1. Did You Remember to Pick Up Your Health Insurance ID Card?
2. Fall 2007 International Student Enrollment at BU
3. Graduate Student Seeks to Interview International Undergraduate Students for Class Project
4. Help Us Help You! National Collegiate Health Assessment (NCHA) has been Extended
5. Career Development Center: Resources and Networking Opportunities for Internships
6. Internship Opportunities, Employment Authorizations and Resumes
7. Diversity Visa Lottery Program Ends December 2, 2007

1. Did You Remember to Pick Up Your Health Insurance ID Card?

International students are reminded to be sure to pick up their Health Insurance ID card from the ISSS before departing for the Thanksgiving Holiday break! If you will be traveling, it is especially important to have your insurance ID card with you.  Please come to the ISSS to pick up your Insurance ID card during our normal business hours; Monday - Wednesday and Friday from 9:00am to 4:30pm, Thursday from 11:30am to 4:30pm.  Please remember that the ISSS is closed on Thursday and Friday, November 22 and 23.  You will be asked to present your BU ID card when you come to the ISSS.

All international students, except for those graduate students with TA, GA or RPA funding, are covered under this health insurance policy.

If you are a GSEU-funded F-1 student or Research Foundation funded F-1 student on employee-benefit insurance, contact the appropriate benefits office for information on obtaining your health insurance card.

Your fall health insurance covers you until January 15, 2008, which is when the Spring health insurance coverage begins.

2. Fall 2007 International Student Enrollment at BU

In last week’s edition of ISSS-BU News, there was an article about BU’s national ranking compared with other U.S. colleges and universities based on international student enrollment.  This week, we would like to focus on Fall 2007 enrollment.

Binghamton University has another record international student enrollment this year! There are 1918 international students from 92 countries enrolled for Fall 2007, 929 graduate students and 989 undergraduate students. This is an increase of 14 percent from the year before. The undergraduate numbers include 112 dual diploma students from Turkey who are currently in their home country, enrolled in their first year of study at their Turkish university.  Although these students are not physically in the United States at present, they are still regarded as Binghamton students.  Total international student undergraduate enrollment has increased by 12.6 percent (from 878 to 989). Total international student graduate enrollment has increased by 16.1 percent (from 800 to 929).

Fall 2007 international student enrollment by school

Fall 2007 International Students by School
School	Undergraduate		Graduate	Total
Harpur	492		330	822
SEHD	0		4	4
Watson	218		444	662
SOM	235		128	363
CCPA	5		4	9
Decker	23		9	32
Exchange	14		8	22
non-matric no assigned school	2		2	4

Fall 2007 international student enrollment top ten countries at BU

The following countries account for 86% of total international student enrollment at BU

Fall 2007 International Students by Top 10 Countries
Country	Undergraduate		Graduate	Total
Turkey	438		78	516
Korea (Rep.)	278		63	341
India	18		306	324
China	62		206	268
Taiwan	10		71	81
Japan	37		6	43
United Kingdom	17		4	21
Kenya	0		21	21
Hong Kong	17		4	21
Canada	11		9	20

3. Graduate Student Seeks to Interview International Undergraduate Students for Class Project

Emily Slomin, a graduate student in the Student Affairs Administration Program, seeks to interview international undergraduate students about their experiences at Binghamton University for a class project.  Students will be asked about their experience adjusting to studying and living in Binghamton. All responses will be kept anonymous. If interested, or if you have any questions, please contact Emily by e-mail, eslomin@gmail.com

4. Help Us Help You! National Collegiate Health Assessment (NCHA) has been Extended

A sample of Binghamton University students have been invited to participate in the web- based National Collegiate Health Assessment (NCHA) administered by the American College Health Association and sponsored by University Health Service, REACH Peers and the Student Health Advisory Committee (SHAC).  The tag line for the invitation e-mail is “Help Us Help You!  Please take the NCHA Health Survey”.  PLEASE consider completing the survey.  Fifteen minutes of your time will provide data that will be used to develop new programs and services and create innovative ways to meet student health needs.  Participants will be eligible for one of four $250 appreciation gifts, given through random drawing.  The survey will remain available until November 27th.

Thank you for your participation.

5. Career Development Center: Resources and Networking Opportunities for Internships

The Career Development Center (CDC) has a resource link on its website for one year internships following graduation.  Visit: http://cdc.binghamton.edu/ugrad/oneyear.htm

CDC also announces the following Networking Opportunities:

Road Trips To The Real World

January 3-11, 2008
http://www.eace.org/networks/liberalarts.html

Make the most of your winter break!

Join us for these exciting employer site visits, where you can LEARN ABOUT CAREERS, make contacts for INTERNSHIPS and JOBS, improve your NETWORKING skills, and meet other college students from across the Northeast!

ALL MAJORS & CLASS YEARS WELCOME to explore careers in:
PR and Advertising
Museums and Non-Profits
Broadcast Media and Publishing
Government & Law Enforcement
Retail - Fashion
Finance
,,,and much more!

