Spring 2015

International Center

P2. .…. Message From Director

P2 …... Welcome from CSN Staff

P3 ….... Academic News

P3 ….... Maintaining Status

P3 …… Employment News

P4 …… Registration

P5 …… Workshops

P5 …… Graduation

P6 …… Scholarships & Contests

P7 …… Involvement Opportunities

P8 ….... ISO

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NEWSLETTER

Dear International Students,

Did you know there are five stages of change? These stages include pre-contemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, and

maintenance (American Psychological Association, December 3, 2003). I think the most interesting is the first stage because it says a

lot about a person’s opinion and response to change in general. As reasonable adults we know that change is inevitable, right? Logi-

cally, there are just too many variables affecting our daily routines to make our life 100% predictable. So why then, if we know that

change is inevitable, is it so hard to adapt to it? That question wanders through my head on a daily basis. I love change when I can

control it or choose it, but not so much when it is imposed on me, or it happens unexpectedly. If you feel the same, I invite you to

join me for coffee/tea to talk about this and other larger than life matters on Thursdays at 9:30am in Bldg D-Student Center lobby.

Until then, Hakuna Matata. I hope you get what you want and if you don’t I hope you gush over what you

get.

Sincerely,

Mary Sasso

International Center Director

Welcome from CSN Staff

My name is Kalli Getachew, I am a new front desk student-worker here at the International Center. I

have attended College of Southern Nevada for almost a year now and I love it. I was born and raised in

Sweden, moved to study in Los Angeles, CA for a couple of years and now I am here in Las Vegas,

NV. I must say, I have never felt as welcomed as I have here at CSN when asking for help and advice

from the staff at the International Center. From personal experience, I am aware of the challenges one

might face, being far away from home and trying to adjust to a new environment is not easy. Becoming

an International Student in a foreign country has not only helped me to succeed academically, but it has

helped me to grow tremendously as a person, and that in itself has been a great experience. So, I hope

that all of you new International Students & old International Students alike help provide support for

each other. Always feel free to stop by the International Center, and I hope you all have a great semes-

ter and experience here at CSN!

Hello! First, I would like to welcome all international students to College of Southern Nevada. My name is Shane Dick and I am

an English as a Second Language instructor. It is likely many of you are already familiar with me as I am also the ESL Placement

Testing Coordinator.

My journey to CSN started very much as your study abroad journey is now. As a college freshman,

I studied Mandarin Chinese and later attended prestigious Beijing University (Bei Da) for one se-

mester. A memorable story involves my very first day in China. I woke up early in my dorm at Bei

Da and went out to explore the city of Beijing. I walked for hours and saw many great sites: exten-

sive alley-way neighborhoods called hutongs, long corridors of street markets and vendors, stun-

ning architectural structures, and beautiful scenery including a lake called Weiminghu (No Name

Lake). I returned to my room that evening quite satisfied with what I had seen of Beijing. The fol-

lowing day, I met up with my study abroad group for a field trip. Rather quickly, we exited through

one of the university’s gates and were immersed in the bustling metropolis of Beijing. Knowing I

had not exited through a gate the day before, I realized I was only now leaving the Bei Da campus

for the first time. Though I had spent hours the day before observing all of the elements of a sustainable city within the walls of

Beijing University, the city of Beijing itself was still very much ahead of me.

Living abroad for this brief time was mesmerizing and enlightening. After graduating with a degree in East Asian Studies, I re-

turned to Beijing. I attended Beijing Language Institute (now Beijing Language and Culture University) and began my career as a

language teacher. I taught English for a variety of programs in Beijing including

private and public schools. Later, I taught English for programs in Seoul and Pusan,

South Korea and also near Fukuoka, Japan. In all, I lived in East Asia for 12 years.

My experiences abroad, particularly those related to language and culture, reflect in

the connections I make with students today at CSN. Living in the unique city of Las

Vegas is a journey that I look forward to sharing with you!

