ISSS-BU News . 29 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
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Editor's Note: Today’s issue of ISSS-BU News is longer than usual. Scan the Contents for the titles of those articles that are relevant to you.
Did you know that Daylight Savings Time ends one week later this year? Next Sunday, November 4 will be the first day of Eastern Standard Time. You will want to fix your clocks and other electronic devices by setting them one hour earlier when you go to sleep on Saturday, November 3.
Wednesday, October 31 is Halloween. You are likely to see children (and even a few adults) dressed in costume. In some neighborhoods, children will travel from house to house to collect candy in the late afternoon and early evening. For more information on this holiday, visit: http://www.halloweenmagazine.com/history.htm
CONTENTS:
1. ISSS Says Goodbye to Teresa Kozina
Tuesday, October 30 is Teresa Kozina’s last day in the ISSS. Teresa has accepted a promotion and will begin new duties at a different New York State agency in Binghamton on October 31. Teresa has worked in the ISSS at the front desk since June 2006 and she will be greatly missed by all. Until Teresa’s replacement is hired, visitors to the ISSS will see several faces at the front desk, including former ISSS secretary Elaine Scanlon, who retired in August 2006 but is coming back to provide assistance. If you visit the ISSS on Monday or Tuesday, please wish Teresa well on her new position.
2. Great Workshops Offered By the Career Development Center This Week
CDC is sponsoring a number of excellent workshops this week. For more information on these and other CDC programs, go to: http://cdc.binghamton.edu
Begin your Summer Internship Search NOWMonday, October 29, 2007 5:15 PM-6:15 PM Lecture Hall 3
Tips and techniques to help you get started on your internship search, plus a student panel to speak about how they found their internships.
Monday, October 29, 2007 4:00 PM-4:30 PM Library South Ground Floor Room 500 - CDC Office, and Repeated Monday, October 29, 2007 7:00 PM-7:30 PM University Union Room 133
Learn how Facebook, MySpace, and other sites can help make or break you when it comes to applying for internships, jobs, or graduate school.
Thursday, November 1, 2007 4:00 PM-5:30 PM University Union 133
For graduate students looking for positions in academe, topics will include: Job talks - what they are, content, do's and don'ts; Making an effective presentation using PowerPoint. Guest presenter: Bob Orrange, HigherEdHumor
Thursday, November 1, 2007 4:00 PM-5:00 PM Library South Ground Floor Room 500- CDC Office
Unsure of what to major in? With over 50 majors available to you, how do you choose? This express workshop will provide you with steps to choosing the best major for you.
3. ISSS Staff Not Available All Day on Thursday, November 1 and at Mid-Morning on Friday, November 2.
Staff in the Office of International Student and Scholar Services will be unavailable all day on Thursday, November 1, while staff attend a planning meeting. The office will reopen at 9:00am on Friday, November 2. On that day, ISSS staff will be unavailable from 10:00am to 11:00am while they attend a faculty/staff workshop. ISSS apologizes for any inconvenience.
4. Where is My International Health Insurance ID Card?
Generally, health insurance ID cards for students covered under the International Student Health Insurance Program are distributed in the ISSS beginning in early October. This year, the health insurance cards are late. The reason for the delay is that the ISSS changed its record-keeping to a new database that only recently came on line. Students will receive an email message once the health insurance ID cards have arrived, which will be within the next 14 days. Please note that all international students enrolled in the insurance program have had full coverage since August 15, 2007, even in the absence of an ID card.
5. College in the Woods Dining Hall Has Re-Opened
The construction in College in the Woods Dining Hall has been completed and the facility has now re-opened. For more information, visit http://www.BUdining.com
6. Spring 2008 Course Schedule Now Available On-line; Early Registration Starts Thursday, November 1
The on line version of the Spring 2008 course schedule is now available for viewing at: http://busi.binghamton.edu/schedule.html Just select “Spring 2008” as the term choice.
Currently enrolled degree-seeking undergraduate students and all graduate students can register for courses for the Spring 2008 term beginning Thursday, November 1. Students are assigned starting times for Spring registration according to their total cumulative credits, including in-progress courses. Students can check their total cumulative credits by going to the BUSI Web Center http://busi.binghamton.edu and clicking on 'My Grades and Credits.'
To know the earliest starting time for Spring 2008 early registration for your credit level, visit: http://registrar.binghamton.edu/newinfo.html#regdates
Online registration on the BUSI (Binghamton University Student Information) system will be available from 8:00 am to 6:00am (22 hours) seven days a week until early registration ends on Friday, November 30.
Students with outstanding debt to the University or who have not fulfilled all health requirements will be blocked from registering. Students can also view their account balances and pay any outstanding debt through the BUSI Web center; http://busi.binghamton.edu
Other students who will be blocked from spring semester registration include:
Graduate students should call The Graduate School at 607-777-2151 if they have any questions.
