Friday, April 18, 2008

Earth Day Cleanup

Last year, 150 students and Syracuse residents gathered together to pick up litter in the University neighborhood. At the end of the day, the Department of Public Works removed over 75 bags of trash.

This year’s County Wide Earth Day Cleanup is scheduled for April 26. It is being sponsored by the Office of Orientation and Off-Campus Programs, the Onondaga County Resource Recovery Agency, and the Office of Government & Community Relations.  Volunteers will meet at the Erwin First United Methodist Church (920 Euclid Ave.) to work from 10:30 a.m.-1:00p.m. Lunch from ZJ’s Pizza and Wings will be provided. Interested volunteers should register online.

MayFest After Dark International Festival

Indulge your craving for international culture and support local talent this MayFest by attending the International Festival. Performances will include: Korean Drum Team, Hapkido Martial Arts, Turkish Tango Group, SU Zinda, Latin American songs sung by Santiago Bueno, ODESA Ukrainian Dance Group, Ukrainian songs sung by Iryna Bilotserkivska, and the ADANFO African Drum Team. More information…

Day: Tuesday, April 22
Time: 6-8 p.m.
Location: Grant Auditorium, College of Law

OPT 17 Month STEM Extension Update

Since the last issue of SCIS News, the Slutzker Center has added additional resources to our website regarding the recent changes to OPT regulations. We will continue to update our website as information becomes available. Two links have been added indicating CIP codes that meet the STEM degree program criteria for the 17 month OPT extension provision and presently do not meet the criteria.
The Slutzker Center is working diligently with the University to determine if it is possible to re-classify the ineligible degrees for current students; this is an involved process that extends beyond the jurisdiction of the Slutzker Center and thus we cannot provide any indication as to if this will occur and how long such a process will take. We are unable to re-classify students who have already completed their degree program and are currently on OPT. If there is a regulation change that would allow for such re-classification or extends eligibility to CIP codes that are currently ineligible, we will include that information on our website and in an SCIS News publication.

Full-Time On-Campus Employment Over the Summer

On-campus employment is limited to 20 hours per week during the academic semester and may be increased to full-time employment (more than 20 hours/week)  during approved winter, spring, and summer breaks. The 20 hour limitation applies to all international students (including RA's, TA's, and GA's) unless additional employment has been authorized by the USCIS or Slutzker Center (e.g., CPT). More information…

Approved University breaks when full-time on-campus employment is acceptable:

Summer: May 8 through and including August 24, 2008

Winter: December 12, 2008 through and including January 11, 2009

Spring: March 8, through and including March 15, 2009

Midnight Pancake Breakfasts

On April 30 and May 4, Student Centers and Programming Services and the Office of Student Life will launch a new Syracuse University tradition: the Midnight Pancake Breakfast. Students are invited to take a stress-busting break, hang out with friends, get a picture taken with Otto, and get some good food. 

April 30, 2008
Schine Student Center Dining
10 p.m.-2 a.m.
breakfast foods available for $4.99 with supercard

May 4, 2008
Goldstein Student Center Dining
10 p.m.-2 a.m.
breakfast foods available for $4.99 with supercard

Student Centers and Programming Services and the Office of Student Life ask you to share this invitation with students, and invite you to assist as a volunteer. Volunteer shifts run from 9:30 p.m.-midnight and midnight-2 a.m.

Please email Courtney Jones at cejone02@syr.edu by April 23 if you are interested in assisting, indicating which shift or shifts you are willing to serve.

Ten Tons of Love

Ten Tons of Love is Syracuse University and SUNY ESF's annual food and clothing drive. Last year over 20 tons of donated goods were collected. The drive runs from April 29-May 16, 2008. Ten Tons of Love is only possible with the assistance of many volunteers, like you, to help load, move and sort all the donated items. To volunteer…

Don’t Know What To Do With Your Trash and Unwanted Items?

Before you move out of your apartment, be sure to ask your landlord where you should place any trash or other unwanted items you may have.  The City is working to expedite trash collection in the area to maintain the cleanliness of the neighborhood while students move out of their apartments for the summer. 

Remember to place trash in cans provided to you by your landlord.  If your landlord has not provided cans, please use 30-gallon trash cans or clear trash bags.  Trash cans should not be put out prior to 8:00 p.m. the night before collection and should be removed by 7:00 p.m. on collection day.  Place recyclable materials in the blue collection bin provided to you.  Break down any cardboard boxes and separate newspapers from plastics and aluminum.  If you have any questions regarding trash collection or removal call 448-CITY.

Due to the success of last year’s donation drive, this year’s drive has been expanded and simplified.  The campus-wide donation drive, Ten Tons of Love will be held Friday, May 2nd to Friday, May 16th.  Students that wish to participate can donate the following used items in good condition:

Donations can be dropped off at the Office of Orientation and Off-Campus Programs at 754 Ostrom Ave, or students can call 443-1012 or email OOCP@syr.edu to schedule a pick up.  Good used items will be given to Catholic Charities, the Interreligious Council Refugee Resettlement Project and St. Vincent DePaul.

-- Office of Orientation and Off-Campus Programs

SIFE Is Seeking International Students

SIFE (Students In Free Enterprise) is an organization that works to better the Syracuse community by helping people with social and economic need. We have 10 ongoing projects and work weekly on each of these projects. Our projects range in topics from financial literacy, to teaching GED students, to helping women in Guatemala sell products, and helping to teach English to Refugees. We would love to have International students attend the meeting and become involved in the club! For more information contact:safogal@syr.edu /(570)-778-4387.
 
English Conversation Opportunity

Anyone (students, scholars, or spouses), interested in improving their informal English language skills during the final weeks of this semester or during the summer months, is invited to apply for the weekly meetings of the English Conversation program.

Please come to the front desk at the Slutzker Center to apply for the program by filling out the blue request form; the form must be received by May 1, 2008.

For more information contact: Riet DeKleermaeker, Coordinator of the English Conversation Program.

Support the American Heart Association

Several members of the Slutzker Center staff will be participating in the 2008 Syracuse Heart Walk at Long Brach Park this Saturday, April 19. We invite you to join the Slutzker Center in our support of the American Heart Association (AHA) and their mission: "Building healthier lives, free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke." by stopping by the Slutzker Center for International Services to purchase a red AHA support bracelet ($2) and/or an AHA donation heart ($1). For additional information, please contact Lynn Dunyk.