Sincerely,

Shane Dick

ESL Professor

p. 2

Academic News

Registration for the summer and fall semesters will be here before you know it. If your GPA is below 2.0 or if you are not doing

well this semester you should schedule an appointment with an advisor and plan your schedule in a way that will help you raise

your GPA by repeating courses. Starting last fall students are being placed on Academic Warning for a semester if their GPA is

below 2.0. This designation does not appear on your transcripts. If you fail to raise your GPA at the end of the next semester while

on Academic Warning, you will be placed on Academic Probation. This is noted on your official transcripts. While on Academic

Probation, if you again fail to achieve a semester GPA of 2.0 or higher, you will be placed on Academic Suspension. For F-1 stu-

dents this means that you need to transfer out for at least three semesters as you are not permitted to be a full-time student during

that time.

Meet with an advisor if you are having academic difficulty, and seek assistance from the many support services offered at CSN

such as the tutoring center, writing center, and retention center. You can also visit the International Office to join the Academic

Support Group offered by our office.

The best way to avoid finding yourself in any of these situations is to attend classes regularly. Instructors are no longer permitted to

give students a grade of W at the end of the course so as not to affect your GPA. They must instead give students a grade of F

which does adversely affect your GPA.

Academic News | Maintaining Status | Employment News p. 3

Maintaining Status Maintain full time status each Fall and Spring semester. As an international student, you are required to enroll for a mini-

mum of 12 credits and only one online class can count toward those credits. On your last semester if you only need to take one class

to complete your degree, you cannot take that class online.

Make sure your I-20 is current. An expired I-20 means that you are out-of-status. Please remember to schedule an appointment

with an international student advisor to discuss extension of your I-20 if necessary.

Make sure your passport is current for at least six months into the future. Passpor ts must be cur rent in order for F-1 stu-

dents to be in status. An expired passport means that you are out-of-status. It is highly recommended that passports be valid at

least 6 months at all times.

Travel Reminder. If you are traveling out of the country after the Spr ing 2015 semester , you must be registered for the

Summer and/or Fall 2015 semester BEFORE you can get a travel signature. Please make sure you have a valid I-20, passport and

visa and do not wait until the last minute of your travel date to get a travel signature. It is always a good idea to meet with an advi-

sor.

Maintaining your status is your responsibility as an F-1 student. If you have any concerns or need to schedule an appointment with

an advisor please call 702-651-5820.

Employment News Recently our office received reminders from USCIS to remind international students about F-1 Student Employment regulations.

This is to alert you that the U.S. Government takes illegal employment very seriously, so it is important that you:

Consult with International Center advisors before starting any type of employment

Have a letter of employment and a letter verifying the approved employment from the

International Center

Obtain authorization on your I-20 before starting your CPT or OPT.

If we are aware that you are working without authorization, we are required to terminate your SEVIS record and you will be re-

quired to leave the U.S. immediately.

Keep in mind international students have the opportunity to work in these areas:

On-Campus Employment (you must maintain academic status, have a job offer letter and consult with an advisor)

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) (you must first meet with an advisor, and then you must register for the practical train-

ing/internship class according to your major)

Optional Practical Training (OPT) (you must first meet an advisor, and if you are approved for OPT you can work for one

year after you complete your degree).

SUMMER 2015 REGISTRATION

The spring health insurance policy covers spring semester and summer session (through 8/15/15). Do not purchase insur-

ance for summer session.

April 1, 2015 Summer priority online registration begins for currently enrolled students only

May 4, 2015 Tuition due for early registration

June 1, 2015 Summer session begins

Registration

Summer and fall dates and deadlines will soon be available at www.csn.edu/pages/660.asp

FALL 2015 REGISTRATION & HEALTH INSURANCE

All students must purchase health insurance before registering for classes.

May 4, 2015 Fall priority online registration begins for currently enrolled students only

July 2015 Tuition due for early registration (date to be determined)

August 24, 2015 Fall semester begins

Go to studentinsurance.wellsfargo.com/~csn

Click on College of Southern Nevada.

Click on Enroll in the Student Health Insurance Plan.

Pay for the Fall term policy (8/15/15 – 1/15/16).

Once your health insurance is paid for, the International Center will receive an email confirmation. We will remove the hold

from your MyCSN account so you can register for classes.

WHEN CAN I ENROLL?

To register for classes, log on to your MyCSN account and check your enrollment appointment. Your en-

rollment appointment is the date and time that you can register for classes. This appointment is assigned to

you according to the Priority Registration Schedule. If you prefer to register with an advisor in our office,

call us at 702-651-5820 to schedule an appointment.

p. 4

All Graduating International Students

The end of your academic year is coming quickly and it is time to start thinking about Practical Training. All F-1 graduating

students with an emphasis in any degree and in good status are eligible to request an Employment Authorization Document for

practical training. If you are graduating this Spring or Summer 2015 and you are interested in applying for OPT, you are re-

quired to attend a workshop.

