Kent State Office of Global Educaiton
Featured Events
Join Us!
We've been working hard on these upcoming events, and we can't wait to reconnect with you soon! Click links below to view more details.

9/27: Sign & Dine

For more information about other upcoming events, check out our  events page . We hope to see you soon!
ISSS Updates
NF/SF Grades
Did you know? Attending class is the number one predictor of academic success. Similarly,  maintaining full-time enrollment is one of the most important things you can do to maintain your F-1 or J-1 status. As an international student, it is important to know that earning grades of NF (Never-Attended Fail) or SF (Stopped-Attending Fail) can result in loss of full-time status, as those grades do not bear credit. For example, if you are enrolled in 12 credit hours, but receive a NF or SF in one 3-credit hour course, your final credits earned at the end of the semester would be 9. Your SEVIS record will be terminated (F-1 status and I-20 or J-1 status and DS-2019) if you have dropped below full-time enrollment. ISSS verifies credit completion for all students on F-1 and J-1 visas regularly. If you have obtained an NF or an SF in any class (check your Graduate Planning System or GPS in FlashLine), we advise you to discuss your situation with your professor or academic advisor and rectify the issue before the end of the semester.
Sign and Dine Fall 2018
signFall Break and Sign & Dine Intro
Are you leaving the United States during Fall Break? Come to our Sign & Dine event to get your travel signature, eat some snacks, and take some goofy pictures in preparation for your fun trip ahead!

We will be in the Office of Global Education (VCH 106) from 1:30 to 4 p.m. on Thursday, September 27th.  Once your I-20 or DS-2019 is signed, you are free to travel the world. Hope to see you there!

Don't forget! If your visa is expired or will expire during your travels, you will need to renew it before reentering the United States.
Conversation Partners
The Conversation Partner Program at Kent State University is a volunteer program that pairs international students with students from the United States. Once an international student and domestic students are paired, they meet weekly for one hour to have an informational conversation in English. The program not only helps international students develop English skills, it helps build cultural awareness as well as rewarding friendships between students. Learn more about the Conversation Partners program and and register to become one here .

Cleveland or Bust!
On Saturday, September 15, twenty-one international students traveled to Cleveland to spend the day exploring the power of rock & roll and experiencing the beauty of the city from Lake Erie. After leaving Kent, the first stop was the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. The world's foremost museum dedicated to the celebration of rock & roll music, the Rock Hall guides visitors on a musical journey of history, influences, and musical greats such as the Beatles, Elvis Presley, and Jim Morrison (to name a few!). Attendees even experienced rock & roll first hand as "members" of the band Metallica. "Who knew that that Boriqua, Bangladesh, China, India, America, Germany, and Croatia could come together for one day to create such beautiful music?" says event advisor, Meri Gonzalez de Reid. After exploring the Rock Hall, the group enjoyed the beautiful early fall weather on 9th  Street pier as they boarded the Goodtime III cruise for a two-hour narrated tour on Lake Erie. "I've lived in northeast Ohio for twenty years, and I learned so much" says ISSS advisor Noelle Brooker. "Did you know that the public transportation system in Cleveland was the most advanced in the country when it was started? Other cities used Cleveland as the model."  This event, the first sponsored by International Student and Scholar Services, was the first of many opportunities this year for international students to connect and to explore the city and region.

Check out the   OGE Events webpage to learn about other upcoming events. We hope that many of you can join us this semester!
ISSS Advising Hours for Fall 2018
Exciting change for 2018

You asked for it, and you got it! More time with your ISSS Advisors and less time waiting in the lobby. We now have appointments available 4 days a week to ensure students are able to meet with advisors as needed. We have Walk-In Wednesdays for those quick questions and appointments for all your other needs. Appointments can be scheduled  here .

Walk-In Advising 
Wednesday
9:00 am to 11:30 am  
Last sign in at 11:00
1:30 pm to 4:00 pm
Last sign in at 3:45 
 
Call-In Advising 
Monday  
9:00 to 11:30 am
Tuesday
1:30 pm to 4:00 pm
Wednesday
9:00 to 11:30 am
Thursday
No advising 
Friday  
1:30 pm to 4:00 pm

Contact Us: 
Phone: 1-330-672-7980 
Email: isss@kent.edu 
Campus Location: Van Campen Hall 
Address: 106 Van Campen Hall, 625 Loop Road, Kent, OH 44242-0001 
106 Van Campen Hall
International Student News
September 19, 2018  |  Week 4

Severe Weather Protocol
With the recent influx of hurricanes hitting the east coast of the U.S. right now, you might be wondering what type of severe weather can affect you here in Ohio. While Kent is farther inland from the coast, we are still affected greatly by tropical storms. We also occasionally experience tornados, severe thunder and lightning storms, heavy snowfall, and flooding. So what should you do in any of these cases?

