NC STATE UNIVERSITY
OIS
Office of International Services
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Sample HelpDesk Ticket
OIS Develops Online HelpDesk & FAQ
In an effort to improve our services and to increase the amount of information to all our customers (students, scholars, applicants, staff, and faculty), the OIS staff have been working this past year to select, develop, and test an online system of logging, processing, tracking and reporting the thousands of requests we receive each month. This will allow OIS advisors to more easily track and process applications and requests, but it will also allow customers to submit most requests online, receive a dated acknowledgement of receipt with further instructions, check the status of their request 24/7, and be electronically notified when the process or document is complete. This system also includes a large number of commonly asked questions and answers (with links to additional information or relevant forms) known as the OIS Knowledgebase. OIS will hold training sessions for students throughout the summer and fall (dates and places will be in the May
Newsletter
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
End of Year Celebration
Join us April 29th at Talley Student Center for a fun end of the year celebration. Take a break from studying and writing and join OIS staff along with hundreds of other international students to celebrate the end of the academic year. This is a chance to say congratulations and good-bye to those who are leaving and to recognize all the hard work that we all have accomplished this past year. We will provide free food, snacks, hors d’oeuvres and soft drinks. We will also be playing some fun games and unveiling the new OIS Website at this event. Free – immediate family members and academic advisors are welcome. Date: Wednesday, April 29, 2009 Time: 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM Place: Plaza (North Lawn) of Talley Student Center (rain site is in the ballroom & galleries)
Fall Orientation Volunteers Needed
It’s that time of the year again! While April means warmer weather for many of our international students, it’s also time for Fall 2009 Orientation volunteers recruitment! The Office of International Services is looking for students and scholars who would like to help welcome new international students to NC State for the Fall semester. Whether you just arrived this semester or you have been here for a while, the new students will need your help! We are currently looking for Small Group Leaders to help answer pre-arrival questions and guide students through Orientation, as well as Check In Volunteers to serve as the first friendly faces at NC State. There are opportunities for everyone to get involved! Please contact Lauren at: Lauren_Ball@ncsu.edu for more information on how you can help. Small Group Leader applications are due by 5 PM on Friday April 17th.
12th Annual Service Raleigh
Address Change
OIS Spotlight
Global Training Initiative
Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
Optional Practical Training (OPT)
End of Academic Year Reminders
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12th Annual Service Raleigh
As part of the 12th Annual Service Raleigh, eight OIS volunteers braved grey skies and a threat of rain to work in a low-income neighborhood on Saturday March 28th. Although they were only a portion of the nearly 2000 Service Raleigh volunteers, the group made a notable impact on the Raleigh community. For their project, volunteers partnered with the Downtown Housing Improvement Corporation (DHIC). This particular organization refurbishes area housing to create affordable living communities for some of Raleigh’s low income families. Working together, DHIC representatives and OIS volunteers cleaned a local stream that runs through a neighborhood in southeast Raleigh. The weather cooperated and volunteers were able to work until lunchtime when DHIC generously provided a pizza lunch. By actively and visibly cleaning the areas lining the stream, DHIC hopes that our volunteers have set an example for their tenants and that the stream can be a public area enjoyed by everyone. Similarly, through the work of our volunteers, DHIC representatives were able to see the selflessness of NC State’s international students. Thanks to all who volunteered and used their Saturday to help others!
Volunteers clean areas in the neighborhood.
Address Updates
The University’s changes to the Student Information System earlier this semester have resulted in many name and address updates that have since been passed on to the OIS databases. Since name and address are reportable items in the SEVIS system it is crucial that all F-1 and J-1 students confirm their name and address entry in the University records system. Please log into the MyPack Portal and confirm your name and address today – we have noticed hundreds of changes and your record may have been affected. order for your information to be passed successfully to our office and ultimately to the Department of Homeland Security. Here is how you can do that: Once you log in to the portal, you should - Click on Student Self Service - Then Click on Campus Personal Information - Then Click on Addresses - Choose Add a new address & fill out your local address & contact information. - Click OK - Then Select Physical Address - Save your updates.
