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.ed
Editor’s Note: Staff in the Office of International Student and Scholar Services will not be available in the office on Wednesday, August 24, as they will all be assisting new students at Orientation. Voice mail will take phone messages, and staff will return to the office on Thursday, August 25.
There will be no walk-in hours for health insurance questions or employment questions on Tuesday, August 23, as staff will be at Orientation during the times when walk-in hours are normally held.
Walk-in hours for both health insurance and employment will resume on Tuesday, August 30, from 10:15am to Noon (health insurance) and from 1:30pm to 3:15pm (employment).
CONTENTS:
1. Arrival of New International Students
2. Academic Year Office Hours Resume in the ISSS
3. ISSS Staff Availability During the Week of August 22
4. Updated Health Insurance Brochures Now Available On Line
5. Fall 2011 International Spouses Program (ISP) English as a Second Language Classes
6. Course Registration Information for Fall 2011
7. University Fest is Saturday, August 278. University Libraries are Ready to Serve You
8. University Libraries are Ready to Serve You
9. BU Student Handbook, a Key Resource for Students
10.Most Recent H-1B Cap Count
1. Arrival of New International Students
Today, Monday, August 22 is the first day of new international student orientation. Orientation check- in will be in the University Union Old Union Hall from 10:00am to 2:30pm. University Health Service Check-In will be in University Union Room 215 (above the Old Union Lobby) from 8:00am to 2:00pm. New students arriving in the late evening on August 22 should follow the orientation program schedule which may be accessed through the links at:
http://www2.binghamton.edu/isss/orientation/index.html Breakfast on Tuesday morning August 23 may be purchased for cash in College In the Woods Dining Hall beginning at 8:00am.
The first day of classes is Monday, August 29.
The staff of International Student and Scholar Services thanks the many current students who have assisted the new students upon their arrival. Your efforts are greatly appreciated in welcoming our newest entering class!
2. Academic Year Office Hours Resume in the ISSS
Summer hours have ended, and the Office of International Student and Scholar Services has resumed its academic year work schedule. The office hours are:
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday: 10:00am to 4:30pm
Thursday: 11:30am to 4:30pm
For the week of August 22 only, the ISSS will open at 9:00am on Thursday August 25, we will be closed on August 24 for orientation.
3. ISSS Staff Availability During the Week of August 22
The Office of International Student and Scholar Services will be open for regular office hours throughout the week of August 22, except for Wednesday, August 24. However, most staff will be away from the office during much of the week, participating in various New Student Orientation activities.
Obtaining appointments, document processing and responses to e-mails may take a few days longer than usual while staff takes care of the newest class of international students. ISSS thanks you for your patience and understanding!
4. Updated Health Insurance Brochures Now Available On Line
The 2011-12 edition of the International Student Health Insurance Policy can now be viewed on-line at:
http://www2.binghamton.edu/isss/health-insurance/BUPartBroc.pdf Paper brochures that describe the insurance policy are also available in the ISSS.
The 2011-12 edition of the International Medical and Security Evacuation and Repatriation Policy can also be viewed on-line at:
http://www2.binghamton.edu/isss/health-insurance/MEDSECDes.pdf This separate policy is primarily for funded graduate students.
Questions about your international student health insurance? Contact intl.insure@binghamton.edu
5. Fall 2011 International Spouses Program (ISP) English as a Second Language Classes
These are non-credit bearing classes for spouses of BU international students, faculty and staff. BU Research Scholars are welcome to join as well. These classes are NOT intended for current BU students. The focus is to practice conversation, reading, grammar skills and daily living in the United States.
Classes begin on Monday August 29th but students are welcomed at any time
Two classes and a Discussion Group will be offered this semester at the following times:
Basic Conversational English (Beginner- Pre-Intermediate):
Mondays and Wednesdays from 1:45pm to 3:15pm
Location: Student Wing Room 306
Time is spent on all four skills (reading, writing, listening, and speaking). There is work done using material out of various ESL text books that include a focus on grammar and sentence structure, while conversation is always incorporated into the lessons as well.
Intermediate-Advanced English
Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1:45pm to 3:15pm
Location: Tuesdays, Student Wing Room 312
Location: Thursdays, Student Wing Room 306
There is an ongoing focus on grammar and sentence structure while tenses such as the passive, past perfect, future perfect may also be covered. Additional topics may include verb patterns, everyone’s favorite verb “get”, reported speech as well as other topics in between. Articles covering topics of interest will also be discussed.
