Program Assistant Jobs for OPT Students
Program Assistant roles are a strong fit for F-1 OPT students, particularly those with degrees in public administration, nonprofit management, education, or social sciences. Most positions qualify as professional employment under OPT guidelines. Your 12-month authorization window, or 24 months with a STEM extension, gives you time to build meaningful program experience.
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Get Access To All JobsCompany Description
Augsburg University is committed to helping our student explore their vocation. As a University with a calling, we welcome the unique gifts that each of our employees brings to our collective work, and we are committed to supporting our students as they seek to match those gifts with the needs of the University and our larger community.
Student employment with Augsburg is more than a job - it is an opportunity for Augsburg students to gain meaningful work experience in a supportive setting that promotes professional growth, personal accountability, teamwork, collaboration and quality work that lives up to our mission of educating students to be informed citizens, thoughtful stewards, critical thinkers, and responsible leaders.
Student employment is managed by Augsburg Human Resources in partnership with student supervisors from across campus.
ISSS is the home for advising services for international degree seeking (F-1) and exchange students and scholars (J-1) on campus. Our team is highly motivated to support international students and scholars in achieving their academic and professional goals. We seek to do our work in a professional, fun and culturally competent way.
Our office provides information, referrals and advising in the following areas: F and J immigration regulations, international student orientation, our ISSS Mentor Program, cultural adjustment and intercultural competence development, obtaining health insurance, opening a bank account, tax filing, and personal counseling, and support with acquiring a driver's license, MN ID card, or social security number.
We are looking to hire a student employee for the 2025-2026 Academic Year - and possibly extend the position to the following year (2026-2027). In addition to the semester job schedule, we are looking for a student who is able to work part-time a few weeks over summer break.
This employment opportunity should be viewed as just that - an opportunity. You will be trained in important administrative tasks as well as gain leadership skills while working in a fun and supporting environment.
Graduate and undergraduate students are eligible to apply. And we strongly encourage international students to submit their application.
When submitting your application, make sure you provide us with:
- Your RESUME
- A COVER Letter stating your interests and commitment to this employment
Application DEADLINE will be, by November 7
INTERVIEWS will be held on November 12 and 13, 2025
Job Description
Ongoing Yearly Responsibilities:
Assist with the general office responsibilities and programs of ISSS to support international degree seeking and exchange students. The Program Assistant responsibilities will include (but not limited to):
- Contribute to a warm welcome of students in our offices
- Support international students (group and individual)
- Interact with students/staff and faculty
- Support the ISSS Mentor Program
- Help plan the annual International Education Week
- Organize international student storage and office space
- Help schedule visits from partner schools
- Support the admissions process of exchange students
- Answer phones and walk-in scheduling questions
- Create weekly Newsletters
- Update Google Forms as needed
- Apply and update new ISSS Website Content
- Monitor the ISSS email inbox
- And other tasks assigned
Orientation Responsibilities:
We offer TWO orientations during the year: one for spring semester and one for fall. These are hectic events and need a tremendous amount of teamwork. The Program Assistant responsibilities during orientation planning will include (but not limited to):
- Coordinate logistics for orientation
- Assist with airport pick-up or welcome desk
- Create welcoming bags for new students
- Help lead orientation activities
Work-study eligible students welcome.
Compensation and Benefits
- Rate of Pay: $15.97/hour
- Minnesota Sick and Safe Time
- Not eligible for health insurance benefits
Qualifications
- Students must be currently enrolled at Augsburg and must be work-study eligible.
- Strong interpersonal skills
- Self-starter
- Intercultural competence
- Informal counseling skills
- Ability to manage a lot of details while carrying out program-related tasks
- Ability to maintain confidentiality
- Ability to organize logistics
- Capability to work independently
Preferred Qualifications
- Minimum one-year experience in a cross-cultural setting.
- Demonstrated intercultural competence and familiarity with the types of issues confronted by newly arriving international students.
- Demonstrated planning skills with attention to detail
- Demonstrate familiarity with F-1 Immigration Regulations and ISSS programs.
If you have questions about your work-study eligibility, please consult your financial aid award letter or contact Student Financial Services: studentfinances@augsburg.edu
Additional Information
Please note: During the semester, Program Assistant hours will be scheduled for regular hours through the weekday with some additional evening events. This position will be scheduled for 10-15 hours per week during the school year, summer hours TBD.
During the International Student Orientation weeks, the Program Assistant will have increased hours to support the arrival of our international students and the orientation. Students who apply must be available to work the entire time of orientation with a flexible schedule and cannot have any conflicting commitments during those weeks.