Three sessions are scheduled for you to choose from:

Wednesday, March 4th, 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. D-218

Tuesday, March 24th, 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. C-222

Monday, April 6th 3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. D-218

If you are looking for employment, a good resume is something you’ll need to make your job hunting process easier. During

this workshop, we will provide you with information on writing resumes, cover letters and how to interview. If you have any

questions, please contact Aster Yehdego at 702-651-5824.

Workshops | Graduation | Upcoming Events p. 5

Optional Practical Training (OPT) Workshop!

Tax Workshops!

Do I have to file a federal income tax return?

Yes! All students on F -1 visas are required to file a special supplemental statement, IRS form 8843 every year regardless of

whether you have worked or not worked. If you had any U.S source of income in 2014, you must file your tax return on IRS

Form 1040NR or Form 1040NR-EZ and Form 8843. If you moved to the U.S. before 2014 and did not earn any income, you

only need to file Form 8843.

Two sessions are scheduled for you to choose from: Wednesday, March 11th, 3:30 – 4:30 p.m., D-218

Friday, April 3rd, 1:30 – 2:30 p.m., D-218

During this workshop we will provide you with information why you need to file and how to file IRS tax return forms. Please

note that we are not tax consultants or experts therefore the IC staff will not be able to help you with any tax forms. Be-

cause filling out tax returns is very confusing, we recommend checking International Student Taxes (ISTAXES) web site at

www.istaxes.com. ISTAXES has developed an online Tax return preparation system to help you in completing your forms. The

deadline to file taxes is April 15th.

Spring 2015 Graduation Application deadline is March 6, 2015

Commencement is scheduled for May 18, 2015. If you are planning to par ticipate, you need

to buy your cap and gown at the CSN bookstore. Commencement will be held at UNLV Thomas

and Mack Center.

Spring 2015

Award Ceremony Attention Graduates and Student Leaders

The International Center and ISO will be hosting a reception to

honor the graduates and student leaders on Friday, May 8, 2015.

More information on this event will be posted at the IC office

Scholarships | Contests p. 6

International students attending CSN are not eligible for any federal or state financial aid programs. However, CSN offers Schol-

arships for all students including international students. The CSN Scholarship application for Fall 2015 and Spr ing 2016

will be available beginning February 17, 2015. The financial aid office will determine what scholarships you are eligible for.

CSN encourages all students to apply for these prestigious, though limited, awards. The information you provide in the scholar-

ship application will be reviewed by the CSN Scholarship Committee for many different measurements of scholarship including

academic excellence (GPA), program of study, leadership, community service experience, financial need, and written or oral

communication. More information and application forms for CSN Scholarships can be obtained online at: http://www.csn.edu/

admissions/aid/options/scholarships.asp.

Varieties of scholarships are available throughout other web sites. A word of caution: We recommend that you don’t apply if a

scholarship has an application fee. If you have to pay money to get money, it may be a scam.

The following is a list of web sites with information on scholarships and fellowships. This list is not a complete list, however it

can help you with your search.

Fastweb.com: www.Fastweb.com

The Foundation Center: http://foundationcenter.org

Grantsnet: www.grantsnet.org

National Science Foundation: www.nsf.gov

SRA International: www.srainternational.org

National Endowment for the Humanities: www.neh.gov/grants/

International Scholarships: www.internationalscholarships.com

International Education Financial Aid: www.iefa.org

Rotary International: www.rotary.org

InternationalStudent.com: www.internationalstudent.com

International Student Loans: www.internationalstudentloan.com

Institute of International Education: www.iie.org

Enter your essay to win a free trip to New York

and speak at the United Nations

For more information go to:

http://www.els.edu/en/ManyLanguagesOneWorld

Essay submission deadline: Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Scholarship Opportunities!

