August Archive - International Student Newsletter
8/30/2012
8/24/2012
8/30/2012 OIP Newsletter
Advisor On Call (AOC) times / Scheduling appointments with international student advisorsTrip to Minneapolis to watch the Minnesota TwinsStudy Abroad FairBlue Cross Blue Shield Health Insurance SessionsHealth Insurance RequirementsFull-time enrollment requirementsInternational Student Hold on Campus ConnectionFall 2012 Culture Series - Presenters NeededNo classes Monday, International Centre ClosedWest Nile Virus in Grand Forks Country
Advisor On Call (AOC) times / Scheduling appointments with international student advisors
AOC is Monday through Thursday, 11am - 1pm. You do not need to make an appointment to visit an international student advisor during these times. However, keep in mind that AOC is only for short appointments (5-10 minutes) including:
Enrollment questionsI-20/DS-2019 signaturesLetters for Social Security Numbers and Driver's Licenses
For long appointments, including off-campus employment options (CPT and OPT), you will need to schedule an appointment with an advisor by calling our front desk at (701)777-4231.
Trip to Minneapolis to watch the Minnesota Twins
The Office of International Programs is excited to announce that we will be offering a trip to Minneapolis to watch the Minnesota Twins and Major League Baseball! Please see below for further details:
When: Saturday, September 29th
What: Minnesota Twins vs. Detroit Tigers
Who: All international students are invited to sign up
Price: $52 – includes transportation and a ticket to the game (you will either need to bring your own food or bring money to buy food)
If you would like to sign up, you can sign up at the front desk of the International Centre. You will have to pay when you sign up. You can either pay by cash (please have exactly $52) or you can pay by check. We will not take sign-ups through email or the phone. Space is limited to the first 51 students who sign up so make sure to sign up early!
Game time is 12:10 pm so we will be departing the International Centre at 5:00am. We will stop for food on the way there and on the way back. We should be back by midnight.
Study Abroad Fair
The Office of International Programs will be hosting the Study Abroad Fair on Wednesday, September 12 from 10am to 3pm at the Loading Dock in the Memorial Union.
The Study Abroad Fair features our UND study abroad programs and our 10 affiliate providers. This event allows students to explore various study abroad opportunities. They can choose programs based on course offerings, destination, program length, and budget. Students are able to speak with study abroad alumni and advisors from each program to discuss whether that program would be right for them.
Blue Cross Blue Shield Health Insurance Sessions
A representative from BCBS will be presenting on the benefits of your health insurance and be available to answer questions. The presentations will take place at the International Centre at the following times:
Wednesday, September 5th 9amWednesday, September 5th 10am
Click here for details on the new insurance plan.
Health Insurance Requirements
All international students are required to have health insurance (Canadians and Norwegians are exempt.) The health insurance charge for this year is $750. You should have already been billed on your student account. If you have not been billed on your Campus Connection account, please notify an international student advisor so that you can be billed.
Your health insurance should be paid for immediately. If you do not pay by September 28th, you risk your enrollment for the semester being cancelled, and ultimately, losing your immigration status in the United States.
Click here for details on the new insurance plan.
Full-time enrollment requirements
As you are selecting and beginning classes this semester, please keep in mind the full-time enrollment requirements for F-1 and J-1 students.
For undergraduates, you must be enrolled in a minimum of 12 credits each semester to be considered full-time.For graduate students with an assistantship 6 credits is the minimum.For graduate students without an assistantship 9 credits is the minimum for graduate students without an assistantship.No more than 3 credits of online classes can count towards this requirement.
International Student Hold on Campus Connection
You may soon notice that an "international student hold" will be placed on your campus connection student account. This hold will only prevent you from dropping any classes without consulting an international student advisor first -- this is to prevent students from accidently dropping below a full courseload and violating status.
Remember when dropping a course that you must maintain the minimum requirements for international students:
undergraduate: 12 credits per semester
graduate without assitantship: 9 credits per semester
graduate with assistantship: 6 credits per semetser
Fall 2012 Culture Series - Presenters Needed
The Office of International Programs is currently looking for volunteer presenters willing to present their country or region of the world during the fall semester. If interested, please contact either Matt Hiller.
