Chair, International Student and Scholar Regulatory Practice Committee

• Prepare the ISS RP annual work plan in support of NAFSA’s Strategic Plan and assigned outcomes. Submit mid-year and end-of-the-year reports to the VP PPP.
• Ensure that the interests of the field are being served through the work of the ISS RP’s five subcommittees.
• Prioritize government engagement, receiving input from ISS RP team members and NAFSA staff.
• Participate in subcommittee calls and, when necessary, government agency liaison calls with NAFSA staff and government officials.
• Identify trends, emerging issues, or problems cited by the subcommittees, staff, or membership that may require the creation of a short-term task force or working group.
• Collaborate with the Knowledge Community for International Student and Scholar Services (KC ISSS) to solicit annual conference session or poster session proposals related to regulatory complexities of interest to conference participants.
• Lead the ISS RP Committee in the review of government- and regulatory-related conference session proposals and provide comments to the KC ISSS coordinator on the Annual Conference Committee.
• Promote the work of ISS RP through outreach and communication with members via Network.NAFSA, regional listservs, and the ISS RP web page.
• Provide guidance, orientation, and constructive feedback to ISS RP Subcommittee chairs throughout their leadership.
• Communicate and engage with members to discuss current issues, ongoing subcommittee priorities, and ISS RP activities.
• Coordinate with the subcommittee chairs to appoint qualified applicants for subcommittee positions, maintain transparency of the selection process, and liaise with the VP PPP to confirm appointments.
• Effectively lead and support a team of volunteers in an outcomes-based environment through conference call and virtual and in-person meetings.

All NAFSA leaders are expected to foster an inclusive environment and seek to learn and understand the multicultural perspectives of the committee/team, our constituents, and stakeholders to align with the NAFSA Diversity and Inclusion Statement. An expression of leadership in this area includes:

• Engaging the committee/team to identify and implement strategies for increased personal outreach, recruitment, and onboarding for all, especially diversity-focused and underrepresented groups
• Increasing accessibility and participation from underrepresented groups, individuals, and institutions
• Expanding educational content within the committees’ purview through intentional outreach and recruitment of diverse presenters and institutional types in partnership with various NAFSA groups

 
NAFSA: Association of International Educators is a professional association driven by its Strategic Plan as established by the Board of Directors.  The success of the association depends on the productive engagement of three key constituencies: the Board, member-leaders, and staff.  Member-leaders are advocates for the association’s mission, vision, values, diversity and inclusion, and ethical principles. They align their work closely with the Board through its vice presidents and with staff to carry out the Strategic Plan. Member-leader roles are guided by objectives assigned by the Strategic Plan, by outcome accountabilities outlined in the Standing Rules, and by position descriptions for specific roles.  

• This position collaborates closely with other NAFSA leaders to enhance work efforts across the association.
• This position partners closely with the NAFSA staff partner assigned. Effective relationships reflect and include responsiveness to phone calls/e-mail correspondence, timely delivery on responsibilities, open communication and mutual respect among other characteristics.

• Estimated six to eight hours per month to participate in position responsibilities.
• Prepare for and attend the Washington Leadership Meeting in January.
• Prepare for and attend ISS RP team preconference meetings and meetings requested by the VPPPP at the NAFSA annual conference in May.
• Participate in ISS RP chair-designate orientation and onboarding activities with NAFSA staff.
• Participate in the annual regulatory ombudsperson training call (immediately following the Washington Leadership Meeting in January).

NAFSA Meetings

Travel, per diem, and lodging expenses are reimbursed for national NAFSA meetings, except for those surrounding the NAFSA annual conference. The travel to/from the annual conference, along with any meals and lodging for meetings before/during the conference, is not covered. Annual Conference registration is complimentary for the current Chair and Chair-designate.  Lodging, travel and per diem is provided for the Washington Leadership Meeting (WLM) in January and the Chair-designate’s fall meeting at NAFSA. Other expenses members incur in their offices/at home, such as copying, phone calls, etc. are not reimbursed. Large copying jobs should be referred to staff. Conference calls are set up by staff and covered by the association as necessary.

Please Note:  ISS RP Chairs are kindly asked to not present at Annual Conference pre-conference workshops because their attendance is necessary at the ISS RP team’s pre-conference meetings.

• Minimum of five years’ experience working in the ISSS field, with knowledge of immigration-related work and an awareness of the issues affecting this community.
• Previous volunteer/presentation experience with NAFSA at the local, regional, or national level
• Strong analytical abilities, with demonstrated leadership skills in communication, delegation, and project management
• Institutional support for this volunteer commitment
• Willingness to adopt organization-wide perspectives and ISS RP strategic priorities
• Willingness to adopt association priorities and perspectives on volunteer development and management
• High strategic planning, management, networking, and delegation experience
• Strong coordination, analytical, oral and written communication skills
• Ability to work effectively with a team and with NAFSA staff in an outcomes-based environment
• Commitment to access and respond to e-mail in a timely fashion as well as communicate using online electronic tools/systems plus the online workspace structure
• Willingness and ability to travel for participation and representation at NAFSA meetings
• Manage unconscious bias in the assessment and decision-making process
• Recognized by peers for being energetic, innovative, and visionary
• Valid NAFSA membership through the length of the leadership term
• Ability to meet the volunteer commitment outlined and planning calendar deadlines