The Office of International Programs Newsletter

OFFICE HOURS
Generally, the OIP office hours are from 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. For break periods such as winter, spring and summer breaks, the office hours are 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

OIP STUDENT LOUNGE
In May 2009, the OIP opened its new student lounge. All students are welcome! There are couches, computers, and hot water available for coffee and tea. It is a great place to do homework, check your email or just relax with a book or have a cup of coffee with friends. We encourage you to stop in anytime! The lounge is open during regular OIP hours from 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

WELCOME BACK!
Welcome to all returning and new students. Stop in to say hi! We love to hear about how your summer went. For both current and new students, we wanted to make sure you knew everyone working in our office. The office staff now consists of:

Lisa Hauck, Director
Deborah Maertens, Assistant Director of Faculty Immigration
Christina Larson, Assistant Director of Study Abroad
Alicia Kauffman, Senior International Student Advisor
Sara Johnson, International Student Advisor
Lianne Lackey, International Student Advisor
Tanya Kramer, Study Abroad Advisor
Mary Foschia, Office Manager
Jan Meldahl, Administrative Assistant
Marilyn Dowdy, Administrative Assistant
Kristi Stahl, Graduate Assistant

If you have any questions about immigration, employment, health insurance, health or personal issues, please make an appointment to see an advisor. Try to plan ahead so a routine issue matter does not become an "emergency" due to your procrastination. Of course, if you have an emergency such as a health or family crisis, we will make time to see you at anytime.

ACADEMIC AND CULTURAL SHARING SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS REQUIREMENTS
Those of you who are receiving the Academic and Cultural Sharing Scholarship for the 2009-2010 academic year, you are required to complete at least 20 hours of cultural sharing or volunteering over the next academic year (two semesters). There are forms you can use to report your hours of service and a list of examples of cultural services or volunteer opportunities available in the OIP or on our website at: www.ndsu.edu/International
or at the NDSU Volunteer Network website at: http://mu.ndsu.edu/programs/volunteer_network/
Hours of service, along with appropriate documentation, are due in the OIP by December 1 for fall semester and by May 1 for spring semester Remember: You must complete 20 hours of cultural sharing per academic year as well as fulfill all other scholarship requirements (maintaining 12 credits and a CGPA of 2.5 each semester) in order to be considered for a renewal of the scholarship for future semesters. If you are graduating in December, you must complete 10 hours of sharing/volunteering by December 1.

LARGE PASSENGER VAN CERTIFICATION
In order to drive the large passenger vans (11-15 passenger) from Motorpool, you are required to participate in a web-based instructional program and a behind the wheel driving session. The web-based portion, to be completed prior to behind the wheel, takes approximately 20 minutes and will be given in the Physical Plant training room at Thorson Maintenance Center. Behind the wheel testing will be done on a course set up at the Fargo Dome parking lot; this portion will take approximately 15 minutes. The web-based portion may be completed at any time at the Thorson Maintenance Center. However, please be aware that the behind the wheel portion is ONLY AVAILABLE during the following time this semester:

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2009
8 am - 12 noon

Due to many activities that require the use of the large passenger vans throughout the various international student organizations, we strongly encourage you to complete the training program so that there are more certified, able large passenger van drivers. You may call Motorpool at 231-9619 at any time with questions or contact the OIP. Remember, you can get hours for your scholarship for helping drive the vans!

HEALTH INSURANCE
By now, all current and new international students should have an international student health insurance charge applied to their accounts. The insurance charge is applied annually and should be paid in full. Please check your NDSU account and pay your insurance bill as soon as possible. If you have not been charged for insurance, please contact Sara Johnson at Sara.J.Johnson@ndsu.edu

YOUR NDSU ACCOUNT
Charges for tuition, fees, campus room and board, etc. are applied to your NDSU account. It is important to check your account now and at regular intervals to make sure there is no outstanding balance. NDSU does not send billing notification via the postal system; therefore, it is extremely important to check your NDSU email account and check it regularly for important university and Customer Account Service announcements. It is considered an official form of communication for important notices and information.

WALK-IN APPOINTMENT TIMES
Currently, we offer daily walk-in appointments for F-1 students. Walk-in appointments are on a first come, first served basis. These appointment times are a great way to get your general, quick questions answered. Please check our home page often to note any changes that may occur to walk-in times/days, etc…

We hope that our new walk-in schedule will be convenient for you and we encourage you to take advantage of these new times!

