ISSS News 31 August 2009

An electronic news service for international students and scholars, owned by the Office of International Student and Scholar Services at Binghamton University, State University of New York

Editor's Note: Today is the first day of classes for the Fall 2009 semester. ISSS-BU News wishes all of our student, staff and faculty subscribers a successful and productive Fall semester!

Please note that ISSS staff will be unavailable on Friday, September 4 from 3:30pm to 5:00pm while we attend an office-sponsored event.

Next Monday, September 7 is Labor Day in the United States. Classes will not be in session, and virtually all University offices, including International Student and Scholar Services, will be closed.

Beginning next week, the Office of International Student and Scholar Services will start subscribing new students to ISSS-BU News. Some new students have already subscribed themselves, using their binghamton.edu e-mail account. Our issues can also be read on the internet, and are usually posted the same day as the e-mail version. Just go to http://isss.binghamton.edu and select “ISSS-BU News.”

More than 450 new international students took part in International Student Orientation activities August 24-26. A few new students have only just arrived, or will arrive this week. If you meet a newly arrived international student, please remind them to report to the office of International Student and Scholar Services so that staff can photocopy their visa documents, give them a new student folder, and provide other important information.

The ISSS has scheduled a series of special new student orientation meeting for students who were not able to attend the regular international student orientation August 24-26. Students will be scheduled for those sessions when they come to the ISSS.

We would like to bring our readers up-to-date on a number of staff transitions in the Office of International Student and Scholar Services.

Last month, the ISSS welcomed Joo-Wang John Lee as Information Systems Coordinator. John comes to BU from Dartmouth College in New Hampshire. Lorraine Medionte joins the ISSS staff beginning today as International Health Insurance Assistant, to provide support to the international health insurance program and Coordinator Diane Sliwinski. Lorraine comes to the ISSS from BU’s Division of Athletics.

Amelia Shafer, Assistant Director of the ISSS, will have her last day of work on Friday, September 4. Amelia is leaving Binghamton to accept a position at the University of Vermont. While the ISSS conducts a search for a permanent replacement for Amelia’s position, Maria Sabatino, former Assistant Director of the ISSS, will join the office on a part-time basis to provide assistance with OPT and CPT employment processing.

3. Fall 2009 International Spouses Program (ISP) English as a Second Language Classes

These are non-credit bearing classes for spouses of BU international students, faculty and staff. BU Research Scholars are welcome to join as well. These classes are NOT intended for current BU students. The focus is to practice conversation, reading, grammar skills and daily living in the United States.
Classes begin on Monday August 31st but students are welcomed at any time

Two classes and a Discussion Group will be offered this semester at the following times:

A $5.00 fee per semester per student is requested towards the copying of materials (no need to purchase a textbook for these classes). The instructor will collect this fee.

Our ESL instructor is Ms. Myriam Stanton. Myriam has many years experience teaching English overseas and ESL here in the United States. This is her second year as our ISP ESL instructor.

If you have any questions about the ESL classes, please contact Amelia Shafer, Assistant Director of the ISSS at ashafer@binghamton.edu

4. Essential Requirement: You Must “Confirm” Your Fall 2009 Enrollment in BU Brain or Risk Having Your Registration Cancelled

Students must confirm enrollment by Friday, September 4. If you do not confirm your enrollment, your courses will be automatically cancelled whether or not your semester bill is paid.

To confirm your enrollment follow the steps explained at this link:
http://www2.binghamton.edu/self-service/announce_registrar.html

Students in F-1 or J-1 status who are employed or have offers of employment may apply for a social security number this week.

Step 1: Monday, August 31 between 1:30pm and 3:00pm in the Hinman Commons, Room 114 (the building directly behind the ISSS office). If you are in F-1 or J-1 status, bring your on-campus job offer or on-campus employment letter for required stamping. Blank applications for social security numbers will also be available at this time.

Step 2: Wednesday, September 2 between 9:00am and 11:30am in the Hinman Commons, Room 114 (the building directly behind the ISSS office). Bring your stamped offer letter or employment letter, passport, I-20 or DS-2019, and I-94 card. Representatives from the Social Security Administration will be available to accept Social Security applications from students in F-1 or J-1 visa status who are employed or have a job offer.

6. Opening Week Services Offered

Opening Week Services will be available from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. through Wednesday, September 2, in the Events Center (below the West Gym). Representatives will be available for meal plans and BUC$ services, Parking Services, Human Resources (Benefits) and GSEU, M&T Bank, Telecommunications and Sustainability and Resource Management. There will also be information available for refrigerator rentals, library services, Financial Aid Services, Health Services and Computing Services.