Discussion Group
Fridays time to be announced
Location: room to be announced
Open to all levels of English and native English
A $5.00 fee per semester per student is requested towards the copying of materials (no need to purchase a textbook for these classes). The instructor will collect this fee.
Our ESL instructor is Ms. Myriam Stanton. Myriam has many years experience teaching English overseas and ESL here in the United States. This is her fourth year as our ISP ESL instructor.
If you have any questions about the ESL classes, please contact the instructor at mstanton@binghamton.edu
6. Course Registration Information for Fall 2011
The Registrar's Office has posted the Fall 2011 course registration times and other helpful registration information on its web site. To view it and other important information, please visit:
http://www2.binghamton.edu/registrar/students/course-registration/index.html
Registration begins on Monday, August 22, 2011 for graduate students and on Friday, August 26, 2011 for undergraduate students, except undergraduates participating in orientation will be able to register on Thursday, August 25. After the initial registration times have passed, BU Brain will be available seven days a week until the course-withdrawal deadline of October 28, 2011.
Confirming Enrollment: Students must confirm enrollment by Friday, September 2. If you do not confirm your enrollment, you will be removed from your Fall 2011 classes.
To confirm your enrollment follow the steps explained at this link:
http://www2.binghamton.edu/registrar/students/course-registration/confirmation-enrollment.html
7. University Fest is Saturday, August 27
Come out to the Peace Quad (between University Union West and the Couper Administration Building from Noon.-4 p.m. Saturday, August 27, during Welcome Back Weekend. There will be live music, free food, a giant free book tent, amusement rides and over 100 student organizations tabling. For more information, visit:
http://www2.binghamton.edu/dean-of-students/services/university-fest.html Questions? Contact Jennifer Keegin at jkeegin@binghamton.edu or 607-777-2811.
8. University Libraries Are Ready to Serve You
Papers, tests and projects will be here before you know it, so check out the libraries website for information:
-- research services and hours at http://library.binghamton.edu/about/hours.html
-- subject librarians at http://libraryguides.binghamton.edu/subject_librarians
-- check out reserve materials at http://library.binghamton.edu/services/eres/index.html
-- visit all our locations at http://library.binghamton.edu/locations/index.html
And, if you’re stuck on where to start, just Ask a Librarian at http://library.binghamton.edu/research/askalibrarian/index.html -- we offer help in-person, online and via text message.
9. BU Student Handbook, A Key Resource for Students
As you prepare for the academic year, you may have some questions. The BU Student Handbook is a great resource for new students and includes information on getting around campus, offices on and off campus, and policies governing campus and academic life.
The Code of Student Conduct is included in the handbook. All students are expected to know and abide by all policies listed in the code, so it is important that you review them.
Take time to review the Student Handbook at http://studenthandbook.binghamton.edu , the Code of Student Conduct at http://studentconduct.binghamton.edu , the Annual Security Report at http://asr.binghamton.edu * and the Sex Offender Registry Information at http://www2.binghamton.edu/police/crime-information/sex-offender-registry.html
*Binghamton University’s Annual Security Report shows statistics for the previous three years concerning reported crimes that occurred on campus, in certain off-campus buildings or property owned or controlled by Binghamton University and on public property within or immediately adjacent to and accessible from the campus. The report also includes institutional policies concerning campus security, such as those concerning sexual assault and other matters. You may access the report using the link above and you also have the right to obtain a paper copy by contacting University Police at 607-777-2393.
10. Most Recent H-1B Cap Count
The most recent H-1B visa update was on August 12, 2011. It can be read at:
www.uscis.gov/h-1b_count
As of August 12, 2011, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) reports that approximately 25,300 H-1B cap-subject petitions out of 65,000 visas available, and approximately 14,700 petitions qualifying for the advanced degree cap exemption out of 20,000 visas available have been filed.
USCIS will continue to accept both cap-subject petitions and advanced degree petitions until a sufficient number of H-1B petitions have been received to reach the statutory limits, taking into account the fact that some of these petitions may be denied, revoked, or withdrawn.
USCIS will provide regular updates on the processing of Fiscal Year (FY) 2012 H-1B petitions.
For the third time in several years, it is likely that USCIS will still accept H-1B petitions on the start date of the 2012 U.S. federal fiscal year, which is October 1, 2011. The economic downturn and changed procedures for processing H-1B petitions continue to have a significant effect on H-1B processing.
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