Sponsored Student Program Student Coordinator

This position has an end date of two years from the date of hire, with the possibility of extension, and offers a comprehensive benefits package which can be viewed at: www.hrs.ualberta.ca.

The Sponsored Student Program (SSP) provides service and support to international students who come to the University of Alberta with scholarships from their home countries and to the sponsoring agencies that provide those scholarships.  The SSP unit is expected to contribute to the achievement of the University of Alberta's aggressive international enrolment targets by recruiting sponsored students and by cultivating positive relations with international sponsors who will continue to send new sponsored students to the U of A year after year.

As a primary and on-going point of contact for SSP students, the SSP Student Coordinator reports to the SSP Senior Coordinator and is responsible for ensuring that each student's experience at the University of Alberta is a positive one. This will, in turn, result in SSP alumni who will promote the U of A when they return to their home countries. The SSP Student Coordinator's role in fostering a positive experience for SSP students is to successfully plan and implement effective student programming and to be proactive in consistently communicating with students on an individual basis to provide the personal services that are a hallmark of the program.

In addition to student related duties, the SSP Student Coordinator will be responsible for specific tasks directly related to the administration of the program. This position requires occasional international travel and working outside standard University hours.

Duties

• Responds to inquiries from potential sponsored students to answer questions about U of A degree programs, entrance requirements and application procedures; maintains records of these contacts and monitors their progress through the application process
• Liaises with faculties and departments, as well as the International Admissions Office, to facilitate the processing of SSP applications; assists applicants by providing information and instructions on study permit applications, etc.
• Ensures students' housing needs are addressed and ensures all sponsored international students are provided with requisite information and support to get settled quickly and easily in their new surroundings and to begin their studies
• Responds to questions and concerns, provides information and redirects students as appropriate; initiates regular contact with all sponsored students on an individual basis to ensure that students are meeting their goals and those of their sponsors; designs and implements social media tools to assist in communications with sponsored students
• Assists Senior Coordinator in designing, developing, coordinating and delivering sponsored student receptions and information sessions
• Assists students as they get settled in Edmonton by providing counsel and direction with regard to moving into temporary or long-term accommodations, acquiring the requisite household goods, furniture and winter clothing, etc.
• Familiarizes students with campus and all available services including Student Health and Counselling Services, Academic Support Services, Libraries, Campus Security and Physical Recreation Facilities
• Maintains a current and comprehensive database on all international sponsored students; maintains up-to-date data on sponsored international applications; tracks retention rates and researches countries for market potential as directed by the Senior Coordinator
• Travels within Canada or internationally, as required, to recruit international sponsored students directly at education fairs; provides logistical support to Senior Coordinator with recruitment trip preparation and follow-up and coordinates and organizes campus visits for international sponsors

Qualifications

• The ideal candidate will have an undergraduate degree in Arts (languages, cultural studies, anthropology, psychology, linguistics), Education (educational psychology, English as a Second Language, adult education, student development, cross cultural education), Human Ecology or other related field; equivalent combinations of education and experience will be considered
• One to two years of related experience
• Solid understanding of both the Canadian and international university environments and student experiences
• Ability to provide client relations management, communications and programming from an intercultural perspective
• International/cross-cultural experience
• Strong interpersonal and intercultural communication skills
• Program planning, implementation and evaluation skills
• Ability to deliver student services with a client focus
• Strong command of English (verbal and written)
• Fluency in other languages (particularly Portuguese, Spanish, Chinese, Arabic, Malay, and/or Vietnamese) is an asset
• Proficiency in MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), with strong skills in data management and spreadsheet creation
• Excellent knowledge of issues facing students, particularly international students, international education systems and education cultures
• Understanding of university policies with regard to students, and intercultural communication issues especially as they relate to client relations management, recruitment, program planning and delivery

Applicants must include cover letter with resume. Resumes received without a cover letter will not be considered.