Records Office
International Student Handbook
Student Services
Services for International Students are located in the Counseling Center on the 1st floor of Main Hall. The phone number is 665-6245. This office can provide information and referrals for personal, social, and academic matters; University procedures; sponsorship of activities with international themes; and development of intercultural educational programs.
Information and forms pertaining to government rules, regulations and the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) are the responsibility of the Primary Designated School Official (PDSO) and the Designated School Official (DSO), located in the Records Office. You must report to this office when you first arrive on campus. The DSO and PDSO provide forms and information pertaining to I-20s, work permits, extensions of status and other government documents. The phone number is 665-6039 or 665-6040.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Regulations and Terminology
There are three separate Bureaus under the Department of Homeland Security.
Immigration regulations are administered by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS). These regulations can change frequently and can be very difficult to interpret. It is important for you to understand the immigration rules and become familiar with certain terminology. The USCIS does not consider ignorance of the law a legitimate reason for failing to obey it.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is responsible for investigations and enforcement of USCIS rules and regulations. They are also responsible for The Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), the WEB based computer system that tracks international students. The University of Montevallo is SEVIS compliant and is required to use this program to issue I-20s and track students.
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is responsible for US ports of entry, border patrol and customs service. They are responsible for security at the ports of entry and will check your papers when you come into the country. Often international visitors and students will be interviewed by officials with the CBP at the port of entry. Keep all your important documents (passport, visa, I-20, letter of admission to UM, and financial affidavits) with you so they will be available for review during the interview.
The DHS requires that a copy of all international student visa's I-94 cards, stamped I-20 and passports be included in the student's file. Students must report to the Records Office with their documents upon arrival to campus. Students are not allowed to register until copies of the required documents are on file in the Records Office. The Records Office, located on the 2nd floor of Palmer Hall, provides information about immigration regulations and certifications of student status.
Passport
Always keep your passport in a safe place. It is your most important document. Most passports are good for a limited period of time. The law requires that your passport be valid for at least six (6) months into the future at all times while enrolled as a student. Some countries have entered into agreements with the U. S. government acknowledging that a passport is valid for six months beyond the expiration date shown in the passport. It is your responsibility to remember when it will expire and contact the nearest Consulate or Embassy of your country. The amount of time required for a passport renewal varies per country. You may have to allow as much as several months for processing, so please plan ahead.
Visas
The visa stamped in your passport at the U. S. Consulate is for permission to enter the United States for a specific purpose and period of time. Students are usually given an F-1 visa. Spouses and children of F-1 visa holders are assigned an F-2 visa. Since the visa is only important for entry or re-entry to the U. S., there is no need to worry if your visa expires while you are here. If you need to leave the U. S. temporarily you will be required to update your VISA at a US Consulate before re-entering the USA.
People often confuse the term "visa", which gives a person permission to apply for entry to the U. S., and the terms "I-94", "Arrival-Departure Record", or "Permission to Stay". The latter terms refer to a person's permission to remain in the U. S. after having entered.
Other terms which may be confused with "visa" are "status" or "classification". The "visa" is stamped in the passport and is used for entering "classification". The type of visa stamped in the passport may not always be the same as the status or classification under which you are allowed to enter the U. S. For example, a person may enter the country on a B-2 "prospective student" visa and subsequently have his/her "status" changed to an F-1 student. A change of status is noted on the I-94 form. Therefore, the individual will have one type of visa and another type of status.
I-94 (Arrival/Departure Record)
The I-94 is the small card stapled to your passport at the port of entry to the United States. The I-94 indicates your immigration classification and endorsement made by the Immigration Office to indicate the date and place of admission to the U. S. and the initial period of authorized stay. Persons holding an F-1 visa, student status, usually have their I-94 stamped "D/S" (Duration of Status) which means that the student may remain in the United States to complete his/her studies, however long it takes. Applications for an extension of status must be made with the DSO, located in the Records Office. The student must follow all regulations of the student visa which includes remaining a full time student in good academic standing.
