ISSS-BU News 12 October 2009   ISSS-BU News

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

Visit ISSS on the Web!   http://isss.binghamton.edu

Editor’s Note: Today is Columbus Day in the United States.  Banks and post offices are closed, as are schools for grades kindergarten through 12.  However classes at Binghamton University are in session, and many university offices, including the ISSS, are open.

We hope that our readers are enjoying the beautiful fall colors as you view the hills that surround the campus.  This is one of the prettiest times of the year, and the colors will remain for two-three more weeks, so take a few minutes to stop and enjoy the view.

CONTENTS:
1. Diane Sliwinski of the ISSS Staff is Retiring
2. Remember to Download and Print Your International Health Insurance ID Card
3. News From the Career Development Center
4. Are You Working On-Campus on the State Payroll?  Check Your Address for Accuracy!
5. Dropping Courses and Immigration Implications

1. Diane Sliwinski of the ISSS Staff is Retiring

Diane Sliwinski, International Health Insurance Coordinator in the ISSS, is retiring from the University.  Diane’s last day in the ISSS will be this Friday, October 16.  Diane has been with the ISSS since 1999 and also coordinated the Friendship Family Program.  She will be missed.  All matters related to health insurance will continue to be managed by Lorraine Medionte, International Health Insurance Assistant.  The ISSS also plans to hire a new Health Insurance Coordinator and a search for that position is underway.  Please direct your international health insurance questions to intl.insure@binghamton.edu

2. Remember to Download and Print Your International Health Insurance ID Card

All registered international students at Binghamton University are automatically enrolled for the SUNY International Student Health and Accident Insurance policy at the start of each semester, unless you are a graduate student receiving health insurance as an employee benefit. For the Fall 2009 semester, your insurance coverage began 15 August 2009. The cost of the SUNY International Student Health and Accident Insurance is included in your tuition bill.

Information on how to retrieve your health insurance ID card is sent to you as an email message to your Binghamton.edu email address by the Health Insurance Company, HTHWorldwide.com The e-mail provides instructions on how to go to the http://hthstudents.com website to download your health insurance ID e-card.

On or about September 21, 2009, undergraduate international students who are enrolled in the SUNY International Health Insurance Program were sent an email message to their Binghamton.edu e-mail account, with the subject “SUNY/Health Insurance ID Card” from HTHWorldwide.com  Graduate international students who are enrolled in the SUNY International Health Insurance Program were sent the email message on or about October 5, 2009.

When you receive the e-mail, please make sure that you read the instructions carefully and download your health insurance ID e-card. Once you print the insurance ID e-card you will want keep this ID card in your wallet.

For further information, please visit the “Health Insurance section of the ISSS webpage, http://isss.binghamton.edu/health/index.html  Review How to Use Your International Student Health Insurance and Prescription Drug Benefit. If you need to locate a doctor or health care facility, review Finding a Participating Doctor or Hospital.

If you have questions about your health insurance coverage, or about a bill for services you receive from a doctor’s office or hospital, you may meet with Lorraine Medionte, the International Health Insurance Assistant by calling the ISSS office for an appointment, 607-777-2510.  Lorraine Medionte also has walk in hours every Tuesday from 10:15am until 12 Noon.  You may e-mail your health insurance questions to Lorraine at intl.insure@binghamton.edu

3. News From the Career Development Center

• Resource of the Week: Recommendations from the Intern’s Desk – ALUMNI CAREER NETWORK  
• Upcoming Programs: The #1 Way to Job Search Explained; Grad Schools, Assessing Programs & Possibilities; Interviewing Skills; ‘Smart Moves’ Panel Discussion and Reception
• Recruiting Updates: New Opportunities Posted Daily! 
• Credentials Transitioning to Interfolio

Resource Of The Week: Recommendations From The Intern’s Desk – The Alumni Career Network - Erin F, (Human Development ’10) CDCI Marketing Intern, Career Development Center
Networking is the #1 way people identify openings and get jobs and internships.  In the Alumni Career Network (a.k.a. ACN), thousands of established and successful Binghamton University Alumni are willing to help you make that essential connection within your field of interest.  Not only is this an easy way to gain a valuable, expert contact to answer questions about a certain profession or field, but it is a great way to establish a relationship with a professional who is already a part of a network that could be of such great use to you throughout your college career and into the future. 