The current line-up is as follows:
Fall 2012 Schedule:
September 27: IndiaOctober 4: BangladeshOctober 18: NepalOctober 25: OpenNovember 15: OpenNovember 29: Open
No Classes Monday, International Centre Closed
Don't forget that Monday, September 3rd is Labor Day and there won't be any classes. The International Centre will be closed on Monday and will reopen with regular hours on Tuesday, September 4th.
West Nile Virus in Grand Forks
The Grand Forks Health Department has received word that two individuals from Grand Forks County have tested positive for West Nile virus (WNV). The Health Department continues to urge citizens to take extra precautions to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes. Most human cases of WNV occur during August and September.
The mosquito most common for transmitting West Nile virus is the Culex tarsalis. This mosquito is most active just before sundown and throughout the night into the early morning hours. To help reduce your risk of getting West Nile virus, the Health Department recommends the following protective measures:
· Use insect repellent that contains DEET.
· Limit outdoor activities between dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active.
· Wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts when possible.
· Eliminate standing water around homes (buckets, flowerpots, old tires, wading pools and birdbaths).
· Keep the grass around your home trimmed.
Grand Forks Mosquito Control operates as if the virus is always present and therefore will not be making any major changes to the daily operations of mosquito control.
West Nile virus is generally transmitted by mosquitoes. When a mosquito feeds on an infected bird, it can pick up the virus and transmit it to other non-infected birds. Occasionally, mosquitoes will feed on mammals such as horses, dogs, cats, and humans, and transmit the virus to them. Most people infected with the West Nile virus do not develop symptoms. Sometimes, mild illness results 1 to 2 weeks after exposure with fever, headache, body aches, skin rash, and swollen lymph nodes. Less than one percent of infected people may develop a serious illness that includes encephalitis (inflammation of the brain). They may experience headache, high fever, neck stiffness, disorientation, convulsions, and muscle weakness. Infection may prove fatal, especially among the elderly, in a small number of those who develop encephalitis. West Nile virus is not transmitted directly from birds to humans.
For more information about West Nile virus and the Grand Forks Mosquito Control Program visit our web site at: www.gfmosquito.com
http://www.grandforksgov.com/gfgov/home.nsf/News%20Releases/A5D4D9D2096FA5C787257A67004C8EEC?OpenDocument
8/24/2012 OIP Newsletter
Welcome Back!
Advisor On Call (AOC) times / Scheduling appointments with international student advisors
Blue Cross Blue Shield Health Insurance Sessions
Health Insurance Requirements
Full-time enrollment requirements
International Student Hold on Campus Connection
Fall 2012 Culture Series - Presenters Needed
Welcome Back!
We hope that everyone had a great summer and is excited to be back at UND for the 2012-2013 academic year. Also, welcome to all the new students. We hope that your first week of classes is going well!
Advisor On Call (AOC) times / Scheduling appointments with international student advisors
AOC will be starting on Monday, August 27th and will run through the end of the semester. This semester, AOC will be Monday through Thursday, 11am - 1pm. You do not need to make an appointment to visit an international student advisor during these times. However, keep in mind that AOC is only for short appointments (5-10 minutes) including:
Enrollment questionsI-20/DS-2019 signaturesLetters for Social Security Numbers and Driver's Licenses
For long appointments, including off-campus employment options (CPT and OPT), you will need to schedule an appointment with an advisor by calling our front desk at (701)777-4231.
Blue Cross Blue Shield Health Insurance Sessions
A representative from BCBS will be presenting on the benefits of your health insurance and be available to answer questions. The presentations will take place at the International Centre at the following times:
Wednesday, August 29th 2pmWednesday, August 29th 3pmWednesday, September 5th 9amWednesday, September 5th 10am
BCBS is also at a booth in the Memorial Union today (Friday, August 24th). You can stop by if you have any questions.
Click here for details on the new insurance plan.
