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ISSO January Newsletter
1.
Welcome New Students!
2.
Welcome Party
for New International Students
3. Reminder that
our office has moved!
4.
First
International Coffee Hour of the Spring Semester
5. Reminder to
maintain fulltime status!
6. Last
Semester of Coursework & Not Fulltime?
7.
Conversation Partner Applications Due Feb. 2nd
8. OPT Workshops for
May Graduates
9.
Reminder to use your @uncc.edu email account!
10.
"Local" vs.
"Permanent" Address in 49er Express
11.
Get involved - check out the volunteer opportunities at UNC Charlotte
1. Welcome New Students!
The ISSO welcomes nearly 70 new international students from over 20 countries to
UNC Charlotte and wishes you all a wonderful first semester at UNC Charlotte!
2.
Welcome Party for New International Students
The International Club and the International Student/Scholar Office will host a
“Welcome Party” for all new international students this Friday, January 12th
from 7:30-11:00pm in After Hours (Cone University Center). As always, all new
and continuing students are invited and encouraged to attend. There will
be plenty of new people to meet, music to dance to, and snacks to enjoy! Hope
to see you there.
3. Reminder that our
office has moved!
The ISSO has moved from the Denny Building to the College of Health & Human
Services, the new building across from the College of Education, and near the
SAC & Woodward Hall. We are located in room 202, close to Craver Road. Please
drop by to say hello and see our new “home”!
4.
First International Coffee Hour of the Spring Semester
Take a break from your classes, and stop-by the first “International Coffee
Hour” of the semester, on Wednesday, January 17th anytime between 4 &
6pm in the Faculty/Staff Dining Room of the Prospector Cafeteria.
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Enjoy coffee, tea,
snacks and music while meeting new people from various parts of the world.
This event is free and open to everyone on campus, so feel free to invite a
friend or classmate along!
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International Coffee
Hour will then continue every FIRST and THIRD Thursday of each
month: Feb. 1 & 15, March 1 & 15, April 5 & 19.
5. Reminder to maintain
fulltime status!
Here is your very important reminder to maintain fulltime status throughout your
entire academic program (see ISSO for a few exceptions). Again, fulltime is
defined as the following:
Undergraduates
= at least 12 credits
Graduates
= at least 9 credits
Graduates with approved assistantship
= at least 6 credits
Graduates who have completed coursework and working on thesis or project only
= no minimum credit hours required but must be registered for “thesis”,
“project”, or “dissertation”.
6. Last
Semester of Coursework & Not Fulltime?
If this is your last semester of coursework and you are not registered fulltime,
you MUST notify the ISSO immediately and request special permission. Otherwise,
you will be in violation of your F-1 status. Come to the ISSO and request a
“Reduced Courseload Authorization Form”!
7.
Conversation Partner Applications Due Feb. 2nd
Attention new students! Get your applications in now to participate in the
Conversation Partner Program, a program that matches internationals with
Americans for informal, one-on-one conversation roughly one hour per week. You
will find an online application at
http://www.isso.uncc.edu/cpapplication.htm
.
8. OPT Workshops for May
Graduates
The ISSO will be holding two workshops for students graduating in May and
interested in applying for Post-Completion Optional Practical Training (OPT),
work authorization in your field of study. Please plan to attend one of the
workshops, as much information will be discussed.
Friday, February 2nd at 4:00pm in College of Heath & Human
Services, Room 285 OR
Friday, February 9th at 4:00pm in College of Heath & Human
Services, Room 285
9. Reminder to
use your @uncc.edu email account!
This is a reminder to all students to make sure you are checking and using your
@uncc.edu email account. This is the official means of communication between
all UNC Charlotte faculty, staff and students and it is your responsibility to
maintain that communication. If you have any problems with your @uncc.edu
account, please talk to a staff member in the Barnard Computing Center.
10. "Local" vs.
"Permanent" Address in 49er Express
In order for the ISSO to maintain your SEVIS record, it is necessary for all
students to keep a “local” address in 49er Express (where you currently live).
Bills and other University communications are sent to the ‘permanent address’.
If you want your bills to come to you in Charlotte you should set your permanent
and local address to where you are living in Charlotte.
11. Get involved - check out the volunteer opportunities at UNC Charlotte
Remember that there is more to university life than just what lies in the
classroom! Get out of the library, get off campus, meet people and enjoy a
hobby. Go to
http://www.dso.uncc.edu/volunteer/index.htm or send an email to
volservices@email.uncc.edu .
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