ISSS-BU News 24 October 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
Editor's Note: Next Monday, October 31 is Halloween. You are likely to see children (and adults) dressed in costume on Monday, or the preceding weekend. 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
The Office of International Student and Scholar Services has been notified that many former Binghamton University students obtained H-1B visas that took effect on October 1. 2011. The ISSS congratulates these former students who have successfully obtained long-term employment in the United States in their field. If you are a recent recipient of H-1B status and have not scanned or faxed a copy of your H-1B approval notice to the ISSS, please do so. The fax number is 1-607-777-2889 and the email address for sending a scanned copy is isss@binghamton.edu
CONTENTS:
1. Please Drive Safely at All Times
2. Need to Have Your Fall 2011 Health Insurance Fee Adjusted?
3. Registrar’s Office Reminds Students of Important Deadlines
4. Spring 2012 Course Schedule Available On-line Later This Week; Advance Registration Starts November 2 and 3.
5. Workshop for Undergraduates: How to Choose a Major on Wednesday, October 26
6. This Week’s Campus and Community Connections Newsletter
1. Please Drive Safely at All Times
The ISSS reminds all drivers to practice safe driving rules.
Be sure to gain experience driving in the United States and become experienced driving on US roadways. Consider taking the New York State road test to obtain a New York State driver’s license. To learn more about applying for a New York State driver’s license, visit:
http://www2.binghamton.edu/isss/publications/lincense.html
Never drive after drinking alcohol. For those who go to a bar or attend a party, arrange for a designated driver who will not drink, or ask for help when you feel you are unable to drive.
Be sure to get enough sleep before long-distance driving. Drivers should pay extra attention to different traffic patterns or different weather conditions, and remember to stop for a rest on long road trips.
Here are some additional helpful links on safe driving:
NYS Driver’s Manual
http://www.nydmv.state.ny.us/dmanual/default.html
NYS DMV Traffic Safety Place
http://www.nysgtsc.state.ny.us/ts-place.htm
Traffic Safety Tips
http://www.nysgtsc.state.ny.us/roadrule.htm
Driving Safety Tips in Any Kind of Weather
http://www.weather.com/activities/driving/drivingsafety/drivingsafetytips/tipIndex.html
2. Need to Have Your Fall 2011 Health Insurance Fee Adjusted?
If you are a funded graduate student who has enrolled in employee health insurance and needs an adjustment to your Fall 2011 health insurance fee, please request the adjustment by using the on line form available at:
http://www2.binghamton.edu/isss/health-insurance/waiverinfo.html
Please note that the deadline for requesting an adjustment of your Fall 2011 health insurance is December 1, 2011.
Questions about your international health insurance? Come to walk-in hours Tuesdays from 10:15am to 12 Noon, or send an email message to intl.insure@binghamton.edu
3. Registrar’s Office Reminds Students of Important Deadlines
Students who wish to withdraw from a course, change their grade option or apply for Fall 2011 graduation are reminded to complete the following steps by Friday, Oct. 28:
• Withdrawals: You may drop a class, but since the add/drop deadline has already passed, a “w” will appear on your transcript for the course grade when you withdraw. The deadline is 11:59 p.m. Friday, Oct. 28. For step-by-step instructions, visit the Registrar’s website at http://www2.binghamton.edu/registrar/students/course-registration/index.html
International students should remember that if dropping a class will take you below a full-time courseload, you risk being in violation of US immigration law unless you follow the appropriate procedures for seeking permission first. Read the information at:
http://www2.binghamton.edu/isss/immigration/lesscourse.html
• Grade Option Changes: To have your grading option for a course changed (either from a letter grade to pass/fail or vice versa) you must print and complete the Grade Option Change form available at http://www.registrar.binghamton.edu
and drop it off at the Student Records Office, Student Wing, Room 119, between 9:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 28.
• Application for Undergraduate Degree for fall 2011: Undergraduate candidates planning to graduate this semester must submit this online form available on BU Brain by 11:59 p.m. Friday, Oct. 28.
4. Spring 2012 Course Schedule Available On-line Later This Week; Advance Registration Starts November 2 and 3
The Spring 2012 schedule of classes will be available on line later this week at http://bubrain.binghamton.edu. After logging in, select “detailed schedule of classes” and then “Spring 2012: under “search by term. Or, you can view the schedule without logging in:
https://buonline.binghamton.edu/banner/bwckschd.p_disp_dyn_sched The on line version is the most up to date and accurate source of course information and is the only published version of the Schedule of Classes.
Currently enrolled graduate students can register for courses for the Spring 2012 term beginning Wednesday, November 2. Currently enrolled undergraduate students can register for courses beginning Thursday, November 3. Online registration in BU Brain will be available seven days a week until pre-registration ends on Friday, December 9.
*Students are assigned starting times (called "Time Tickets" in Banner) for registration according to their total completed cumulative credit. This does NOT include in progress courses. To know the earliest starting time for Spring 2012 early registration for your credit level, visit: http://registrar.binghamton.edu/registration.htm You may log into BU BRAIN to view your personal registration start time. Just click on Student Tab, then Registration, then My Registration Status.
Financial obligations and missing health forms will block registration: Students with outstanding financial obligations to the university and students who have not submitted a health form to the Health Services office will be blocked from registering. Students may view their account balances and pay any outstanding debts through the BU BRAIN. Find the “student tools” menu, click on the student accounts menu, click on "QuikPAY-Web Payments" and re-enter your user id and password. Then, click on “view accounts” to view your bill.
Please note: release of financial holds will not occur until the next business day.
Accessing your schedule: You can view and print your schedule online by logging into the BU BRAIN. Room assignments shown online are the most accurate and up to date, but know that these assignments are subject to change.
Credit limit: The maximum number of credits you may register for each semester is 18 credits. This includes any HPEY or MUSP credits and is enforced, no matter your GPA. If you seek to register for more than 18 credits, please follow your school's procedure for petitioning for an overload.
5. Workshop for Undergraduates: How to Choose a Major on Wednesday, October 26
Are you an undergraduate student who is not sure about their major, or doesn’t know which major to select? Don't be afraid of choosing a major ... we will help you navigate the web of options! This interactive workshop for undecided students will take place from 4-5 p.m. Wednesday, October 26, in University Union West Room325. Co-sponsored by the Career Development Center and Harpur Academic Advising. Contact aserboni@binghamton.edu if you have questions about the presentation.
6. 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-Fall2011-10.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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