7. Preparing for Work in the Global Economy Workshops on Friday, November 2
Do You ‘Picture Yourself Global’? Do you envision an international career for yourself? What does that mean? Whether or not you will actually work in a country other than your own, as professionals you will be part of a global economy, as well as a global culture. This means it is necessary to prepare to function in this international arena and understand and develop the skills needed to be successful. Here's how you can get started:
All students are invited to a special day of programming sponsored by a number of campus offices:
Alumni Association, Binghamton University Foundation, Career Development Center, Division of External Affairs, Harpur College Dean’s Office, International Education Advisory Committee, International Student and Scholar Services, Languages Across the Curriculum, Office of International Programs, Division of Student Affairs
Friday, November 2, 2007
UU Old Union Hall
1:00 - 2:30 pm Building Your Global Competency
Every undergraduate and graduate student entering the workforce will be part of the global economy, whether you work in or outside your home country. What competencies does this require and how do you effectively develop and present them? Learn how to build your ‘international IQ’ for success.
3:00 - 4:30 pm Going International – Your Resume and the Job Search
Especially for those who plan to work outside their home country, Mr. Hachey will present an overview of the international job search process, including the differences between an international and domestic resume.
4:30 - 5:30 pm International Coffee Hour
This special edition of the coffee hour provides an opportunity for participants of the day’s programs to gather, network and socialize.
8. Next International Coffee Hour Friday, November 2
Good company! Free refreshments! Celebrate the start of November by coming to this month's International Coffee Hour on Friday, November 2 from 4:30pm to 5:30pm in the University Union Old Union Hall (next to the University Union Mandela Room). This month's sponsor is the Office of the Vice President for External Affairs.
Are you participating in the English Conversation Pairs Program? Invite your Pair partner to the Coffee Hour!
Please note the special start and ending time. This month’s coffee hour is being held in conjunction with the “Preparing for Work in a Global Economy” program, taking place in Old Union Hall in the afternoon.
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.
9. New International Student Festival Cultural Showcase Photos Posted!
Good company! Free refreshments! Celebrate the start of November by coming to this month's International Coffee Hour on Friday, November 2 from 4:30pm to 5:30pm in the University Union Old Union Hall (next to the University Union Mandela Room). This month's sponsor is the Office of the Vice President for External Affairs.
Are you participating in the English Conversation Pairs Program? Invite your Pair partner to the Coffee Hour!
Please note the special start and ending time. This month’s coffee hour is being held in conjunction with the “Preparing for Work in a Global Economy” program, taking place in Old Union Hall in the afternoon.
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.
10. BU Bridge Builders Intercultural Workshop Series
The Multicultural Resource Center invites undergraduates and graduate students to participate in an intercultural communication workshop series called BU Bridge Builders. The first workshop will be on Thursday, November 15. The application due date has been extended to November 5, 5pm and is required for participation. For more information and to download the application, please go to: http://mrc.binghamton.edu/e_bb.htm
11. Attention Undergraduate Students! Apply for the USA TODAY College Academic Teams!
Each fall semester USA TODAY seeks nominations for the USA TODAY College Academic Teams. Twenty undergraduate academic all-stars are named to the first team; the 20 students are featured in an article in USA TODAY in February and receive a trophy and a $2,500 cash award. Forty more runners-up named to the Second and Third Teams receive certificates and their names are announced in the newspaper.
The program is open to all full-time undergraduates of at least sophomore standing (but seniors are the most successful). U.S. citizenship is not required to apply. There is no limit to the number of students that can be nominated. The complete nomination file must be mailed to USA TODAY by November 30th.
The Academic Team honors full-time undergraduates who not only excel in scholarship but also extend their intellectual abilities beyond the classroom to benefit society. Criteria include excellent grades, academic rigor, leadership roles on and off campus, extracurricular activities, and most important, the student’s essay describing his or her most outstanding intellectual endeavor (a substantial, original work beyond the classroom) done while in college. The Academic Team is a recognition honoring students for what they have done in college as opposed to what they plan to do upon graduation.
For more information and for students to register, go to www.allstars.usatoday.com and use the All-USA drop-down menu to go to the 4-year college program. The application must be accompanied by a nomination letter and two letters of recommendation.
Students, if after you review the USA TODAY website, and you decide to apply and would like assistance with the application process, please contact Janice McDonald, Director of Scholarships, Fellowships, and Awards. Her email address is jmcdona@binghamton.edu.
12. Department of State Warns Against Visa “Facilitators” in India
The October 26,007 edition of the on-line Murthy Law Bulletin featured an article on Visa “Facilitators” in India.
The Murthy Law Bulletin reports that at an October 2007 press conference, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs, Maura Harty, advised U.S. visa applicants to avoid facilitators who promise visa document packages with guaranteed visas. This was reported in The Hindu, October 11, 2007. Visa applicants should never take assistance from facilitators who offer fake documentation or guarantee visas.
There have been several student, H1-B, and tourist visa applicants from India who have been permanently barred from entering the United States for using forged financial statements, for using forged education or work credentials, or for concealing facts about the presence of siblings or children on visa application forms. These individuals acted upon the advice of facilitators, who either did not understand the consequences of using false documents when trying to obtain a visa, or were unconcerned with the dire consequences their clients would face and never warned the visa applicants. Most consulates display information indicating that fraud or misrepresentation on an application will lead to permanent ineligibility for a U.S. visa. However, some people are convinced by the false promises of unscrupulous facilitators.
Remember that no one can guarantee a visa approval. Each application is judged on its merits and on the facts perceived by the visa officer at the interview. In addition, there are particular rules and limits pertaining to the various U.S. visa categories.
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