Committee: Education Abroad Knowledge Community (EA KC)
Position: Content Coordinator, Visas for Education Abroad
Term Dates: Two-year term, renewable once (maximum of 4 years)
The Content Coordinator, Visas for Education Abroad, is responsible for monitoring issues affecting visas for education abroad and for recommending tools and resources to guide advisors on how to support their students to obtain these visas. The Content Coordinator serves on the EAKC leadership team and also chairs the Consular Affairs Liaison (CAL) subcommittee. CAL is charged with clarifying visa and immigration procedures to help education abroad professionals advise their students on visas for study outside the United States and developing resources to and to assist education abroad colleagues.
Position updated August 2024
NAFSA is not currently accepting applications for this position. Visit NAFSA Volunteer Leadership: Open Positions to learn about available opportunities.
Major Functions and Responsibilities
Within the framework of the NAFSA Strategic Plan, this position will:
- Lead the CAL subcommittee to achieve the goals as outlined in the EAKC annual work plan and within the parameters of the identified in the Charge to the subcommittee. Organize CAL subcommittee meetings as necessary to review goals and facilitate projects.
- Identify and encourage relationships and dialogue with embassies and foreign consulates, consider new strategic connections
- Participate actively in the EAKC Network by prompting or responding to discussions on visas for study abroad. Act as a resource for colleagues with questions and concerns throughout the year.
- Encourage and facilitate the inclusion of content on visas for education abroad at annual and regional conferences. Develop and present sessions when possible and appropriate.
- Curate content for NAFSA web pages on education abroad visas and ensure information is relevant and current
- Collaborate with the NAFSA staff partner to achieve these goals.
Sample projects:
In recent years, this position has managed to projects such as:
- Annual and regional conference presentations and dialogues on visas for education abroad
- Online information sessions on visas for education abroad
- Advocacy with foreign consulates to clarify visa applications requirements and procedures
- Timely responses to queries submitted via the EA Visa Help platform
- Updates to the web pages on Visas for Education Abroad
Commitment
- Assure NAFSA membership through the length of the leadership term
- Serve a two-year term, renewable once for a maximum of four years.
- Devote 4 to 8 hours per month to committee and subcommittee work such as responding to network discussion posts, projects conference calls, and other responsibilities.
- Prepare for and attend subcommittee meetings throughout the year, noting that meetings are usually held online.
- Foster an inclusive environment in alignment with the NAFSA Diversity and Inclusion Statement
Qualifications
- A minimum of three years’ experience in education abroad.
- Demonstrated expertise in education abroad and an understanding of the needs of the field in practice areas related to US student visa procedures
- Demonstrated experience and leadership working with complex challenges in student visas for education abroad.
- Ability to work effectively with a team in an outcomes-based environment.
- Willingness to adopt organization-wide perspectives.
Benefits and appreciation
NAFSA appreciates its volunteer leaders with a strategy that develops, celebrates, and supports them throughout the year:
- Each year, leaders in this role receive complimentary access to two NAFSA e-learning courses, during quarter 1 and quarter 4.
- Leaders in this role are invited to an invite-only appreciation reception at the NAFSA Annual Conference & Expo.
- Leaders in this role are asked to attend online and onsite leadership community gatherings throughout the year, with themes focused on the NAFSA International Education Professional Competencies 2.0.
- Leaders in this role are recognized with special signage at the NAFSA Annual Conference & Expo.