7. First International Coffee Hour of the School Year is Friday, September 4

Meet new and returning students! Good company! Free refreshments! Celebrate the beginning of the Fall semester by coming to this month's International Coffee Hour on Friday, September 4 from 3:30pm-5:00pm in Old Union Hall. This room is located next door to the Mandela Room, in the newly renovated section of the University Union. This month's sponsor is United University Professions (UUP).

After 4:00pm, there will be special celebration for Amelia Shafer, Assistant Director of International Student and Scholar Services, who is leaving the ISSS to accept a new position at the University of Vermont.

The Coffee Hour strives to be a space where the entire Binghamton University community, including international students, U.S. students, faculty/staff, and community members are welcome. The coffee hours are informal and provide an opportunity to meet and learn more about each other in a relaxed atmosphere. They are held on the first Friday of every month during the academic year. Each coffee hour has free hot and cold beverages, cookies, vegan bars and breads, sponsored by a different department on campus.

8. Attention Current International Students Who Have Returned from a Trip Abroad

Many continuing international students were fortunate to be able to travel abroad during the summer vacation. If you obtained a new visa while you were away or entered the United States using your new SEVIS I-20 or DS-2019, please come to the Office of International Student and Scholar Services with your passport and visa documents so we can make copies for your files. Thank you!

The I-94 departure card (the small white card that is stamped and returned to you after your immigration inspection upon entry to the United States) is a very important immigration document, that costs $320 to replace if lost! Generally, the immigration inspector staples the card to an empty passport page, usually the page facing your US student visa stamp. Sometimes however, the card is returned “loose.” The Office of International Student and Scholar Services urges international students to check your I-94 departure card. If it is not stapled into your passport, you are urged to do so yourself to avoid loss. Or, come to the ISSS and staff will be happy to staple it into your passport for you.

Career Development Center Internship (CDCI) Program
The CDC Internship (CDCI) Program is the largest credit-bearing internship program at Binghamton University. Faculty and staff working with students seeking internships are encouraged to direct them to visit the Career Development Center in LSG 500 or visit the CDC website. Students are required to attend an information session the semester prior to interning.

CDCI Information Sessions: UUW = University Union West
·         Monday, September 21, 12:00pm-1:00pm, UUW 324
·         Monday, September 21, 3:30pm-4:30pm, UUW 324
·         Thursday, September 24, 3:00pm-4:00pm, UUW 325
·         Thursday, September 24, 10:00am-11:00am, UUW 325
·         Thursday, September 24, 3:00pm-4:00pm, UUW 325
·         Monday, September 28, 4:45pm-5:45pm, UUW 325
·         Tuesday, September 29, 4:30pm-5:30pm, UUW 324
·         Wednesday, September 24, 12:00pm-1:00pm, UUW 324
·         Wednesday, September 24, 3:30pm-4:30pm, UUW 324

· Job & Internship Fair
Wednesday, September 16
11:30 am-3:30 pm
Events Center.
A full list of registered employers can be viewed through the Career Development Center website.

· Graduate School Fair
Tuesday, September 22
11:00 am-2:30 pm
Events Center.
A full list of registered graduate programs can be viewed through the Career Development Center website.

· Law Day
Wednesday, September 24
1:30 am-2:45 pm
Events Center
A full list of registered law schools can be viewed through the Career Development Center website.

Give, Share, Learn Johnson City Mentor Program Now Accepting Applications
Work one-on-one with local middle school students and serve as a social and academic role model . Earn two credits and attend a weekly seminar. Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors are eligible to apply. BU students must have a car to participate. Information Session – Thursday, September 3rd at 4 p.m. in LNG 307. Applications are due on Friday, September 11, 2009 by 4 p.m. Applications and fact sheet available at http://cdc.binghamton.edu

Credentials Transitioning To Interfolio
The CDC has partnered with Interfolio to provide Binghamton University students and alumni an efficient and paperless system to manage references files. For complete information on this change, please visit the CDC Credentials website.

Optimal Letter
Optimal Resume has expanded! Binghamton University now has Optimal Letter. The letter builder combines expert advice and high quality samples to help you create focused, professional letters for every opportunity. The letter builder will help you select the correct type of letter and do the formatting for you! Unlimited number of career documents! All Binghamton University students have access to Optimal Resume, Optimal Interview, and now Optimal Letter!

On-Campus Recruiting Announcements
Students may view and apply for positions through their eRecruiting account. All matriculated students have an account. STUDENTS GRADUATING IN MAY 2010 SHOULD PARTICIPATE IN FALL 2009 RECRUITING! Employers visiting campus in the fall semester are generally seeking candidates to begin in the summer or fall of 2010!