Kent has a tornado warning siren that will go off in case of an emergency. If you hear this siren when it is not during normal testing times, go to the bottom floor of the building you are in. Stay away from windows and stay low. Get under sturdy furniture such as a desk to protect you. The siren is tested on the first Wednesday of the month at 11:00 A.M. and on the third Wednesday of the month at 6:30 P.M. These are just for testing the sirens; they are not signaling a real tornado threat.

When tropical storms hit the east coast, their repercussions can affect us in NE Ohio. Depending on the strength of storm, we can experience strong winds and heavy rainfall that can cause power outages or even flooding. If this happens, make sure to keep an emergency kit of flashlights and nonperishable foods. Also remember to stay away from flooded areas.

Snow is a normal weather act in Kent between December and March. Unless it is severe, classes will not be canceled due to snow. Snow and ice can affect roadways in the winter time, and it is best to stay cautious when driving on snowy roads. Bundle up and stay warm when going outside in snowstorms or walking to class while it is snowing.

Flash Alerts are a very useful way for students and staff of KSU to stay aware of severe weather. You can sign up for these alerts online and text messages will be sent to your phone when weather will affect the area and for other urgent information about campus.

Kent State will also send out mass emails in the case of severe weather affecting campus. Class cancellations will also be announced via email.
International Student Showcase: Meet Surya Suresh

Suryanarayanan Suresh, or Surya, is a sophomore international student studying accounting as an undergraduate. His heritage is Indian, but he has never lived in India. He was actually born in Saudi Arabia and moved around the Middle East for most of his life. One exciting aspect of moving is his ability to speak five languages: English, Arabic, Hindi, Malayalam, and Tamil.

Surya visited an aunt that lives in Washington D.C. in 2014 and was immediately enamored by the American culture. He decided from that moment that he wanted to study in the U.S. and found Kent State's program for international students. He arrived in the Fall 2017 semester. Once on campus, he became a Global Ambassador and currently works at the Office of Global Education. He loves playing basketball and was his high school's team captain. He has also been on the Kent State basketball club team. His other interests include playing soccer with friends, watching movies, and playing video games. One of his favorite games is FIFA, and he invites anyone to join him!

One of the best things to happen to Surya since coming to Kent State is going on the trips that OGE hosts every semester. He has skied at Brandywine, visited New York City and watched a Cavs game live in Cleveland. He really enjoys the freedom that he has while studying here as well. Surya said that if he had studied in India, he wouldn't have had the same college experience. He said, "They don't give you the free time to do things that you enjoy while still being able to study like we can here at Kent." Surya has not decided exactly on what profession he wants to pursue after graduation, but he would like to possibly work in accounting at a large company.

One piece of advice he has for other international students is to not be afraid to speak up! Open up to others and they will open up to you. He says the more you talk to people, the more friends, connections, and opportunities you will have. If you want to connect with Surya, you can find him on Instagram here or on Facebook here.

 
If you would like to be showcased, keep reading for more details.
We Want to Hear from YOU!

Starting this fall, we want to showcase you in our newsletter! Each week, one international student will be chosen to be interviewed and highlighted in our newsletter. Topics of interest include your home country, major, student involvement around campus, advice, and more!

If you are interested in being showcased, please contact Olivia Albrecht at  oalbrech@kent.edu with "International Student Profile" in the subject line.
Upcoming Events
September 19 | ¡Bailemos! Let's Dance!dance
Ballroom, KSC |  5:30 pm  
Join other KSU students for a free mini dance show and Latin dance lesson from  Salcity of Angels dance team. Wednesday, September 19, 5:30 p.m., KSC Ballroom. Sponsored by the Multicultural Center, Hispanic Leadership Council, Spanish and Latino Student Association, Latino Networking Caucus, Alpha Psi Lambda, LGBTQ StudentCenter, and Phi Iota Alpha.
festivalSeptember 21 | Mid-Autumn Festival Celebration
306A, KSC | 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm
Chinese Student Association is hosting a Mid-Autumn Festival celebration on September 21.  There will be games, snacks, music, and of course Mooncakes!
 
The festival itself is for the family reunion, and it is widely adopted by various Asian countries. Come in to learn more about Asian culture and have fun together!

Various Locations | 11:30 am
To celebrate International Day of Peace, the Center for International and Intercultural Education is hosting information sessions starting at 11:30 am in White Hall. 

After the sessions, join a team to play in the soccer tournament starting at 4:00 pm at the Loop Road Soccer Fields.

Plan Ahead
October 5 | International Homecoming Celebration  (registration required by September 28)
October 6 | Kent State Homecoming
October 11-12 | Fall Break
October 11-13 | Washington, D.C. Trip
October 13 | Stotler's Orchard

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