Health Insurance Requirements
All international students are required to have health insurance (Canadians and Norwegians are exempt.) The health insurance charge for this year is $750. You should have already been billed on your student account. If you have not been billed on your Campus Connection account, please notify an international student advisor so that you can be billed.
Your health insurance should be paid for immediately. If you do not pay by September 28th, you risk your enrollment for the semester being cancelled, and ultimately, losing your immigration status in the United States.
Click here for details on the new insurance plan.
Full-time enrollment requirements
As you are selecting and beginning classes this semester, please keep in mind the full-time enrollment requirements for F-1 and J-1 students.
For undergraduates, you must be enrolled in a minimum of 12 credits each semester to be considered full-time.For graduate students with an assistantship 6 credits is the minimum.For graduate students without an assistantship 9 credits is the minimum for graduate students without an assistantship.No more than 3 credits of online classes can count towards this requirement.
International Student Hold on Campus Connection
You may soon notice that an "international student hold" will be placed on your campus connection student account. This hold will only prevent you from dropping any classes without consulting an international student advisor first -- this is to prevent students from accidently dropping below a full courseload and violating status.
Remember when dropping a course that you must maintain the minimum requirements for international students:
undergraduate: 12 credits per semester
graduate without assitantship: 9 credits per semester
graduate with assistantship: 6 credits per semetser
Fall 2012 Culture Series - Presenters Needed
The Office of International Programs is currently looking for volunteer presenters willing to present their country or region of the world during the fall semester. If interested, please contact either Matt Hiller.
The current line-up is as follows:
Fall 2012 Schedule:
September 27: IndiaOctober 4: BangladeshOctober 18: NepalOctober 25: OpenNovember 15: OpenNovember 29: Open
8/26/2011 Newsletter
Welcome Back!
Advisor On Call (AOC) and Appointments
Fall 2011 Culture Night Series
Enrollment Requirements
Health Insurance
Welcome Back!
The Office of International Programs (OIP) would like to welcome back all the returning students and welcome all of the new students to UND and Grand Forks. We hope that everyone has had a good start to the semester!
Advisor On Call (AOC) and Appointments
AOC hours will begin on Tuesday, September 6th and be on Monday through Thursday, 11am - 1pm. AOC is for short, 5-10 minute, questions, including:
I-20 travel signatures
Basic questions concerning visa documents and travel plans
General questions about maintaining status
Letters for social security numbers
school and program transfers
Students do not need an appointment during AOC. Students coming for AOC will be seen in the order they check in at the front desk.
Appointments can be scheduled to see your advisor outside of AOC hours. To schedule an appointment, you can either call the front desk at (701)777-4231 or stop by the front desk.
Fall 2011 Culture Night Series
We are still looking for students who are interested in presenting their countries for our Fall 2011 Culture Night Series. Our current schedule looks like this:
September 22nd - India
September 29th - Bangladesh
October 6th - Reserved
October 13th - Nepal
October 27th - Available
November 17th - Available
December 1st - Available
If interested in presenting a culture night or learning more about them, please email Matt Hiller.
Enrollment Requirements
A reminder that F-1 and J-1 students have the following minimum enrollment requirements for fall and spring semesters:
Undergraduate students - 12 credits
Graduate students with no assistantship: 9 credits
Graduate students with assistantship: 6 credits
A maximum of one online or distance course (3 credits) can be applied towards the enrollment requirements each semester
M-1 students need to be in class, flying, or in labs at least 22 hours per week.
Health Insurance
All international students are required to purchase the UND Health Insurance plan (Canadians and Norwegians are exempt). The insurance costs $894 per year and must be paid by September 30th at 4:30 pm. If not paid by then, you risk being withdrawn from classes and ultimately, falling out of status. If you have questions regarding the health insurance plan, please contact your international student advisor. If you have questions regarding health insurance billing procedures, please contact Student Account Services.
Tuition and fees are also due on September 30th. Student Account Services will be sending out frequent reminders to pay for your health insurance, tuition, and fees.