Extensions of stay must be filed on a timely basis in order to remain in the U. S. legally. If you plan to travel outside the U. S., you will need to have page 3 of the SEVIS I-20A-B signed by the DSO. The DSO’s signature is good for one year. So if you will not return before the DSO signature is one year old, you must report to the Records Office for an updated signature.
International students who leave the U. S. without a current DSO signature, often encounter difficulty and delays re-entering the US. Additional paperwork and documentation will be required by the INS once you re-enter the country and return to school.
I-20
Your SEVIS I-20 serves as your certificate of eligibility for nonimmigrant, student status when obtaining an F-1 visa. Once in the US it serves as identification as a foreign student on an F-1 visa. Keep this paper with your other immigration documents.
Duration of Status (D/S)
An F-1 student is considered in status for the entire length of time that full-time enrollment in an educational program is maintained, plus any authorized period of practical training. An additional sixty days to prepare for departure is also included.
Extension of Stay
Upon their initial admission to the U. S. most non-immigrants receive permission to stay in the country for a specified period of time. Persons wishing to remain in the U. S. beyond that time must apply, if eligible, for an extension of stay. The procedure for applying varies according to non-immigrant classification.
Departure
A non-immigrant who
is issued an I-94 card notifies the INS of
his/her departure from the U. S. by surrendering
the I-94 at the point of departure.
Voluntary
Departure Voluntary
departure is the permission granted at the
discretion of the USCIS for an
alien to depart voluntarily from the United
States at his/her own expense in lieu of
deportation Act 242 (b) and CFR 242.5. It is a means by which a person may avoid
the negative consequences of deportation by
leaving the U. S. voluntarily prior to the
deadline set by the USCIS. If voluntary departure has been granted,
the I-94 form will be endorsed "Voluntary
Departure" or "V/D", with the
date on which the departure is supposed to
occur. Voluntary
departure may be granted for various reasons. For example, if a non-immigrant student
has violated the terms of student status, he/she
may be permitted to remain in the U. S. to
complete an academic term before leaving the
country.
Employment
The Immigration and Nationality Act makes the assumption that F-1 students are here for the primary purpose of attending school. Employment in general is restricted. The following employment possibilities exist for F-1 students:
1. Undergraduate and graduate students may be employed in on-campus positions, if such employment will not interfere with the student's ability to carry a full program of study. Students may work up to 20 hours per week while school is in session and full time during school holidays. Students do not need to spend a particular period of time in F-1 status before this kind of employment can begin. Students are required to obtain a social security card from the Social Security Administration before beginning on campus employment. A copy of the social security card is required by the DSO located in the records office.
2. A graduate student may be employed on campus as a research assistant or teaching assistant with approval of the Primary Designated School Official (PDSO) located in the Records Office. The student will need a social security number obtained from the Social Security Office in Birmingham. Students can work for up to 20 hours per week while school is in session and full time during school holidays. Students do not need to spend a particular period of time in F-1 status before this kind of employment can begin.
3. A student may qualify for off-campus employment only if he has been in F-1 status for at least one academic year and can demonstrate an unforeseen change in financial circumstances which has arisen after admission to the U.S. and which makes it necessary to work for essential financial support. The student must apply to the USCIS through the DSO and must convince both that these requirements are met. If the application is successful, the USCIS will issue an Employment Authorization Document (EAD). The student is authorized to accept off-campus employment only after the USCIS has issued the EAD. Students may work for up to 20 hours per week while school is in session and full time during the school holidays.
4. A student may be authorized to be employed for "optional practical training" for a maximum period of twelve months. Generally this type of employment occurs after the student has graduated. Employment must be directly related to the student's academic studies and the appropriate paperwork completed. Applications and instructions for "optional practical training" are available from the DSO in the Records Office. Students who wish to remain in the U.S. for practical training after completion of studies must apply for the EAD 3 months prior to graduation.
