ISSS-BU News . 08 October 2007. 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.
CONTENTS:
1. More Photos From the International Student Festival are on the ISSS Website
Additional photos taken at the International Student Festival have now been uploaded onto the ISSS website. There is a link from the ISSS homepage: http://isss.binghamton.edu or go to the direct link: http://isss.binghamton.edu/Pictures/ISF07/index.html
2. New Book Club for Family Members of International Students and Scholars
New this year! A "Book Club" for spouses and family members of international students and scholars is being formed. The Book Club provides a time to discuss selected readings and converse with other spouses. The reading list will be decided by instructor and participants. The Book Club is open to participants at all levels of English proficiency and meets every Friday morning from 9:30am to 11:00am in the Susquehanna Dining Room beginning Friday October 12th. This group will be facilitated by Ms. Nancy Barno Reynolds, instructor of the ISP ESL classes. Nancy has a Master's degree in Education in English. She is also a very enthusiastic and creative person! If you have any questions about this program, please contact Amelia Shafer at ashafer@binghamton.edu
3. Graduating in December? Planning to Apply for Practical Training? Now is the Time!
Students in F-1 status who will be graduating in December and plan to apply for optional practical training post graduation are reminded that it can take as long as three months to obtain their Employment Authorization Document (EAD card) from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Service Center. If you plan to begin employment as of January 2008, you should be submitting your paperwork as soon as possible. Application forms for practical training are available in the ISSS, or can be downloaded on line from: http://isss.binghamton.edu/emp/index.html#six
Employment cannot begin until you receive your EAD card.
4. Coming Soon: Workshop on Optional Practical Training
The next workshop in our Employment Authorization series is titled “OPT (Optional Practical Training): What is it and how do I apply?” This workshop was originally scheduled for this week, but will need to be postponed at this time. Date, time and location to be announced soon!
Planning on working after graduation? Wondering what is legal and what isn't? How do you apply for this type of work authorization? What are the federal rules you need to know? Those questions and more will be answered at this valuable workshop! Watch ISSS-BU News for the announcement of the new date and location.
The workshop series is sponsored by the Career Development Center and the Office of International Student and Scholar Services.
5. Binghamton University is Recruiting in Asia
Undergraduate and Graduate Admissions will participate in recruiting fairs in Asia this month. The complete schedule is:
SINGAPORE on Sunday, September 30, 2007 at the Pan Pacific Hotel, 7 Raffles Boulevard 1:00-4:00 pm (Pacific Ballroom 3)
KUALA LUMPUR on Wednesday, October 3, 2007 at the Renaissance Kuala Lumpur Hotel - Ballroom A Corner of Jalan Sultan Ismail and Jalan Ampang from 4:00-7:00pm
BANGKOK (IIE Fair) on Saturday, October 6, 2007 at the Imperial Queen's Park Hotel, 199 Sukhumvit Soi 22 from 12:30-5:00 pm
HO CHI MINH CITY (IIE Fair) on Tuesday, October 9, 2007 at the Hotel Equatorial HCMC 242 Tran Binh Trong, Dist. 5 from 2:00-6:00 pm
TAIPEI on Thursday, October 11, 2007 at the Howard Plaza Hotel, 160 Ren Ai Road, Section 3, Taipei City, Taiwan R.O.C. from 6:00-9:00 pm
HONG KONG (IIE Fair), on Sunday, October 14, 2007 at the Conrad Hotel - Grand Ballroom, Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Admiralty from 12:00-4:00 pm
SEOUL on Tuesday, October 16, 2007, at the Hotel Lotte – Sapphire Ballroom 2, 3, 4 1, Sogong-dong, Jung-gu from 4:00-7:00 pm
SHANGHAI (IIE Fair) on Thursday, October 18, 2007at the Hua Ting Hotel & Towers, Shanghai, No. 1200, North Caoxi Road, Shanghai 200030, China from 6:00-9:00 pm
TOKYO (IIE Fair) on Sunday, October 21, 2007 at the Exhibition Hall, World Import Mart Building (in Sunshine City) 3-1-3 Higashi-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku,Tokyo, 170-8630 from 1:00-5:00 pm
Forward the fair schedule to friends and family members who may be interested in learning more about opportunities to study at Binghamton University!
6. Scholarships for Female Students From Developing Countries
Several organizations have announced scholarship grant competitions for students from developing countries for the 2008-2009 academic year.
The Margaret McNamara Memorial Fund awards 10 non-renewable grants of $11,000 each year to women from specific developing countries (More than 130 countries in Africa, Europe, Asia, Central and South America and the Caribbean appear on their approved list). The Fund is administered by World Bank Volunteer Services. The application deadline is February 29, 2008. Applicants must have a record of service to women and/or children in her country, demonstrate financial need, plan to return to their home countries in about two years, be currently residing in the United States, be in a valid non- immigrant status, be studying at a US accredited institution during the period of time covered by the grant, be at least 25 years old by December 31, 2007, and not be related to any World Bank group staff member or their spouse.
A copy of the list of all eligible developing countries for this Scholarship as well as application information are available now on the Margaret McNamara Memorial Fund web site. Visit http://www.wbfn.org and scroll down on the left to “Outreach,” then select MMMF. The actual application form for 2008-09 will become available on the website beginning December 1, 2007.
The Margaret McNamara Memorial Fund
World Bank Volunteer Services
The World Bank
1818 H Street NW, Room MSN H2-204
Washington, D.C. 20433
202-473-8751 (phone)
202-522-3142 (fax)
e-mail: MMMF@worldbank.org
Other sources of financial aid include:
1. American Association of University Women International Fellowships
2008-2009 deadline is December 1, 2007, applications are available now on their website.
AAUW Educational Foundation
PO Box 4030
Iowa City, Iowa 52243-4030
telephone: 319-337-1716 ext. 60
e-mail: aauw@act.org
http://www.aauw.org/fga/fellowships_grants/international.cfm
Eligibility: women only, graduate students, citizen of any country except United States, admission to an accredited U.S. institution, outstanding academic record, professional potential, record of civic or community involvement concerning women, intent to return to home country, potential of the field of study to improve lives of women and girls in the country of origin. Up to 57 fellowships awarded.
2. PEO International Peace Scholarship Fund
Philanthropic and Educational Organization For Women
2008-2009 deadline is December 15, 2007 to submit eligibility form.
3700 Grand Avenue
Des Moines, Iowa 50312
telephone 515-255-3153
http://www.peointernational.org/about/
View the following links, all are pdf files:
http://www.peointernational.org/about/ips-fact-sheet.pdf
http://www.peointernational.org/about/ips-policies.pdf
http://www.peointernational.org/about/ips-eligibility.doc
Eligibility: women only, full-time candidates for MA or PhD at U.S. school, citizen of any country except U.S. and Canada, intention to return to home country upon completion of degree, additional financial support to cover remaining expenses. Average amount of grant awarded: $8000. You must complete the eligibility form well in advance of December 15 in order to be eligible to apply for the scholarship.
7. 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
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