Networking in this way opens you up to a hidden job market that you would have otherwise been unaware of.  Many times, opportunities within an organization are not open to the public, not yet advertised or are not yet existent, but with your foot in the door via your new Alumni mentor, you may have a shot at a position you never thought possible.  One of the best parts of this resource is that you have the guidance of an Alum who has a genuine interest in helping you become successful; why not take advantage of that?

For those who have already used the Alumni Career Network, it has yielded amazing results; making these connections has been the starting point for landing Binghamton University students prestigious jobs and internships, helped with finalizing majors and aided in redirecting career goals.  Starting from scratch, and looking for a job/internship on your own can sometimes feel like a full-time job, but it doesn’t have to.  Check out the Alumni Career Network at http://cdc.binghamton.edu under “Popular Links.”  Good Luck!

Upcoming Programs

Recruiting Updates – New Positions Posted Daily!
CDC posts new internships and full-time positions on a daily basis! Visit eRecruiting today! Students may view and apply for positions through their eRecruiting account. All matriculated students have an account. Here is a sampling of exciting new positions: Research Associate at Economists, Incorporated; Analyst/Associate at Brevet Capital; Junior Help Desk Analyst at Duralee; Assistant Investigator Internship at the Broome County Public Defender’s Office; Federal Human Resources Specialist two-year accelerated program at the Department of Veterans Affairs.

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.

Credentials Transitioning To Interfolio

The CDC is pleased to recommend 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.

4. Are You Working On-Campus on the State Payroll?  Check Your Address for Accuracy!

Annual W-2 statement of earnings forms will be mailed directly to faculty, staff and student home addresses in January, 2010.  In order to be sure the mailing is successful, the Office of Human Resources needs to confirm that home addresses are correct in their systems.  All faculty, staff and students should check the address as recorded on their paycheck to be sure it is accurate as of the check of 10/14/2009.  If you need to make any changes, please report this to the department or office that employees you and they will submit the necessary Oracle personal data change form to assure the change is made to your record to allow for the timely arrival of your W-2 form.  This form is an essential document needed to complete your income tax forms.

5. Dropping Courses and Immigration Implications

The last day to withdraw from a course for the Fall 2009 semester is Friday, October 30.  Withdrawing from a course means that a grade of “W” will be entered on your transcript.  For complete information on how to withdraw from a class by using BU Brain, visit: http://registrar.binghamton.edu/

However, withdrawing from a class may have immigration consequences if the course is needed for you to be considered a full time student.  ISSS reminds all international students in F-1 and J-1 status that U.S. federal regulations require that they be registered for a full-time course load as determined by their academic level and program.

What constitutes a full-time course load varies according to academic level.

There are some very limited exceptions to the full-time course requirement, including being in your final semester prior to graduation, having a medical condition, or having academic difficulty due to documented English language difficulty or course placement problems.  Under Federal SEVIS regulations, these exceptions require prior approval from the ISSS before you can withdraw from the course. For complete information, stop by the ISSS to obtain a handout on “Permissible Reasons Under F-1 Regulations to Register for Less Than a Full Time Course Load,” or view the handout on the ISSS website at:
http://isss.binghamton.edu/imm/lesscourse.htm

The most common violation of F and J status is failure to sustain a full-time course load through the end of the semester. A few students drop below the minimum number of credits needed to be full-time without prior permission, a smaller number of students withdraw from all courses late in the semester.

These same students may return to full course loads the following semester. However, they are all in violation of F-1 and J-1 status rules, because returning to a full-time course load does not "fix" the problem of having been less than full-time the previous semester.

The penalty for a status violation, like the ones described above, is loss of all F-1 benefits, including the right to be employed on or off campus. To restore benefits and return to legal status, the student must pay a $300 fee and apply for reinstatement with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. This application is processed through the office of International Student and Scholar Services.

Obviously, a status violation is a very serious matter. Avoid violating the terms of your status, and come to the ISSS whenever you have a question or a concern regarding F-1 or J-1 issues, including the full-time course rule.

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