We have included a link to an image so that "Local Address" is labeled Physical Address on you can see exactly what the screen will look the Address screen within MyPack Portal. like in the MyPack portal when you Add a New Address, and select the Physical option. It is important that you select the Physical Ad- http://www.ncsu.edu/oisss/images/ dress check box after adding a new address in PhysicalAddressImage.jpg
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Meet . . . . Diane Armstrong
Tell us a little about yourself. I recently moved to Raleigh from Austin, Texas and I'm a Graduate student in the International Studies Program in the College of Humanities & Social Sciences. Prior to moving here, I advised study abroad and international students for 2 1/2 years at St. Edward's University in Austin, Texas. What do you do at OIS? What are your primary responsibilities? I spend a lot of my time here processing applications for employment authorization. I also present the CPT/OPT information sessions and assist with general student advising. What made you want to work at OIS? (or why did you choose international education as your career?) I began working in international education as a 'peer advisor' to study abroad students when I was 19. In the years since then, I have gradually gravitated toward international student advising, preferring to help international students adjust to life in the U.S. As for working in OIS, as excited as I was about starting graduate school, I knew I would really miss working with international students. It was a happy coincidence that OIS was looking for a graduate student to help out. What is the best (most interesting, etc.,) part of your job? Working with students from such diverse academic programs. What is a challenging or difficult part of your job? Working part-time. I sometimes miss being a full-time advisor. What do you think you will be doing five or ten years from now? I hope to still be working in international education. Maybe sometime in the next 5 years I can find a job that will take me overseas for a few years. Where are a few places you’ve traveled? Places I've traveled: Spain, Peru, Costa Rica, Mexico
OIS Spotlight
GTI—Global Training Initiative
Last year, we introduced the Global Training Initiative (GTI) to the international student and scholar community at NC State. The study and research programs have grown tremendously this past year and we have developed two new programs that we would like to share with you. Although current students and scholars are not eligible for the GTI programs (other than the GTI 401 Colloquium on US Culture and Education course which is offered to all first semester students), you may have friends, siblings, colleagues, and others in your social or professional circles that would love to come to NC State for a short-term program. Our one semester certificate study programs allow international students to take NC State classes for credit for one semester. The GTI Professional Training Program facilitates workshops or brief training programs for young leaders in business, government, and academia. The new research and intern programs allow students at overseas partner schools to engage in fulltime research or internships on campus or in a nearby company or agency. Do you know someone who might be interested? Send them to www.ncsu.edu/gti and have them apply for one of the GTI programs online. Applications are still being accepted for Summer and Fall.
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CPT Information Sessions Dates
The spring semester is usually the most active time of year for curricular practical training (CPT) applications for students who would like to begin employment in the summer session. All students must attend one of the CPT information sessions offered by OIS and the Cooperative Education Office (COOP) in order to begin the CPT application process.
All sessions will begin promptly at 11:00 a.m.
Coming Soon:
April 10 (Friday)
434 Daniels Hall
May 8 (Friday)
434 Daniels Hall 301 Clark Hall 434 Daniels Hall 301 Clark Hall
April 14 (Tuesday) 301 Clark Hall April 24 (Friday) 434 Daniels Hall
May 12 (Tuesday) May 22 (Friday) May 26 (Tuesday)
April 28 (Tuesday) 301 Clark Hall
Optional Practical Training The New OIS Website
Spring is also a peak time for Optional Practical Training (OPT) application processing with the US CIS Service Centers. Please remember that the Service Center has 90 days to process the application for OPT, so apply early! Students must attend one of the OPT information sessions offered by OIS in order to begin the OPT application process. OPT information sessions are offered every Wednesday at 3:00 p.m. in Daniels Hall room 434. Please remember to arrive on time, as latecomers will not be admitted.
End of Academic Year Reminders
Program Extension: If your visa certificate expires in May and you need more time to complete your program, be sure to apply for a program extension beforehand. Check the OIS website for more information. Travel Abroad: If you travel abroad over the summer, be sure your travel documents are up to date and that we have endorsed your visa certificate for travel (endorsement is good for 12 months or the end date on the certificate). A valid visa will be required for re-entry (with the exception of those eligible for automatic visa revalidation)
OIS, Serving You...
Daniels Hall, Room 320 Office: 8a.m. - 5p.m. Walk-Ins: 2p.m.- 3p.m. Phone: (919) 515-2961 Fax: (919) 515-1402 Email:OIS@ncsu.edu www.ncsu.edu/oisss
Employment: Students in F-1 status who will continue to enroll at NC State next fall are permitted to work on campus throughout the summer. All off-campus employment must be authorized in advance. All J-1 students must obtain authorization from OIS for all on-campus or off-campus employment as it must be approved in SEVIS. Please contact OIS with your employment information before beginning any employment on campus. Reportable changes: If you change your major, change your address, change your visa type, change your level, add a minor, etc., you must report these to OIS so that we can update your SEVIS record. Procedures vary, but can be found on the OIS website or by contacting OIS. Best wishes and congratulations to all the students who are graduating. Please fill out the Departure Form on our website before leaving Raleigh.