ISSS-BU News 07 November 2011 ISSS-BU News

An electronic news service for international students and scholars, owned by the Office of International Student and Scholar Services atBinghamtonUniversity, State University of New York

Visit ISSS on the Web!   http://isss.binghamton.edu

The U.S. Veteran’s Day Holiday is being observed on Friday, November 11. University classes are in session and offices are open. However, banks are closed and there will be no mail delivery that day.

CONTENTS:
1. New Instructions for Accessing Course Schedules in BU Brain
2. Spring 2012 Academic Advising and Scheduling for All Undergraduate Students
3. Attention Undergraduate Students in Harpur College: Advising Session Schedule
4. Need Help With Writing Your Research Paper?
5. Upcoming Employment Workshops With an International Focus
6. Do You Have Travel Plans for Thanksgiving or Intersession?
7. Reminder from Human Resources Payroll
8. Is Your I-20 or DS-2019 Expiring in December or January?
9. Early Announcement! Holiday Curtailment Period for International Student and Scholar Services
10. Applied for OPT? The ISSS Needs to Photocopy Your EAD Card!
11. This Week’s Campus and Community Connections Newsletter

1. New Instructions for Accessing Class Schedules on BU Brain

New instructions are now available for accessing the schedule of classes on BU Brain. Go to http://www2.binghamton.edu/registrar/pdf/access-schedule-bubrain.pdf for instructions.

2. Spring 2012 Academic Advising and Scheduling Fest for All Undergraduate Students

Spring 2012 advance registration is now underway. On Wednesday, November 16 from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. in the Old Union Hall in the University Union, advisors from all five undergraduate schools, various faculty, and Discovery advisors will be available to assist with scheduling courses. First-year students are especially encouraged to attend. Please bring your DARS with you and a laptop, if possible.

3. Attention Undergraduate Students in Harpur College: Advising Session Schedule

The Harpur College Academic Advising Office has set up the following schedule of advising sessions for this month. They are designed to provide assistance in registering for Spring 2012 classes.

4. Need Help With Writing Your Research Paper?

It is already November, that means it is also time to start working on your research papers. In order to help you through the research and writing process, the Office of International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) has recently launched a new webpage for you, "Hot to Write a Good Research Paper". Here is the direct link:
http://www2.binghamton.edu/isss/getting-good-grades/goodrespaper.html

Alternatively, you can visit the main ISSS webpage (http://www2.binghamton.edu/isss/) and click on “Getting Good Grades” link first and then on “How to Write a Good Research Paper.”

We hope that you find this new site useful! Good luck with your papers!

5. Upcoming Employment Workshops With an International Focus

The Career Development Center is sponsoring a series of workshops with an international focus during International Education Week.

6. 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://www2.binghamton.edu/isss/travel/travelplan.html

7. Reminder From Human Resources/Payroll

In partnership with the Office of the State Comptroller, annual W-2 statement of earnings forms will be mailed directly to BU employees’ addresses in January, 2012. This includes students who are employed as adjuncts, teaching assistants, research assistants, graduate assistants and those who are paid an hourly wage. The W-2 is essential to the filing of your income tax returns. To be sure the mailing is successful, it is critical that home addresses are correct in University systems. The office of Human Resources/Payroll asks that all employees please check the address recorded on their paycheck to be sure it is accurate as of the check of 11/09/2011. If you need to make any changes, please report them to the department that employs you so they may submit the necessary personal data change smart form to assure the change on record and the timely arrival of your W-2 form. Or, print this form http://www2.binghamton.edu/human-resources/forms/forms-doc-files/Address_Change.pdf and complete it and send it to Human Resources, AD-244.

8. Is Your I-20 or DS-2019 Expiring in December?

This week, the Office of International Student and Scholar Services will send e-mail messages to all international students in F-1 or J-1 status whose SEVIS I-20 or DS-2019 will expire in December. The message provides information on filing for an extension of stay, where appropriate. Please note that the letter will not be sent to international exchange students, whose DS-2019 ending date coincides with the ending date for their program. All extension paperwork must be completed before the Fall semester ends. Students whose visa documents will expire in May or Summer 2012 will receive notification from the ISSS in mid-semester Spring 2012.

9. Early Announcement! Holiday Curtailment Period for International Student and Scholar Services

The Office of International Student and Scholar Services, along with most other university offices, will be participating in what is traditionally known at the University as the "holiday curtailment" period. The official holiday curtailment starts at the close of business on Friday, December 23, 2011 with offices re-opening on Tuesday, January 3, 2012. During this period, there will be no mail delivery into or out of offices. Voice mail, e-mail and fax will be monitored periodically, but not every day.

International students and scholars who have paperwork that needs to be processed by the ISSS should note these dates and anticipate that after Friday, December 23, there will be a wait until January 3 before work resumes. It is strongly recommended that any requests for documents be made no later than Wednesday, December 14 to assure timely processing. Remember not to wait until the last minute!

10. Applied for OPT? The ISSS Needs to Photocopy Your EAD Card!

The Office of International Student and Scholar Services reminds students who have applied for Optional Practical Training that once you receive your Employment Authorization Card, please bring it to the ISSS so that a photocopy can be made for your file. If you are away from Binghamton, you may fax or mail a photocopy to the ISSS. This announcement is for those students who used an address other than the ISSS for their OPT application.

11. This Week’s Campus and Community Connections Newsletter

The latest Campus and Community Connections newsletter has been posted at:

http://www2.binghamton.edu/cce/connect/CCC-Fall2011-12.docx.pdf

The Center for Civic Engagement (CCE) publishes Campus and Community Connections to provide BU students with information on ways to participate in activities both on campus and in the local community, including:
* Upcoming Campus & Community Events
* Volunteer & Service Opportunities
* Internships (Credit & Non-Credit)
* Community-Based Research Project

Previous newsletters are archived at: http://www2.binghamton.edu/cce/campusconnect.html

For more information on the Center for Civic Engagement, visit http://www2.binghamton.edu/cce/

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