This position will also support the Study Abroad office with similar tasks as time and need dictates.
What You’ll Gain:
You will become an integral part of the Center of Global Education and Experience team. Your work will provide you with a broad perspective of the field of study abroad/away and international education.
Application Instructions:
All student applicants must attach the following for consideration:
- Resume
- Cover Letter (optional)
Augsburg University is an Equal Opportunity employer. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunity to all applicants and employees regardless of their race, creed, color, religion, gender, age, national origin, disability, military service, protected veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, transgender status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.
If you need a reasonable accommodation to complete our application process, please contact the Human Resources department by phone at 612.330.1058 or email at hr@augsburg.edu. Human Resources is located at 20 Memorial Hall.
Company Description
Augsburg University is committed to helping our student explore their vocation. As a University with a calling, we welcome the unique gifts that each of our employees brings to our collective work, and we are committed to supporting our students as they seek to match those gifts with the needs of the University and our larger community.
Student employment with Augsburg is more than a job - it is an opportunity for Augsburg students to gain meaningful work experience in a supportive setting that promotes professional growth, personal accountability, teamwork, collaboration and quality work that lives up to our mission of educating students to be informed citizens, thoughtful stewards, critical thinkers, and responsible leaders.
Student employment is managed by Augsburg Human Resources in partnership with student supervisors from across campus.
ISSS is the home for advising services for international degree seeking (F-1) and exchange students and scholars (J-1) on campus. Our team is highly motivated to support international students and scholars in achieving their academic and professional goals. We seek to do our work in a professional, fun and culturally competent way.
Our office provides information, referrals and advising in the following areas: F and J immigration regulations, international student orientation, our ISSS Mentor Program, cultural adjustment and intercultural competence development, obtaining health insurance, opening a bank account, tax filing, and personal counseling, and support with acquiring a driver's license, MN ID card, or social security number.
We are looking to hire a student employee for the 2025-2026 Academic Year - and possibly extend the position to the following year (2026-2027). In addition to the semester job schedule, we are looking for a student who is able to work part-time a few weeks over summer break.
This employment opportunity should be viewed as just that - an opportunity. You will be trained in important administrative tasks as well as gain leadership skills while working in a fun and supporting environment.
Graduate and undergraduate students are eligible to apply. And we strongly encourage international students to submit their application.
When submitting your application, make sure you provide us with:
- Your RESUME
- A COVER Letter stating your interests and commitment to this employment
Application DEADLINE will be, by November 7
INTERVIEWS will be held on November 12 and 13, 2025
Job Description
Ongoing Yearly Responsibilities:
Assist with the general office responsibilities and programs of ISSS to support international degree seeking and exchange students. The Program Assistant responsibilities will include (but not limited to):
- Contribute to a warm welcome of students in our offices
- Support international students (group and individual)
- Interact with students/staff and faculty
- Support the ISSS Mentor Program
- Help plan the annual International Education Week
- Organize international student storage and office space
- Help schedule visits from partner schools
- Support the admissions process of exchange students
- Answer phones and walk-in scheduling questions
- Create weekly Newsletters
- Update Google Forms as needed
- Apply and update new ISSS Website Content
- Monitor the ISSS email inbox
- And other tasks assigned
Orientation Responsibilities:
We offer TWO orientations during the year: one for spring semester and one for fall. These are hectic events and need a tremendous amount of teamwork. The Program Assistant responsibilities during orientation planning will include (but not limited to):
- Coordinate logistics for orientation
- Assist with airport pick-up or welcome desk
- Create welcoming bags for new students
- Help lead orientation activities
Work-study eligible students welcome.
Compensation and Benefits
- Rate of Pay: $15.97/hour
- Minnesota Sick and Safe Time
- Not eligible for health insurance benefits
Qualifications
- Students must be currently enrolled at Augsburg and must be work-study eligible.
- Strong interpersonal skills
- Self-starter
- Intercultural competence
- Informal counseling skills
- Ability to manage a lot of details while carrying out program-related tasks
- Ability to maintain confidentiality
- Ability to organize logistics
- Capability to work independently
Preferred Qualifications
- Minimum one-year experience in a cross-cultural setting.
- Demonstrated intercultural competence and familiarity with the types of issues confronted by newly arriving international students.
- Demonstrated planning skills with attention to detail
- Demonstrate familiarity with F-1 Immigration Regulations and ISSS programs.
