1. BU International Student Enrollment Takes Another Leap Forward
2. This week’s Career Development Center Events
3. Enjoy a Wonderful Night of International Music on November 14
4. GSO Job Vacancies for Graduate Students – Applications Due November 14
5. Do You Have Plans for Thanksgiving or Intersession?
6. More Information on Fake E-Mail Messages
7. Reminder from Human Resources Payroll
8. Is Your I-20 or DS-2019 Expiring in December or January?
9. Early Announcement! Holiday Closing Dates for International Student and Scholar Services
10. Applied for OPT? The ISSS Needs to Photocopy Your EAD Card!

1. BU International Student Enrollment Takes Another Leap Forward

Today, the Institute of International Education (IIE) released the latest edition of Open Doors, the annual census of international student and study abroad flows.  The report provides information on international student enrollments and study abroad for the 2006-07 academic year (one year ago), based on data provided by nearly 1800 US colleges and universities.

Open Doors data shows that Binghamton University continues to be ranked among the top 100 U.S. institutions enrolling international students, based on Fall 2006 enrollment figures.  Binghamton ranks 75th (out of nearly 1800 schools reporting) a forward movement of 8 places compared with last year, when Binghamton was ranked 83rd. 

In New York State, Binghamton ranks 9th (out of nearly 130 schools reporting) the same as last year. The top ten schools in New York State that enroll international students are (in descending order); Columbia University, New York University, Buffalo University, Cornell University, Stony Brook University, Syracuse University, The New School, Borough of Manhattan Community College, Binghamton University, and Baruch College.    

According to Open Doors, international student enrollment at US colleges and universities for Fall 2006 increased by 3.2% from the previous year, to 582,984. 
Here are the "top ten" schools nationally for 2006-07, followed by their international student enrollments:

INSTITUTION	CITY	STATE	Total 2006
University of Southern California	Los Angeles	CA	7,115
Columbia University	New York	NY	5,937
New York University	New York	NY	5,827
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign	Champaign	IL	5,685
Purdue University Main Campus	West Lafayette	IN	5,581
University of Michigan	Ann Arbor	MI	5,429
University of Texas at Austin	Austin	TX	5,303
University of California Los Angeles	Los Angeles	CA	4,704
Harvard University	Cambridge	MA	4,514
Boston University	Boston	MA	4,484
University of Pennsylvania	Philadelphia	PA	4,484

California has more international students than any other state (75,987) followed by New York (65,884), Texas (49,081), Massachusetts (28,680), Florida (26,875), and Illinois (25,594).

India continues to be the leading country of origin for international students studying in the United States with 83,833 up more than 9% from a year ago, followed by China (67,723), Republic of Korea (62,392), Japan (35,282), Taiwan (29,094) and Canada (28,280).  Turkey currently ranks eighth nationally with 11,506 students.
For more details on the latest Open Doors data, access: http://opendoors.iienetwork.org. 

Fall 2007 international student enrollment statistics for BU will be finalized within the next few weeks.  We will announce that data once it becomes available.

2. This week’s Career Development Center events:

Etiquette all-in-one CRASH COURSE
Monday, November 12, 2007 7:00 PM-8:00 PM  University Union Room 133
We understand that it's sometimes difficult to attend all the different events for dining etiquette, reception etiquette, proper dress, etc. so we have put together a program to address an array of etiquette concerns.  Come join us for a great night, pick up some pointers, and bring your questions!  

Sponsored by Alpha Kappa Psi and CDC

Five Things You Can Do Now as a Freshman/Sophomore to Guarantee Success Later
Monday, November 12, 2007   4:00 PM-4:30 PM  CDC Office Library South Ground Floor Room 500.
Learn the important things you should be doing now as a freshman or sophomore to guarantee your success after graduation.

3. Enjoy a Wonderful Night of International Music on November 14

“Songs of the Spirit,” a musical celebration of unity among diverse faiths and cultures, brings its New York tour to the Forum Theatre on Washington Street in downtown Binghamton on
Wednesday evening, November 14 at 7:30pm.

Performers include Hugh Masekela, (South Africa), Odetta (United States), The Shangilia Youth Choir of Kenya, Craig Harris (United States), Tibetan monks of the Drepung Loseling Monastery, Frank London & Lorin Sklamberg (United States), Haale (Iran), and Tracy Grammer (United States).
For more information on the performers, visit: http://www.southerntiercelebrates.org/songs-of-the-spirit.asp

Tickets: $22.50, $16.50, $12.50
$5 children under 12.
10% discount for groups of 10 or more.
$3 off adult tickets with student ID. 
Charge by phone: 607.722.7272
Information: 778.6626 (Arena Box office)
Day of show information: 778.1369 (Forum box office)

4. GSO Job Vacancies for Graduate Students – Applications Due November 14

The Graduate Student Organization (GSO) is looking to fill two positions in the Spring Semester.  Letters of Intent, CV/Resumes and contact information for either position should be submitted to the GSO office by 5:00 pm on Wednesday, November 14. Selected candidates will be invited to participate in an interview.