***Many kinds of employment are not available to F-1 students. Jobs done in exchange for free room and board are not authorized unless the student has permission for off-campus employment because of economic need.
Unauthorized Employment When a foreign student accepts employment that is not authorized, such actions constitute serious violations of federal law and regulations. The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 makes it illegal for an employer to hire a foreign student not authorized for employment. It is a violation of status for an alien to accept employment without authorization. The foreign student who ignores the regulations faces serious consequences.
Health Insurance
There is no comprehensive free health care in the United States. International students at the University of Montevallo are required to purchase health insurance. Students may choose any health insurance carrier with whom they are comfortable. It is recommended that the insurance include repatriation and medical evacuation. The University of Montevallo has a policy written for UM students which typically includes repatriation and medical evacuation. Brochures are available at the Counseling Center and Health Center.
Transferring to Another School
An F-1 student may transfer to another school only after completing certain specified procedures required by the USCIS and both schools involved. Contact the DSO at your current school and at the school to which you plan to transfer for information.
Social Security Taxes
Foreign students who hold F-1 status do not pay social security tax if they are authorized to be employed. Any foreign student may obtain a social security number by applying in person to the local Social Security Administration with a passport and valid I-94 card, I-20 signed within one year by the DSO, and an enrollment verification signed by the Registrar and DSO. Processing time to receive a social security card varies. It should be noted and understood that possession of a social security card and number does not in itself constitute authorization to be employed. Employment of foreign students is regulated by the USCIS, not the Social Security Administration.
Federal Financial Aid
Foreign students in F-1 status are not eligible to receive federal financial aid in the form of Pell grants, federal work/study programs, guaranteed loans, and similar programs, as these programs are designed to serve citizens and residents of the United States.
Maintenance of Status for F-1 Students
Students admitted to the U. S. in F-1 status must fulfill certain obligations in order to maintain their status. A student must:
1. Have a passport which is kept valid at all times. (Some countries have an agreement with the U. S. that the passport is valid 6 months after the date of expiration.)
2. Attend the school which the student was authorized to attend.
3. Carry a full course load of study for 2
academic semesters each year.
- Graduate-at least 9 hours per semester
- Undergraduate-at least 12 hours per semester
4. Must notify DSO of any of the following:
A. Changes in permanent international
address
B. Changes in current US address
C. Name changes
D. Obtaining a U.S.
social security number (a copy of your new card
will be required)
E. Graduation date changes. Extensions must
be requested before the end date on the I-20
F. To request dropping below full time
status
G. Changes in degree or major
H. To request transfer to a new school
I. To request moving from one level to another at UM
(undergraduate to graduate)
5. Limit on-campus employment to 20 hours per week while school is in session, including academic employment pursuant to the terms of a scholarship, fellowship, or assistantship.
6. Refrain from unauthorized off-campus employment.
7. Have DSO's signature that is less than one year old on the I-20 that allow student to go to his/her home country and then return to the United State.
Academic Information
Keys
to Academic Success
The American academic
system differs from all others in the world. To succeed in it, you will need to learn
how it is organized and how it works. Listed below are some suggestions that
you should keep in mind as you begin your
studies. You
will learn more of the informal rules for
academic success as you undertake courses and
have the opportunity to talk with experienced
students in your field of study. The more discussion you have with
experienced students, the sooner you will be
able to develop a helpful understanding of the
way your academic department functions.
Understand the Student's Goal. In the American educational system, the best students are the ones with the highest grade-point averages (GPA). Getting the highest possible GPA means getting the highest possible grade in each class, not just those classes in which you have the greatest interest. Within each class, getting the highest possible grade means getting the highest possible mark on each assignment and examination. Academic success in the American system requires consistent, disciplined study for all assignments, examinations, and courses.
Evaluate Your Expectations. Keep in mind that a period of adjustment to a new educational system is necessary before you will be able to perform to the best of your ability. In general, foreign students earn lower grades during their first semester in this country. Then, as they become accustomed to the system and as their English improves, their grades improve.