Explore Other Upcoming CSN Events and Opportunities

Go to this website: http://www.csn.edu/pages/2607.asp

Essay Contest 1st Place Prize $2500.00

For more information go to:

http://www.narrativemagazine.com/winter-2015-story-contest

Orientation Leaders

Every semester the International Center needs your assistance with the New Student Orientation. Please volunteer

your time and in return meet new students, better your leadership skills and have fun. Lunch is provided. If you want

to be part of the Orientation Leader Team, please e-mail Luis Ortega at: luis.ortega@csn.edu or call (702) 651-5823

New Student Orientation Dates

Summer: May 18th and 19th.

Fall: August 10th and 11th

2nd Orientation: August 17th.

Opportunities to Get Involved | Student Groups p. 7

Big Brother Big Sister

The International Center needs your help welcoming new students. We started a program named “Big Brother Big

Sister” in the summer of 2014. To be part of this volunteer opportunity, you need to have completed at least one se-

mester at CSN and have the desire to be a mentor to new students. In addition, this is a great opportunity to network

and develop long lasting relationships. Please contact Luis Ortega for additional information: luis.ortega@csn.edu,

702-651-5823.

The purpose of this group is to learn more about the American Culture, discuss your academic challenges that you

might be experiencing in a non-judgmental environment, learn relaxation techniques, and share your worldview expe-

riences with other students. In addition, learn more about the “dating game” in the United States. This group will be

starting on March 5, 2015. The place of meeting is Building B Lobby. If you need additional information, please con-

tact Luis Ortega at: luis.ortega@csn.edu, or 702-651-5823

Global Ambassadors

Academic Support Group

Do you have a strong passion for understanding cultures? Do you enjoy making friends and learning about different coun-

tries? Are you looking for an opportunity to expand your global knowledge? Then becoming a Global Ambassador may be

just the thing for you!

Global Ambassadors (GAs) are leaders among their peers and enthusiastically enrich the college experience for all students

through various activities. Since International students are sometimes overwhelmed with the amount of information they

receive as they enter the U.S. and enroll in school, GAs make their transition easier by sharing information on resources and

tips on studying, courses and university life. GA activities include: showing students how to get around Las Vegas, how to

navigate the campus and where they can shop for groceries, books or dorm supplies, and making them feel at home by intro-

ducing them to potential friends, inviting them to a sporting event or the movies.

Global Ambassador Training starts Wednesday, February 25th in room C212 from 2PM to 5PM and is followed by two

more sessions on the following Wednesdays. Ambassadors are eligible for recognition through CSN Serves as

well. Make the most of your time here at CSN and make a difference for others. For more information contact Mary at

mary.sasso@csn.edu or Lester at lester.tanaka@csn.edu.

International Student Organization p. 8

Hello everyone,

First of all, the International Student Organization wants to give a big thanks to all of the students who have been involved with

ISO. It was because of your involvement and enthusiasm that ISO is one of the best student clubs at CSN. For the Spring 2015

semester we will have weekly meetings every Thursday at 1:00pm in Building D– Room 216, so come join us!!!

ISO encourages you to make the most out of your college experience and time here in the U.S. Getting involved in on-campus and

off-campus activities will provide you with opportunities that you won’t always get in the classroom.

The benefits of getting involved with ISO include:

CHECK THIS OUT!

In the near future there will be multiple opportunities

for you to get more involved with ISO by becoming a

club officer. There will be several officer openings for

the Fall 2015 semester which include:

ISO Club President

ISO Club Vice President

ISO Secretary

For more information email nicholas.snead@csn.edu

Making More Friends

Having More Fun

Learning New Things

Meeting More Domestic Students

Learning About Different Cultures

Sharing Your Culture With Others

Relieving Stress

Increasing Your Physical Fitness

Networking

Helping Others

Personal Development

Free Cookies

How Do I Join ISO? It’s Simple!

All you have to do is show up to at least one of our events! That’s it. Of course we want you to come to all of our

wonderful events, but we know how busy your life can be with school and other things.

You can also join ISO by sending us a friend-request on Facebook!

www.facebook.com/csnisoclub

International Center Contact Info International Center 6375 West Charleston Blvd, WCD106 Las Vegas, Nevada 89146 Phone: (702) 651-5820 Fax: (702) 651-5821 Email: iss@csn.edu Website: www.csn.edu/pages/577.asp CSN is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action institution.

For more information, visit http:///www.csn.edu/nondisccrimination

Copies of the newsletter are available in our office.

If you don’t have Facebook, get it. Just kidding! If you don’t have a

Facebook account or want info just email nicholas.snead@csn.edu