Thursday, July 17, 2008
On-Campus Employment Seminar Scheduling Changes
Starting July 18, 2008, the weekly Friday On-Campus Employment Seminar time will change from noon to 9:30 a.m. Additionally, the On-Campus Employment seminar on Tuesday, August 5 will be held at 10 a.m.
A full listing of Slutzker Center seminar times and scheduling changes can be accessed on our Seminars webpage.
New International Students Will Start to Arrive Soon
The Slutzker Center for International Services is preparing to welcome the new international undergraduate and graduate students. Federal regulations permit new international students in F or J status to enter the United States as early as 30 days prior to the start date on their I-20 or DS-2019. The start date for this coming fall semester is August 25, 2008, the first day of classes. Thus, we expect new students to begin arriving as early as July 26. Please be aware that the two weeks prior to classes starting is typically the busiest arrival time in our office. Accordingly, if possible please plan ahead and stop into the Slutzker Center over the next two weeks with any immigration inquiries and requests to avoid the new student arrival crowds. Also if you meet or are assisting a new international student, please be sure to direct him/her to check-in at the Slutzker Center so we can formally welcome him/her to the campus.
Peer Assistants Needed To Help Incoming International Students
The Slutzker Center for International Services is currently accepting Peer Assistant volunteer applications for the Fall 2008 semester. We hope to arrange a team of Peer Assistants of culturally different backgrounds to assist new international students with the initial clearance process, answer questions about housing, and help students adjust to the college environment and life in the Syracuse community. We have an immediate need for a Korean-speaking Peer Assistant as our current team does not have any representatives with this language ability.
In addition to giving back to the University community, being a Peer Assistant provides a great opportunity to meet new international students, share your experiences, build your resume, and form new friendships.
If you are interested in becoming a peer mentor, please contact Fariba Rahmanzadeh at farahman@syr.edu.
Advisory for Travel within the United States Especially When Using Public Transportation
Recently, there has been heightened security not only at all border crossings, but also at bus terminals, train terminals, and airports throughout the United States; police from multiple agencies: federal, state and municipal, may be patrolling these areas and questioning people. The Slutzker Center has received reports that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers in Upstate New York (Buffalo, Rochester, Oswego and Syracuse) are on patrol at Amtrak train stations and Greyhound bus stations, as well as airports, and are legally permitted to stop and demand that any foreign national produce a passport and proof of legal status in the United States. Border officers can work within 100 miles of any US border, and the four upstate New York cities mentioned above fall within that distance. Similar patrols have been reported at New York City’s Penn Station and at the Greyhound Station in New York City’s Port Authority Bus Terminal. CBP officials have boarded busses and trains and have interviewed all individuals on board.
In view of this, you are urged to travel with the following documents regardless of your traveling distance and even if you are within New York State:
- Valid passport;
- Visa;
- I-94 card;
- SEVIS I-20 or DS-2019 with current travel signature (the signature should be no older than 6 months for travel to and re-entry from Canada);
- SU student ID card; and
- If applicable, receipt notices for any pending US Citizenship and Immigration Services applications (for employment authorization or a change of non-immigrant status).
A foreign national, including an international student, may be in legal status in the United States, but if the person does not have their passport and US immigration documents that prove his or her legal status with them when stopped by a CBP official, the student can be taken into custody and held until the documents can be produced, or be required to post bond.
Drouin Named First Team Academic All-American
Senior Jillian Drouin, an international student from Canada, was named to the to the ESPN Magazine Women’s Cross Country/Track & Field Academic All-America First Team. The honor is the second for Drouin in her career after being named to the first team in 2007. More information…
The Slutzker Center congratulates Jillian on this great accomplishment.