Select Your Courses Wisely. Especially during your first semester, do not take more courses than necessary. Make sure you have a combination of more demanding and less demanding courses, rather than only "difficult" ones that require heavy amounts of work. When arranging your course schedule, consult not only with your academic advisor, but also with experienced students who are familiar with available courses and teachers. You may be tempted to take more courses than necessary in order to try to earn your degree faster. Sometimes the result of taking too many courses is discouragement and poor academic performance. You should be familiar with the "pass-fail" grade option and the procedures that allow for dropping and adding courses.
Work Hard from the Beginning. It is not possible, in the American system of higher education, to wait until the latter part of the semester to begin studying. If you do not begin studying on the first day of classes, you are likely to get behind and to experience academic difficulty.
Know How to Study. The study habits that were appropriate for the educational system in your country may not be appropriate in the United States. You may have to learn to approach your studies in a different way.
Talk with your Teachers. Teachers in the United States expect students to ask questions in class or immediately following the class. Teachers expect students to make appointments after class to discuss any problems they are having in the class.
Ask Questions. Any time you feel unsure of what is expected of you in a class, or you do not understand some aspect of the material being presented, ask the teacher and some of your fellow students about it. If you do not ask, it may be assumed that you understand everything or that you are not interested.
Understand the Assumptions Behind the Educational System. In the U. S. educational system you will find that education is viewed as an effort to acquire more information about and a greater understanding of things that are not yet known or understood by anyone.
In the U. S. you may also find that being able to memorize material is less important that being able to synthesize (that is, bring together and mix in a new way) material from other sources, developing your own ideas and viewpoints. U. S. faculty members tend to agree that learning how to approach studies independently and to develop one's own approaches and ideas is the most difficult task facing new foreign students. It is important for you to realize that differences exist between the U.S. and other educational systems and that you will have to adjust your thinking if you are going to succeed academically. Whether or not you personally accept the values of the education system here, you will have to act in accordance with them while you are here.
Understanding the Academic System
Goals of the Academic System - Broad Education. The American academic system as a whole, is intended to provide a broad education for as many people as possible. There is no screening examination which directs a student, at an early age, into an academic or non-academic area. A high proportion of the population completes secondary school - and secondary school is not as challenging as it is in countries where access to education is more limited. A high proportion of the population attempts some kind of post-secondary education - and post-secondary study, at the undergraduate level, is again not as challenging as it is in some other systems. You may be disconcerted to find that Americans who have completed many years of formal education do not seem as well educated as people at home who have had a comparable amount of education.
Specialization. The American educational system also produces specialists, people who have studied a limited range of topics in depth. Specialization comes later in the U. S. system than it does in most countries. It is not until the third or "junior" year of undergraduate work that students concentrate on their "major" field. There is further specialization in graduate work, especially as students undertake research for a thesis or dissertation.
Evaluation. It is considered important here to evaluate the work that students do. Therefore, there is a "grading system" which is used to rank and compare students' academic work. A student's grades receive considerable attention in competition for scholarships and fellowships, admission to universities and graduate schools, and jobs.
Conflicts of goals. There are many conflicts among these goals. For example, there is pressure for earlier and greater specialization as opposed to pressure for broader "humanistic" or "liberal arts" education. The grading system is considered by some people to be adverse to the development of a true appreciation of learning. As a result of the existence of these conflicts, there is constant change in the rules, procedures, and practices of the academic system.
The Semester System. The University of Montevallo operates on the semester system. The academic year includes Fall and Spring Semesters each 16 weeks long, a May Term, and two Summer Sessions of five weeks each.
Credits. The quantity of academic work a student completes at UM is measured in "credit hours" or "semester hours". One "credit hour" represents one clock hour of instruction per week for approximately 16 weeks. Two clock hours of laboratory time are considered equivalent to one hour of instruction. The number of credits a course is worth usually depends on the number of hours per week that it meets.
