ISP MONTHLY NEWSLETTER

The #1 Resource for International Students at SRJC

Fall 2021 Welcome Week!
Can you believe that Fall 2021 classes start this Monday 8/16? Are you ready??

Even though the Fall 2021 semester is mostly online, SRJC is ready to welcome students virtually starting on August 12th! ISP is thrilled to participate in SRJC Virtual Welcome! Check us out at the Virtual Resource Fair and don't miss the following events:

  • International Student Meet & Greet (VIRTUAL) from 1-2pm on Wednesday, August 18th on Zoom: 934 9115 0688. Join us for our Fall 2021 kickoff event and meet the other international students! We will discuss restarting the International Club!

  • Food Distribution (ON-CAMPUS) from 9-11am on Monday, August 23rd in the Emeritus Parking Lot on the Santa Rosa campus. Come and get FREE food!

We look forward to seeing you at Welcome Week! If you have any questions, Email Us!
Important Reminders
New Student Orientation
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, ISP Orientation will take place virtually this year. There is no in-person event. New and returning students must complete the ISP Orientation Fall 2021 course online in Canvas before classes start.
New students are also encouraged to register for COUN 270: Introduction to College (1249). Students enrolled in this section will learn the basics of navigating SRJC and meet in-person for a Campus Tour from 2-4pm on Friday, September 17th.
Registration Reminders
Register NOW for Fall 2021 classes! Remember that F-1 visa students must be enrolled in at least 12 units at all times (see Visa Requirements). Per COVID-19 Guidance, F-1 students with initial status I-20s must enroll in at least one in-person class this fall.
You may have a mixture of online, in-person, and/or hybrid classes this fall. They may be taught Synchronously with live class lectures/meetings, or Asynchronously with no meetings. Students who are new to online classes should visit the Distance Education website and take the Online Readiness Orientation for additional support.

The last day to register for classes without an add code is Sunday 8/22. The last day to drop a class and be eligible for a refund is Sunday 8/29. The deadline for F-1 students to be registered full-time for legal F-1 status is Tuesday 9/7. For more important dates and deadlines, please refer to the Academic Calendar.
On-Campus Employment
On-campus jobs are still available! With your F-1 student status, you can work up to 20 hours per week at $15/hour! Don't miss your chance to get a great on-campus job - you'll learn new skills and meet new people! Visit JobSpeaker and apply now!
Payment Deadline
The F-1 Health Insurance fee is due by the start of classes (Monday). Your Fall 2021 tuition fees are due before you can register for Spring 2022 classes. More information about fees, including payment plan options, is available on our Fees & Expenses page.
Also, we have some exciting news!! Now, new and continuing international students can apply for the DOYLE SCHOLARSHIP on AwardSpring between August 23rd and October 1st for Fall 2021. Visit our Scholarship page for more information!
In-Person Advising
Still have questions? The International Student Advisor will be available this Saturday, August 14th from 8:30am to 3:00pm for Super Saturday! Check the full schedule to see which departments will be available to answer your questions.

Now you can Make an Appointment to meet your Advisor in-person on the Santa Rosa campus in Plover Hall! Use the student entrance located on the WEST side of the building. Your appointment will be verified upon arrival, and after a symptoms self-check (below) you will be allowed to enter the Plover Hall lobby where the Advisor will meet you.

Check out the ISP Advising page for more details! You can also request a virtual appointment, submit a question online, or "Drop-in" on Zoom weekdays from 12-1pm!
COVID-19 Protocols
The SRJC Plan for a Safe Return to Campus on the SRJC COVID-19 Information page provides guidelines for safely returning more services and classes to our campuses and sites. Check these websites frequently for updates! The most important points include:
  • Mask requirements: Masks are still required in all indoor SRJC spaces, and are not required outdoors at this time.
  • Social distancing: There are no more social distancing requirements in indoor or outdoor spaces.
  • Building sign-ins: In the event of a positive COVID-19 infection occurring on campus, we are required by Cal-OSHA to alert all employees who may potentially have been exposed. As such, we will be implementing sign-in sheets at the entrances to all SRJC buildings so that we are able to inform individuals appropriately in such an event.
  • Symptom checking: Students coming to a district site must perform a symptoms self-check, as outlined below. On-site temperature checks are no longer required; however, anyone who answers yes to any of the following questions are not allowed to enter an SRJC site:
Q: Do you believe you are potentially ill with COVID-19, or have you had any exposure or direct contact with COVID-19 suspected or diagnosed individuals in the last 14 days? Direct contact is defined as within 6 feet for a cumulative total of at least 15 minutes over a 24-hour period.
Q: Are you experiencing any of the following signs or symptoms? 
  • Fever above 100.4 degrees or chills
  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing 
  • Muscle pain 
  • Fatigue
  • Headache 
  • Sore throat 
  • Congestion or runny nose
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • New loss of taste or smell
SRJC supports vaccination as an effective method for preventing both transmission and serious illness or death from COVID-19. If you are not vaccinated, please consider contacting either SRJC Student Health Services, your personal medical provider, or the county health department to schedule a COVID-19 vaccination appointment. Thank you for continuing to remain attentive and flexible as we work together to prepare our campuses for the fall semester. We look forward to welcoming you back to SRJC!
Special Messages
A Message From Our Director
Oh, how we’ve missed you – our students! For most of us, the past 17-months have been amongst the most challenging of our lives…but here we are ready to start another fall semester at SRJC. Missing our students, co-workers and family members, not to mention missing our usual gathering places, restaurants, and fun activities has added to the challenge. While some of you aren’t back on campus yet, we welcome ALL of you back into our circle – our SRJC family.
While we make our cautious return to providing limited in-person services this fall, we thank you in advance for being patient with us as we return to campus along with those of you who will be here. We are still in uncertain times, but even so we are delighted to be starting a new academic year at SRJC. You, our students, are the reason for our joy and delight! You’ve made a choice to attend one of the best community colleges in California, and we couldn’t be happier that you did.

Please let us know how we can support you because no matter where you are, we’re here for you. Have a great fall semester!

Warmly,
Michelle Poggi
Director, International Student Program
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