 810 Misconduct Disclosure Requirement

AB 810 Misconduct Disclosure Requirement: University of the Pacific complies with California Assembly Bill 810, requiring candidates accepting conditional job offers to disclose any final administrative or judicial findings, ongoing proceedings, allegations, resignations under investigation, or appeals related to sexual harassment or misconduct within the past seven years.