The Role
Provides academic advising and degree planning for international students in the G100 program. Responsibilities include course selection, degree audits, progress monitoring, at-risk student referrals, transition support, liaison work with academic departments, student records maintenance, paperwork, seminars, and advising on alternative programs and financial aid. The role requires cross-cultural communication, knowledge of DTS degree pathways, strong organization, and coordination across international time zones.
Summary Generated by Built In
Job Summary:
The mission of Dallas Theological Seminary as a professional, graduate-level school is to glorify God by equipping godly servant-leaders for the proclamation of His Word and the building up of the body of Christ worldwide.
The Academic Advisor for International Students is responsible for providing academic advising and related services to DTS's international students, with the intent of helping them make informed decisions as they progress toward graduation. This position is focused first on the students currently enrolled in the 100 Global Leaders ThM Scholarship Program (G100), English track, with the expectation that its scope may extend to support other international students as the international student population grows.
The Academic Advisor for International Students is responsible for providing academic advising and related services to DTS's international students, with the intent of helping them make informed decisions as they progress toward graduation. This position is focused first on the students currently enrolled in the 100 Global Leaders ThM Scholarship Program (G100), English track, with the expectation that its scope may extend to support other international students as the international student population grows.
Key Responsibilities:
- Serve as the primary academic advisor for international students in the G100 Program on the English track, in coordination with the DTS-Chinese Department, which advises Chinese-track G100 students directly.
- Advise G100 students on degree planning, course selection, and academic policies to support timely program completion in alignment with the G100 Curriculum Roadmap, spanning three years of online study in the student's home country followed by two years in residence at the Dallas campus.
- Support students preparing for their transition to the Dallas campus ahead of their assigned cohort’s arrival, working alongside International Student Development (ISD), which owns Housing and DSO/immigration coordination, and academic departments to ensure course availability and a smooth transition from the online to the residential phase.
- Run degree audits for current G100 students and other international students to develop a degree completion plan specific to each student, accounting for transfer credit, retaken courses, and individual timeline adjustments.
- Monitor student progress throughout the student life cycle and proactively identify at-risk students, providing referrals to academic and support resources.
- Serve as the main liaison between G100 students and academic departments for course scheduling and availability.
- Route program-structure requests (e.g., extending beyond five years, an earlier Dallas transition, degree program changes) to the G100 Committee, while handling grade appeals and extension requests through Academic Advising's normal process.
- Process degree-specific paperwork for G100 students.
- Work with ISD and DGI to develop resources or conduct seminars that foster persistence and success among international students.
- Maintain accurate student records and documentation, communicating clearly with faculty, mentors, and administrative stakeholders.
- As the position and the international student population grow, extend advising support beyond G100 to other international ThM students, at the discretion of the Director of Academic Advising.
- For students who are unable to continue in the G100 Program, whether due to academic standing, visa denial, or other circumstances, advise them on other DTS degree programs and financial aid options so they can continue their theological education at DTS where appropriate.
- Attend the Dallas Academic weekly Advising team meetings.
- Assist with grading within the Seminary Readiness Course as needed.
- Other duties pertaining to student success and retention as assigned by the Director of Academic Advising.
Qualifications
Required Skills/Abilities
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Cultural intelligence and experience working cross-culturally, including familiarity with honor-shame, innocence-guilt, and power-fear cultural dynamics.
- Strong interpersonal skills to work with a variety of age groups and cultural backgrounds.
- Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
- Excellent time management skills with a proven ability to meet deadlines, including deadlines tied to immigration and enrollment compliance.
- Willingness to work across international time zones as needed, since G100 students spend their first three years of the program online from their home country before relocating to Dallas.
- Possess a shepherd's heart for God's people.
- Demonstrates godly character and discretion with sensitive student information.
- Be flexible and willing to have their work interrupted.
- Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite or related software.
- Familiarity with Asana or willingness to learn it, as it is used across Global Initiatives and related departments for project and initiative tracking.
- Working knowledge of DTS's ThM Program, its requirements, and degree pathways, with the ability to learn the requirements of other DTS degree programs in order to advise students on alternative options should they be unable to continue in the G100 Program.
Education and Experience
- Bachelor's degree.
- Current DTS student or DTS graduate.
- Previous Admissions or Advising experience is preferred but not required.
- Experience working with international students and families is preferred but not required.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree
- Current DTS student or DTS graduate
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Cultural intelligence and experience working cross-culturally
- Strong interpersonal skills with varied age groups and cultural backgrounds
- Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
- Excellent time management and ability to meet deadlines
- Willingness to work across international time zones
- Shepherd's heart for God's people
- Godly character and discretion with sensitive student information
- Flexibility and willingness to have work interrupted
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite or related software
- Familiarity with Asana or willingness to learn it
- Working knowledge of DTS's ThM program, requirements, and degree pathways
- Previous admissions or academic advising experience
- Experience working with international students and families
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The Company
What We Do
Dallas Theological Seminary is a non-denominational evangelical seminary founded in 1924, dedicated to equipping godly servant-leaders for the proclamation of God's Word and the building up of the body of Christ worldwide.