If you have questions about your work-study eligibility, please consult your financial aid award letter or contact Student Financial Services: studentfinances@augsburg.edu
Additional Information
Please note: During the semester, Program Assistant hours will be scheduled for regular hours through the weekday with some additional evening events. This position will be scheduled for 10-15 hours per week during the school year, summer hours TBD.
During the International Student Orientation weeks, the Program Assistant will have increased hours to support the arrival of our international students and the orientation. Students who apply must be available to work the entire time of orientation with a flexible schedule and cannot have any conflicting commitments during those weeks.
This position will also support the Study Abroad office with similar tasks as time and need dictates.
What You’ll Gain:
You will become an integral part of the Center of Global Education and Experience team. Your work will provide you with a broad perspective of the field of study abroad/away and international education.
Application Instructions:
All student applicants must attach the following for consideration:
- Resume
- Cover Letter (optional)
Augsburg University is an Equal Opportunity employer. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunity to all applicants and employees regardless of their race, creed, color, religion, gender, age, national origin, disability, military service, protected veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, transgender status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.
If you need a reasonable accommodation to complete our application process, please contact the Human Resources department by phone at 612.330.1058 or email at hr@augsburg.edu. Human Resources is located at 20 Memorial Hall.
How to Get Visa Sponsorship as a Program Assistant
Align your degree to the role
Program Assistant positions require a clear connection between your degree field and job duties. Highlight coursework in project coordination, policy, or community development. A direct degree-to-role match strengthens your OPT eligibility and makes your application more compelling to hiring managers.
Target mission-driven organizations early
Nonprofits, universities, and government-adjacent organizations hire Program Assistants regularly and tend to have more experience with OPT work authorization than private-sector employers. Focusing your search on these sectors reduces friction during the hiring process and improves your chances of a smooth onboarding.
Be transparent about your OPT timeline
Tell hiring managers upfront when your OPT expires and whether you qualify for a STEM extension. Program roles often involve multi-month projects, so employers want to know you can see a program cycle through. Clarity builds trust and avoids last-minute complications during the offer stage.
Emphasize coordination and administrative skills
Program Assistants are expected to manage schedules, track deliverables, and support multiple team members simultaneously. Concrete examples from internships, graduate assistantships, or campus organizations demonstrate these abilities clearly. Quantify your contributions wherever possible, even in academic or volunteer settings.
Apply before your OPT start date
You can interview and receive a job offer before your OPT authorization begins, but you cannot start work until your EAD card is valid. Begin your search at least two to three months before your program end date to avoid gaps between graduation and your first day of employment.
Prepare documentation your employer will need
Keep your EAD card, current I-20 with OPT authorization, and passport readily available. Many Program Assistant employers, especially in the nonprofit and education sectors, will request copies for HR compliance. Having a complete, organized packet ready signals professionalism and speeds up onboarding considerably.
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Get Access To All JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Do Program Assistant jobs qualify as valid OPT employment?
Yes, in most cases. OPT employment must be directly related to your degree field. A Program Assistant role at a nonprofit, university, or government-affiliated organization typically qualifies for students with degrees in public administration, social work, education, or a related field. The key is documenting how the job duties connect to your academic coursework when required by your DSO.
Can I work as a Program Assistant while waiting for my EAD card to arrive?
No. You cannot begin working until your Employment Authorization Document is physically in hand and the start date on the card has passed. You can interview, sign an offer letter, and complete onboarding paperwork before your EAD arrives, but your first day of actual work must fall on or after the valid start date printed on the card.
How do I find Program Assistant jobs that are open to OPT students?
Browse Migrate Mate to find Program Assistant openings from employers who are familiar with or actively open to OPT work authorization. Many job postings on general boards don't specify OPT compatibility, which makes it easy to waste time on roles that won't move forward. Migrate Mate filters for OPT-friendly employers, which significantly reduces that friction.
Do Program Assistant roles qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Only if your degree is in a STEM-designated field and the employer is E-Verify enrolled. Program Assistant positions are most common in nonprofit, education, and public administration sectors, where STEM extensions are less frequently applicable. However, students with STEM degrees working in data, research program support, or technology-adjacent program roles may qualify. Confirm with your DSO before assuming eligibility.
What happens to my OPT status if my Program Assistant contract ends early?
Your OPT authorization period continues even if your employment ends, but you must report the job separation to your DSO within 10 days. OPT allows for up to 90 days of unemployment in total, though this resets to 150 days with an approved STEM extension. Starting your next job search immediately is important because unused unemployment days cannot be recovered once they accumulate.
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