Students are encouraged to also attend employer information sessions to learn about internship and full-time employment opportunities as well as gather general information about the organization.

12. Susquehanna Room Now Open for Dinner Weekdays/ New Meal Plans for Off-Campus Students

With the closing of Newing Dining Hall, students on the resident (on-campus) meal plan may choose to have dinner in the University Union Susquehanna Room. Dinner is served Monday through Thursday from 4:30pm to 7:30pm.

Students who live off-campus and would like to purchase an on-campus meal plan this semester can choose from three Commuter Student Meal Plan options. Visit http://www.budining.com and click on Commuter Meal Plan to print and fill out the order form. Fax the completed form to 607-777-6434 or mail it to Meal Plan Office, Binghamton University, PO Box 6000, Binghamton, NY 13902-6000. Questions? Call 1-888-858-9167.

13. U.S. News and World Report’s America’s Best College Rankings Names BU Among the U.S. Top Fifty Public Universities

The 2010 edition of “America’s Best Colleges” by U.S. News and World Report ranks Binghamton among the top fifty best U.S. Public Universities. Binghamton is also ranked among the top 100 of all U.S. public and private universities. To read the full news release posted to the BU website, visit: http://www2.binghamton.edu/news/inside/news.html?issue=2009aug27&id=4

Aug 27             Residence halls open for new students 9 a.m.
Aug 28             Residence halls open for returning students 9 a.m.
Aug 24-30       Graduate student pre-semester registration, fall 2009
Aug 28-30       Undergraduate pre-semester registration, fall 2009Aug 31 Classes begin
Sep 7               No classes (Labor Day)
Sep 11             Course add deadline *
Sep 11             Course drop/delete deadline *
Sep 18             Classes recess 1 p.m.
Sep 19-20        No classes (Rosh Hashanah)
Sep 21             Classes resume
Sep 28             No classes (Yom Kippur)
Sep 29             Classes resume
TBA                 Registration and academic advising for spring 2010
Oct 30              Course withdraw (with a “W”)/Change grade option deadline *
Oct 30              Last day for seniors to submit an application for degree for spring 2010
Nov 25            Classes recess 1 p.m.
Nov 25            Residence halls close 2 p.m.
Nov 26-29       No classes (Thanksgiving)
Nov 29            Residence halls open 2 p.m.
Nov 30            Classes resume
Dec 11             Last Day of classes
Dec 12-13       Reading period
Dec 13             Fall Commencement
Dec 14-18       Final examinations
Dec 19             Residence halls close 11 a.m.

ISSS-BU is a listserv owned and managed by the Office of International Student and Scholar Services, Division of Student Affairs, at the State University of New York at Binghamton. It is the publisher of ISSS-BU News . Permission is granted to freely distribute the information posted to this list as long as its contents remain unchanged.

To sign on to ISSS-BU from an e-mail account on the Binghamton.edu server, send an e-mail message to listserv@listserv.binghamton.edu
Leave the subject line blank. In the message text, type:
subscribe ISSS-BU first name last name
Replace “first name last name” with your name.

If your e-mail account is on a server other than Binghamton.edu,
send an e-mail message to isss@binghamton.edu
In the message text, type: Please subscribe isss-bu, your e-mail address, your first and last name.

If you are a registered student and don't have an e-mail account, you may claim an e-mail address and password from https://buonline.binghamton.edu/banner Be sure to read and follow the instructions carefully. If you encounter difficulty, visit the Help Desk in the lobby of the Computer Services building.

Basic Conversational English (Beginner- Elementary):	Mondays and Wednesdays from 1:40pm to 3:10pm Student Wing Room 315
Intermediate-Advanced English	Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:50pm to 4:15pm Fine Arts Room 348
Discussion Group Open to all levels of English and native English Speakers	Every Friday from 9:00am to 10:30am in the International Conference Room, Hinman Commons Room 120B. (Stop by the ISSS for directions. Begins Friday September 4th.

Wednesday, September 2 4:00 PM-5:00 PM UU 108	Resume Writing	Learn the basics of writing a great resume that employers will notice!
Wednesday, September 9 4:00 PM-4:30 PM LSG 500 - CDC South	Job Fair Training Camp: 5 MUSTS for a Job Fair	Get the lowdown on 5 things to do before, during and after the September 16th Job & Internship fair!
Thursday, September 10 4:00 PM-5:00 PM UU 102	Job Fair Training Camp: Professional Etiquette Crash Course – Advice from Employers	Slip into that suit AND the matching professional attitude!
Friday, September 11 2:30 PM-4:00 PM UUW 324	Grad Schools: Assessing Programs & Possibilities	Learn how to assess programs, the application process, how to present yourself, and how to make the most of the Graduate School Fair!