2011 DIVERSITY VISA LOTTERY NOW OPEN
The Department of State (DOS) released a notice covering eligibility requirements and application procedures for the 50,000 immigrant visas available through the 2011 Diversity Immigrant Visa Program. Applications from eligible persons will be accepted starting on Friday, October 2, 2009 until November 30, 2009. For more information on the DOS Diversity Visa Lottery and for the application instructions, please go to: http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/types/types_1318.html

CHANGE OF ADDRESS REQUIRED
It is very important to keep the Office of International Programs updated with your current address. Non-immigrant federal regulations requires you to update your address within 10 days of moving. This is also true if you are just moving to a different room and/or dormitory on-campus. We must ALWAYS have your current U.S. address in the SEVIS database.

REGISTRATION AND CREDIT LOAD
Remember, in order to maintain full-time status for immigration purposes, undergraduates need to take at least 12 credits. Graduate students need to take 9 credits unless you have an assistantship, in which case you need to take a least 6 credits. Please note that these are immigration requirements. Graduate students should check with an academic advisor to see if there are any additional credit requirements for your program/within your department.

OFF-CAMPUS EMPLOYMENT
You may have heard rumors that it is okay to work at any job off-campus, but this is NOT TRUE! Your immigration status will be severely jeopardized if you work off-campus and do not seek authorization before beginning work. Work is defined as any employment, paid or not, which would normally be a paid position. ALWAYS speak with an international student advisor before accepting employment off-campus.

EMPLOYMENT SEMINARS
Important information for F-1 students:
Throughout Fall Semester, the Office of International Programs will be offering Employment Seminars monthly for all F-1 students interested in Curricular Practical Training (CPT) and Optional Practical Training (OPT). Students are required to attend one of these seminars BEFORE being able to apply for CPT or OPT.

Employment Seminars are designed to inform students of the rules, regulations, and procedures. Attending these seminars will also give students an opportunity to ask any questions they may have about practical training.

For more information on the dates of the employment seminars, click here.

ATTENTION F-1 STUDENTS: If you are graduating in December, you must apply for Optional Practical Training no later than 60 days after graduation. For graduate students: graduation is when you submit the final copy of your thesis after ALL corrections have been made. Remember to allow at least 90 days (3 months) of processing time for all OPT applications.

NEW! We have updated the OPT forms online. Please click here to access the OPT forms. You will find many frequently asked questions included with the forms as well. However, if you still have questions, please visit with an international student advisor.

TRAVELING?
I-20 YEARLY SIGNATURE REQUIRED
All F-1 students are required to have their I-20 signed by an International Student Advisor if they plan to travel outside the U.S. You are required to comply with this immigration regulation. Please leave your I-20 at the front desk in the Office of International Programs for signature and allow one week processing time.

OCTOBER
26 - Academic advising week for Spring 2010 begins

NOVEMBER
2 - Spring Registration begins online
11 - No classes - Veteran's Day
26-27 - No classes - Thanksgiving Recess

DECEMBER
11- Last day of classes
14-18- Finals Week
19- Commencement at 10:00 a.m. at the FargoDome

JANUARY
6-8- New International Student Orientation
11 - Classes begin at 4:00 p.m.
11- Welcome Reception for new international students at 7 pm. in the Great Room, MU

This section of the Global Voice is dedicated to featuring fun, diverse venues in Fargo/Moorhead where you can go to have coffee, listen to local musicians, shop, view artwork, or just hang out.

Plains Art Museum
704 1st Ave N
Fargo, ND 58102
Website: http://www.plainsart.org/
Email: museum@plainsart.org
Phone 701-232-3821
For Information on Hours of Operation and Cost of Admission: http://www.plainsart.org/information/hours.php

Plains Art Museum is a great venue to explore if you are interested in art! Plains Art Museum facility features 56,000 square feet of which 9,000 have security, climate, and light control properties. A variety of exhibitions feature art of the 20th and 21st centuries are featured throughout the year. For a complete schedule of the exhibitions currently available, please click here to view their website.

Classes, lectures, studios, collaborations with other disciplines as well as social events and performances are also included within the services offered. Cafe Muse by Green Market Catering and The Store are also housed within the museum. So, after you view the artwork, you will have a chance to stop for a light lunch and perhaps to view the unique handmade art available for purchase.