Coordinator Competencies
- Exhibits behaviors consistent with NSE organizational culture
- Applies creative problem solving to address fiscal and administrative needs and issues
- Fosters collaboration
- Understands the effective and efficient way to accomplish tasks
- Develops solutions to overcome potential obstacles
- Demonstrates agility and expertise when leading organizational initiatives
- Sets the vision for NSE program initiatives and builds buy-in from stakeholders
- Demonstrates resilience and tenacity for leading the campus program
- Supports the NSE organization through adversity and challenges
- Promotes consensus among organizational stakeholders for new initiatives
- Advocates for the NSE campus program as it relates to annual budget planning
- Serves as a transformational leader for the campus and organization
- Prioritizes coordinator duties for maximum efficiency
- Develops and utilizes best practices for the individual campus
- Delivers customized program management solutions for campus challenges
Each participating campus designates one person who is administratively responsible for the coordination of the National Student Exchange on a twelve-month, continuing appointment. The coordinator must be an individual who is effective in accomplishing the tasks necessary to ensure administrative support for the program.
The institution should provide the coordinator with financial, clerical, and other support necessary to efficiently perform NSE responsibilities. A realistic budget will include the annual membership fee, conference travel, and an appropriate sum for NSE program administration. Campus program funding should accommodate supplies, materials, and equipment; phone and postage; printing; and media promotion. Funding might also include a stipend for an assistant or student coordinator.
In order to facilitate the student exchange process, it is necessary to establish an effective working relationship with implementation offices, including those listed below. The working relationships with these offices should become part of the internal campus NSE procedures manual and reviewed with these offices annually.
- Admissions
- Financial affairs (e.g., controller, comptroller, bursar, student accounts)
- Financial aid and scholarships
- Registration
- Records
- Residence life
- Housing
Additional offices of importance to campus practice are listed below.
- School and college deans
- Academic advising
- Enrollment management
- Student services
- Off-campus housing
- Student activities and organizations
- Counseling
- Study abroad and international programs
- Honors programs
- Multicultural programs
- Services to students with disabilities
- New student orientation
- Student health services
- Veterans affairs
- Student employment
- Athletics/recreational facilities
The coordinator must demonstrate a working knowledge of NSE policy and functions related to the campus program including, but not limited to:
- Makes sound decisions based on evaluation of available information
- Assessing the impact of changes to campus policy and their effect on the NSE program
- Transfers knowledge and best practice from one situation to the next
- Applies critical thinking to information received from institutional stakeholders and evaluates what can be used for program success
- Gathers critical information for program assessment
- Analyzes data with a keen sense for what is useful to advance the NSE program
- Delineates best practices based on experience, evidence of student success, publicly available web-based sources of information, and other information
- Analyzes information to identify evidence-based best practices
- Identifies leading indicators of program outcomes
- Demonstrates these practices through annual reporting processes
- Analyzes specific financial or procedural challenges involving the program or students and offers solutions based upon best practice or research
The NSE consortium relies upon the communication and relationships of campus coordinators throughout its membership. It is the responsibility of the Coordinator to become familiar with how the NSE program operates on the national level and to establish and maintain procedures on the campus level and within inter-campus relationships consistent with NSE policies and procedures.
The coordinator must demonstrate effective communication skills including, but not limited to:
- Serves as the campus student exchange management expert
- Establish credibility in all interactions
- Treat all NSE stakeholders with respect and dignity
- Build engaging relationships through trust, teamwork, and direct communication
- Demonstrate approachability and openness
- Be honest and open with all other coordinators in the placement process
- Ensure alignment within NSE when delivering services and information
- Assist host coordinators in resolving student problems in a timely manner
- Assist host coordinators in resolving issues arising from students neglecting to meet obligations (financial, academic, and/or social/behavioral)
- Provides clear, concise information to others in verbal, written, electronic, and other communication formats for public and organizational consumption
- Listens actively and empathetically to the views of others
- Delivers critical information to all stakeholders
- Seeks further information to clarify ambiguity
- Ensure effective communication throughout the organization
- Helps the NSE organization communicate on issues outside of NSE
- Utilizes communication technology and social media as appropriate
Each participating campus designates one person who is administratively responsible for the coordination of the National Student Exchange. The coordinator must remain current on relevant NSE policy and regulations related to NSE practices, strategy, and technology.
Actual funding sources will vary by campus. It is expected that the NSE campus unit will receive adequate funding in order to meet expenses associated with the program. Additionally, the NSE coordinator should be supported so as to continue to advocate for the NSE program.
National Student Exchange has developed a membership composed of diverse colleges and universities offering distinct cultural experiences and learning environments. Coordinators will operate with a global and pen mindset that is sensitive to cultural issues.
The coordinator must demonstrate a working knowledge of critical NSE values and functions including, but not limited to:
- Publicizing the NSE program, distributing information, and materials
- Recruiting, selecting, and approving exchange applicants
- Placement process and advising
- Assisting incoming and outgoing students with registration, enrollment, and orientation
- Seeks NSE professional development
- Seeks process improvement through NSE resources
- Demonstrates a capacity for understanding the financial operations and functions within the campus
- Understands campus financial aid policies and their function
- Works effectively with diverse cultures and populations
- Conducts self and program with an understanding and respect for the differences between NSE member campuses
- Appreciates the commonalities, values, and individual uniqueness of all persons
- Adapts perspective and behavior to meet the cultural context
- Navigates the differences between common practice and policy in exchange
The Principles of Professional Practice for NSE Coordinators is to ensure the fair and equitable treatment of the students we serve and to provide standards of integrity for all aspects of NSE program administration. It is not meant to be an inclusive set of rules and procedures governing actions in all situations, rather it is intended as the basis for the service provided to students who participate in NSE and putting into practice the values that guide us. The values that guide in meeting the diverse needs of our students, coordinators, and member institutions are excellence in our performance, sensitivity, respect, cooperation, and service.
The coordinator must demonstrate a working knowledge of ethical practice including, but not limited to:
- Maintains confidentiality and adherence to FERPA and HIPAA guidelines
- Acts with personal, professional, and behavioral integrity
- Responds immediately to all reports of unethical behavior or conflicts of interest
- Empowers students to report unethical behavior or conflicts of interest without fear of reprisal
- Shows consistency in practice
- Acknowledges mistakes
- Asserts power or authority appropriately
- Recognizes and takes measures to mitigate risk and the influence of bias in NSE procedures
- Maintains appropriate levels of transparency in organizational practices
- Ensures that all stakeholder voices are heard
- Manages campus political and social pressures when making decisions
- Foster effective teambuilding among state, region, and other NSE campuses
- Provide exceptional customer service to all NSE organizational contacts
- Promote successful relationships with member NSE campuses