ISSS News 27 Nov 2006

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

ISSS staff will be unavailable on Wednesday Morning, November 29 until after 12 noon, while they attend a morning planning meeting. ISSS apologizes for any inconvenience.

Good company! Free refreshments! Relax and refresh by coming to this month's International Coffee Hour on Friday, December 1 from 3:30-5pm in the University Union Old Union Hall (next to the University Union Mandela Room). This month's sponsors are the Office of the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education and International Affairs, and the Office of International Programs.

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 in the University Union Old Union Hall from 3:30pm-5pm. Each coffee hour has free hot and cold beverages and cookies, sponsored by a different department on campus.

Despite the unusually warm weather we are enjoying, the temperature will very soon return to “normal” meaning cold. As the weather gets colder, many students wonder what the University procedures are for classes when the weather is inclement.

As a State facility, Binghamton University can only be closed by order of the Governor of New York, but university presidents are authorized to cancel classes and recommend that all but essential employees not report to work in some situations. Unless weather conditions are so severe that the University issues special instructions regarding opening and remaining open, classes are in session. In the event of severe conditions, call the BU Snow Line, 777-7669 (777-SNOW). Snow announcements are also posted to: http://www.binghamton.edu/home/updates/snowline.html Local radio stations will also have this information.

Please note that on many days when local school districts close their schools due to weather conditions, the University will remain open, so be sure to listen to the radio carefully or call the "SNOW" line.

Have you advance registered for your Spring 2007 courses? Hurry, because early registration ends on Friday December 1. The on line version of the Spring 2007 course schedule is available for viewing at: http://busi.binghamton.edu/schedule.html Just select “Spring 2007” as the term choice.

Currently enrolled degree-seeking undergraduate students and all graduate students can register for courses for the Spring 2007 term using online registration on the BUSI (Binghamton University Student Information) system from 8:00 am to 6:00am (22 hours) seven days a week until Friday, December 1.

The registration period for Spring 2007 courses will re-open on Friday, January 19, 2007.

The Office of Student Accounts will mail billing forms for the Spring 2007 semester beginning next week. Web payment for Spring 2007 will be available beginning Friday, December 1, from http://busi.binghamton.edu The deadline for making payment without incurring a $30 administrative fee is January 10, 2007. If you have any questions or concerns regarding this payment deadline, please contact the Office of Student Accounts (Student Wing Room 117) by visiting their office or by writing to them at stuaccts@binghamton.edu

If you are a male and between the ages of 18 and 25 you may receive a notice from the Selective Service System (SSS) that you have been registered. Registration means that your data has been provided to the US government in the event that the US military needs to call up more soldiers than those who are already serving as volunteers. Even though such registration is normally only required of US citizens and US permanent residents, foreign nationals on non-immigrant visas may receive a notice in their mail, informing them of their registration.

Many states, including New York, have enacted legislation which links SSS registration with the process of applying for a driver's license or state identification card. This is done to ensure compliance with the Selective Service registration requirement.

But, foreign nationals who are male and who are in the United States on student or visitor visas, and men who are part of a diplomatic or trade mission and their families are not required to register for Selective Service.

If you receive (or have received) such a notice, return the Selective Service registration card and a photocopy of your I-94 departure card, along with a letter of explanation, to:

Be sure to keep a copy for your records. This instruction and address also appear on the registration card. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Office of International Student and Scholar Services.

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