A student must earn a specified number of credits in order to graduate. This number varies for undergraduates and graduates. Information about graduation requirements can be found in the UM Bulletin. You can pick one up at the admissions office.
The Grading System. The quality of a student's academic work is measured by means of "grades". There are four "passing" grades, A, B, C and D. There is one failing grade, F. Each grade carries a designated number of "points" per credit, as follows:
Grade Definition Grade points
A Superior 4
B Above Average 3
C Average 2
D Below Average 1
F Failing 0
I Incomplete 0
W Withdrawn 0
IP In Progress 0
A student's "grade-point average" (GPA) is calculated by dividing the number of credits earned into the number of grade points earned. For example, if a student has taken three courses each for three hours of credits and the grades include one A, one B, and one C, the GPA would be a 3.00. The calculation is like this:
Grades Credits Points Total Points
A 3 multiplied by 4 = 12
B 3 multiplied by 3 = 9
C 3 multiplied by 2 = 6
--- ---
Total 9 27
The
"cumulative GPA" is the GPA a student
has earned for all studies undertaken at UM.
You
should refer to the UM Bulletin for further
information regarding the UM grading policy.
Each professor at the University has his or her own philosophy and methods of grading. Some use fixed grading scales, whereby each assignment or examination that is graded can receive a fixed maximum of points (e.g. 10 or 100), and the number of points accumulated at the end of the semester is converted into a letter grade (e.g. 450-500 points is an A). It is helpful to learn about the philosophy and method of grading that each professor uses.
Dropping Classes. Students should be aware that they have an option of dropping classes. Students who find that they are enrolled in too many classes or that one or more of their classes is exceedingly difficult can "drop" those classes and perhaps add others to replace them. The "drop-add deadline" is published in the UM Class Schedule. (Foreign students need to remember that U. S. Immigration regulations require them to be registered "full-time", which means being registered for at least 12 semester hours as an undergraduate or 9 semester hours as a graduate.)
It is the student's responsibility to maintain full- time status.
Graduation Requirements. Graduation requirements specify the number of credits you must earn, the minimum GPA you must achieve, and the distribution of credits you must have from among different departments or fields of study. In addition, it is necessary to "apply for graduation" when you near the time that you will be completing your graduation requirements. Since graduation requirements vary among the different colleges of UM, you should consult the UM Bulletin and your current Schedule of Classes for information. Questions can be addressed to your departmental office or to your academic advisor.
Academic Advisor. Your academic advisor is a faculty or staff member who helps you plan your program of studies in a way that will best enable you to fulfill your graduation requirements and at the same time tailor your studies to your interests.
Registration Procedures. The introductory section of your current UM Class Schedule gives information about such topics as registration procedures, deadlines for the payment of fees, supplementary regulations and student privileges. You should familiarize yourself with this material and registration information found in the UM Bulletin.
Students should refer to the current UM Bulletin for more specific academic information.
Methods of the Academic System
Lectures. The most common
method of instruction here is the classroom
lecture. The
lectures are supplemented by classroom
discussion, by reading assignments in textbooks
or library books and by periodic written
assignments.
At UM questioning
the teacher is viewed as a healthy sign of
interest, attention, and independent thinking,
especially if encouraged by the teacher. If you sit in "respectful"
silence, it might be assumed that you are not
interested in what is being said in the class,
or that you do not understand the information.
When classes are
too large to permit questions and discussions,
or if for some other reason you do not have the
opportunity to raise questions in class, you can
visit privately with teachers during their office
hours or make an appointment to see them. Teachers usually announce their office
hours during the first class meeting.
Seminars. The seminar is a typically small class. It is likely to be devoted entirely to
discussion. Students are often required to prepare
presentations for the seminar, based on their
independent reading or research.
Laboratories. Many courses require work in a
laboratory, where theory learned in a classroom
is applied to practical problems.