1) GSO Office Manager - - The duties and requirements of the office manager include:

• Computer literacy especially web design and management, computer
• software and other applications
• Good oral communication skills
• Experience in office skills and organization
• Excellent public relations
• Previous involvement with GSO activities
• Maintaining and improving the GSO web page
• Performing general office/secretarial duties of the GSO
• Maintaining and updating electronic records of suborganizations
• Assisting the Treasurer with voucher processing responsibilities
• Taking and maintaining E-board meeting minutes
• Editing and publishing GSO monthly Newsletters
• Purchasing of office supplies
• Keeping inventory of GSO owned items
• Any other duty as assigned by the E-board and/or the senate
• Working 20 hrs a week (4 hrs per day)
• A stipend of $ 4,000 is offered for the semester.

2) Elections / Constitution Co-Chair - - The responsibilities of the Assistant include:
Work under the supervision of the GSO Vice President.  Shall be the chair of the Elections Committee and a member of the Constitution and By-Laws Review Committee

Organize the GSO General Elections and Referenda, through fliers,
listserv emails and other collective venues about the upcoming GSO general elections. Reviewing the GSO constitution, GSO booklet (Graduate Student Guide to GSO Procedures, Policies and Activities) and incorporate all passed changes into the constitution and the booklet/electronic versions.

A 1-month stipend of $550 will be offered for work between March-April

5. Do You Have Travel Plans for Thanksgiving or Intersession?

If you have travel plans for Thanksgiving or Intersession, whether within the United States or abroad, you’ll want to read the latest information on travel, published by the ISSS, at the following link: http://isss.binghamton.edu/travel/travelplan.htm

6. More Information on Fake E-Mail Messages

Two weeks ago, ISSS-BU News published an article about “scam” e-mails pretending to be from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), telling the recipient that they have an unclaimed refund.  To read the article, go to:
http://isss.binghamton.edu/taxes/IRSscam.htm

Since publishing the article, the ISSS has received a number of e-mails from subscribers, asking about other suspicious emails from banks, Pay Pal and Amazon.com.

The best way to confirm the authenticity of such scam emails is to open up your web browser and type in the true url of the company (e.g. www.amazon.com or www.paypal.com and check their home page for links to scam warnings.  For example, if you visit the Amazon.com website, scroll all the way down the homepage to the "help" link, click on it, and then look at the menu of items on the left column of the Help web page, there is a link under "privacy and security" titled "identifying phishing emails."  You may wish to read it at:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=15835501

Other links that may be helpful include
https://www.paypal.com/us/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_security-center-outside and
https://www.bankofamerica.com/privacy/Control.do?body=privacysecur_types_online_fraud

Be careful!  Never enter your personal information (social security number, credit card details, pin numbers, bank account numbers) by using a link contained within an e-mail message unless you are certain of the message’s authenticity.  Place your cursor over the web link to see if the link that comes up matches the one in the e-mail. When in doubt, go directly to the website of the company you wish to contact by typing in that company’s url yourself.

7. Reminder From Human Resources/Payroll

In partnership with the Office of the State Comptroller, annual W-2 statement of earnings forms will be mailed directly to BU employees’ addresses in January, 2008.  This includes students who are employed as adjuncts, teaching assistants, research assistants, graduate assistants and those who are paid an hourly wage.  The W-2 is essential to the filing of your income tax returns.  To be sure the mailing is successful, it is critical that home addresses are correct in our systems.  We ask that all employees please check the address recorded on their paycheck to be sure it is accurate as of the check of 11/14/07.  If you need to make any changes, please report them to the department that employs you so they may submit the necessary personal data change smart form to assure the change on record and the timely arrival of your W-2 form.

8. Is Your I-20 or DS-2019 Expiring in December or January?

Several weeks ago, the Office of International Student and Scholar Services sent e-mail messages to all international students in F-1 or J-1 status whose SEVIS I-20 or DS-2019 will expire in December or January. The message provides information on filing for an extension of stay, where appropriate. Please note that the letter was not sent to international exchange students, whose DS-2019 ending date coincides with the ending date for their program. If your I-20 or DS-2019 will expire in December or January, and you did not receive an e-mail message from the ISSS with extension instructions, please contact the ISSS for information. All extension paperwork must be completed before the Fall semester ends. Students whose visa documents will expire in May or Summer 2008 will receive notification from the ISSS in mid-semester Spring 2008.

9. Early Announcement! Holiday Closing Dates for International Student and Scholar Services

The Office of International Student and Scholar Services, along with most other university offices, will be closed for what is traditionally known at the University as the "holiday shutdown" period. The official holiday shutdown starts on Tuesday, December 25, 2007 with offices re-opening on Wednesday, January 2, 2008, but many offices will have limited or no staff on Monday, December 24 as well.  During this period, there will be no mail delivery into or out of offices. Voice mail, e-mail and fax will be monitored periodically, but not every day.

International students and scholars who have paperwork that needs to be processed by the ISSS should note these dates and anticipate that after Friday, December 21, there will be a wait until January 2 before work resumes. It is strongly recommended that any requests for documents be made no later than December 14 to assure timely processing.  Remember not to wait until the last minute, as doing so may require you to wait until after January 2nd for documents to be returned to you! 

10. Applied for OPT? The ISSS Needs to Photocopy Your EAD Card!

The Office of International Student and Scholar Services reminds students who have applied for Optional Practical Training that once you receive your Employment Authorization Card, please bring it to the ISSS so that a photocopy can be made for your file. If you are away from Binghamton, you may fax or mail a photocopy to the ISSS.  This announcement is for those students who used an address other than the ISSS for their OPT application.

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.