THIS YEAR'S SITES INCLUDE:
▪           Amica Mutual Insurance Company (Lincoln, RI)
▪           Collette Vacation (Pawtucket, RI)
▪           FBI - Buffalo Division Headquarters (Buffalo, NY)
▪           The Fresh Air Fund (New York, NY)
▪           Fulton County Medical Center (McConnellsburg, PA)
▪           Herald Mail (Hagerstown, MD)
▪           Hoffman Homes (Littlestown, PA)
▪           Keystone Community Mental Health Services (Chambersburg, PA)
▪           Keystone Residence (Chambersburg, PA)
▪           Makovsky & Co (New York, NY)
▪           Massachusetts State House, Legislative Education Office (Boston, MA)
▪           McCann Erickson (New York, NY)
▪           Medical Information Technology "MEDITECH" (Canton, MA)
▪           Museum of Science (Boston, MA)
▪           NBC Universal (New York, NY)
▪           New England Aquarium (Boston, MA)
▪           Northwestern Mutual (Harrisburg, PA)
▪           Occupational Services (Chambersburg, PA)
▪           Philadelphia Zoo (Philadelphia, PA)
▪           Rodale (Emmaus, PA)
▪           Sirius Satellite Radio (New York, NY)
▪           Target (Stores in Stanford, CT; Newburg, NY; Jersey City, NJ; Elmhurst, NY;
▪           Bayshore, NY; Westbury, NY)
▪           The TJX Companies, Inc. (Framingham, MA)
▪           US Holocaust Memorial Museum (Washington, DC)
▪           US Office of Personnel Management (Boyers, PA)
▪           Vanguard (Wayne, PA)
▪           WITF (Harrisburg, PA)
▪           Young & Rubicam (New York NY)

REGISTRATION started November 15 (Thursday) at 10 am.  Limited spots available, so register early at http://www.eace.org/networks/liberalarts.html

COST is free!  You are responsible for your own transportation.

QUESTIONS?  Contact the Career Development Center.

Brought to you by the Eastern Association of Colleges and Employers, Liberal Arts Network

Important Credentials File Service Announcement!
To have materials from your Credentials File mailed from CDC by December 21st, submit requests (and confirm that all materials to be sent have arrived in CDC) no later than 4:00pm TUESDAY, DECEMBER 18th. The University will be closed for the holiday break on Tuesday, December 25th and will reopen Wednesday, January 2, 2008. CDC cannot ensure that requests received between December 19th and December 21st will be processed and mailed before the holiday closing.
 
We anticipate having many requests to process when CDC resumes operation on January 2, 2008. Processing in January may take longer than usual. All requests will be processed in the order they are received.

6. Internship Opportunities, Employment Authorizations and Resumes

International students in F-1 or J-1 status are reminded that off-campus internships and other off campus employment must be authorized before the employment can commence.  This includes internships that are unpaid. 

Many students list unpaid internships and other kinds of work experience on their resumes.  If a U.S. company then offers you employment after graduation and files an immigration petition on your behalf (e.g. for H-1B status or for permanent residency), the attorney or human resources staff person handling the petition on behalf of the employer may ask you to show proof of work authorization for each work experience you have listed, to be sure that you have been in compliance with U.S. immigration law.  This is one of the reasons why it is so important for you to be sure you have the appropriate employment authorization for each work experience you commence in the United States.

A request for authorization begins with a visit to the Office of International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS).  Most internships and other opportunities related to a student’s field of study that take place prior to graduation are eligible for consideration under Curricular Practical Training (F-1 students) or Academic Training (J-1 students).

For a helpful overview of information that defines “employment” in the context of immigration regulations, you are encouraged to read: http://isss.binghamton.edu/emp/overview.html

Information on both Curricular Practical Training and Academic Training are available in the ISSS, or by going to the ISSS web site http://isss.binghamton.edu  and selecting “Employment.”  The direct link to the Curricular Practical Training information for F-1 students is http://isss.binghamton.edu/emp/curr.html The direct link to the Academic Training information for J-1 students is http://isss.binghamton.edu/emp/atregs.html

7. Diversity Visa Lottery Program Ends December 2, 2007

Applications for the 2009 Diversity (“Green Card”) Lottery will close on Sunday, December 2, 2007 at 12 noon Eastern Standard Time. The ISSS has a handout that includes complete information on the Diversity Visa Lottery, including filing instructions. As in previous years, the visa lottery is being conducted electronically, using the world wide web. Mail-in applications are no longer accepted.

The complete U.S. State Department instructions for DV 2009 may be viewed at
http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/types/types_1318.html

Be certain that you have read the instructions thoroughly, especially the information on the required photographs, before attempting to complete the application form on the web. Incomplete or inaccurate forms will automatically be disqualified.

The official web site to submit an application to the Diversity Visa Lottery Program is http://www.dvlottery.state.gov Entering the DV lottery is free. Individuals can enter on their own at the State Department's Web site, www.dvlottery.state.gov.

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.