Term
Papers. In many courses you will be required to
write a "term
paper" (often called simply a
"paper"). A term paper is based on study or
research you have done in the library or
laboratory. Your teacher will usually assign a term
paper in the early part of the course. You are expected to work on it during the
semester, and submit it near the end. The grade you receive on the term paper may constitute a
significant portion of your grade for the
course. It is wise to complete term papers in advance of their due
date so there is time to ask another person to
review your paper and suggest revision.
There are books
available in bookstores which explain the format
of a term paper, including the use of footnotes
and bibliographies. If you have questions about a particular term paper
assignment, you should discuss them with the
professor.
It is better to
submit typewritten rather than handwritten
papers. It
is possible to hire someone to type your papers
for you, but it is expensive to do so.
Both in preparing
term papers and in doing assignments for your
classes, you are likely to use the library more
than you have in the past. American university libraries tend to be larger then
university libraries elsewhere, and students use
them very regularly. It is important to learn how to use the
library. The
library on campus has trained employees who are
happy to answer your questions about the
library's organization, the location of specific
materials, bibliographies, and so on.
Examinations. You will have many examinations. Nearly every class has a "final
examination" at the end of the semester. Most have a "midterm
examination" near the middle of the
semester. There
may be additional "tests" or
"quizzes" given with greater
frequency, perhaps even weekly. All these tests are designed to assure
that students are doing the work that is
assigned to them, and to measure how much they
are learning.
You should not look
at other students' papers during an examination. To "cheat" on a examination by
getting answers from other students or from
materials illicitly brought to the test can
result in a "zero" grade for the
examination, or "F" in the course, and
disciplinary action.
There are two general types of tests:
Objective Examination. An objective examination tests the student's knowledge of particular facts. Foreign students often have difficulty with objective examinations, not because they do not know the material on which the test is based, but because they are unfamiliar with the format of the test and because their knowledge of English may not be sophisticated enough to enable them to distinguish subtle differences in meaning. There are five different kinds of questions commonly found on objective examinations. You will want to learn to deal with each of them.
A. Multiple choice. The student must choose from among a series of answers, selecting the one(s) most appropriate.
B. True and False. The student must read a statement and indicate whether it is true or false.
C. Matching. The student must match words, phrases or statements from two columns.
D. Identification. The student must identify and briefly explain the significance of a name, term, or phrase.
E. Blanks. The student must fill the blanks left in a phrase or statement in order to make it complete and correct.
Subjective Examinations. Sometimes called "essay questions", subjective examinations require the student to write an essay in response to a question or statement. This kind of examination tests student's ability to organize and relate his knowledge of a particular subject.
Academic Honesty
Students should refer to the Student Conduct Code as outlined in the Fledgling.
Many students in the U. S. get into trouble for what is called "cheating" or "plagiarism". "Cheating" means getting help that a student is not supposed to get on an assignment, quiz, or examination. "Plagiarism" refers specifically to the practice of copying from a book or other publication and not acknowledging that the words used are someone else's and not the student's.
What is Considered "Cheating"? In general, students in the U. S. academic system are expected to do their own academic work without getting excessive assistance from other people. This does not mean that you cannot ask other students to help with class work. It is permissible and sometimes even advisable to seek help in understanding what is happening in a class and what a specific assignment is about. It is not considered proper, though, to have someone else do an assignment for you, or to copy answers or information from a publication in a way that makes it appear that the answers are ones you devised and composed yourself. That would be considered cheating.
Possible Consequences of Cheating. Some students cheat and are not punished for it, either because the cheating is not detected or because the faculty member in whose class the cheating takes place prefers not to take any action against the student who has cheated. In most cases, though, cheating is detected and has negative consequences for the assignment or examination on which the cheating took place; a failing grade for the course in which the cheating occurred; expulsion from the course (being required to leave); or expulsion from UM.
Students should refer to the current UM Bulletin and the Fledgling (the student handbook) for more specific information.