OIP Weekly Student Newsletter
Issue: #3
Fall 2014
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OIP Student Advising Hours
Monday & Wednesday
1:30-4:30pm 
Tuesday, Thursday, & Friday
9am - 12noon

Please limit walk-in times to 15 minute appointments. 

If you need more than 15 minutes  please email the student advisor to set an appointment outside of advising hours. 

Greetings!

We invite you to view this week's newsletter for immigration updates, campus and community events, and office announcements. We hope you will make plans to attend any events that may interest you. Please let us know if you have any news you'd like to share with the Ole Miss international student community.
 
The Office of International Programs
Immigration and Office News

Office of Global Engagement Tailgate Party Tent

Saturday, September 13, 2014

The Grove in front of the Student Union

11:00am - 2:00pm

Snacks and non-alcoholic beverages will be served. Alcoholic beverages are not permitted in the OGE tent. See you there!


What is a tailgate party? Find out at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tailgate_party.

Cultural Cafe

Please join us for a cup of tea or coffee and conversation every Friday (except the weeks of Spring Break and Easter) from 2 - 4pm in the Barnes and Noble Cafe located in the Student Union. The first 30 people will get their tea or coffee free! We ask that if you are one of the first thirty, you stay and spend some time with us. If you need to get your beverage and go, we ask that you pay for it yourself. :)

Ole Miss Athletics has graciously donated 50 tickets to our international students and scholars for tomorrow's home football game (September 13). Regina George, International Programs Advisor, will distribute thirty (30) tickets during Cultural Cafe today (September 12) to those who attend the Cultural Cafe. The remaining twenty (20) will be distributed at the Office of Global Engagement Tailgate Party Tent on Saturday. 

Tickets will be distributed on a first come, first serve basis with a limit of one ticket per person.
Are you confused about the AETNA Health Insurance Policy and what it covers? Please visit https://www.aetnastudenthealth.com/schools/olemiss/sobGRAD1415.pdf for the Plan Design and Benefits Summary.

AETNA Health Insurance Exemption Requests

 

Some international students may meet the conditions for an exemption from the university mandated health insurance coverage with AETNA (generally students sponsored by their governments, etc.)

 

To check if you meet the conditions or to request such an exemption for Fall 2014, please submit the completed Health Insurance Exemption Request Form and proof of health insurance coverage to Greet Provoost, Director of the Office of International Programs, Martindale 331, as soon as possible, and no later than 4:30pm on September 19, 2014.

Please read the policy, the exemption parameters, and evidence requirements thoroughly before submitting your exemption request. Thank you!

 

Note: Health Insurance Exemption Requests for Visiting/Exchange and Intensive English Program (IEP) international students will be handled by the Study Abroad Office or IEP resp.

If you plan to work after graduation, you must apply for Optional Practical Training (OPT). You can submit your application beginning September 13! 
 
Please visit Regina George's Prezi presentation on OPT at http://prezi.com/az30oh8iidfn/opt-workshop/. You can find the OPT application packet at our website.

Student Employment

*All F-1 students are eligible for a maximum of 20 hours per week of on-campus employment.  Please remember that all worked hours from all jobs are combined; you are not allowed 20 hours per job.  Exceeding this maximum number of hours worked, even by one hour, is a violation of F-1 status.  A loss of status is a serious matter and could have serious consequences regarding employment and F-1 benefits. 

 

*J-1 students MUST get permission from their J-1 sponsor before becoming employed. Additional work authorization from the OIP International Student Advisor must be obtained for all employment. If you have questions regarding student employment, please email Regina George at [email protected] or visit during advising hours.

Campus and Social News
What color should I wear to the home football games? 
Here's a handy chart!

Everybody's Tent 

 

Everybody's Tent, hosted by the University of Mississippi Associated Student Body, is just that: a place where any Ole Miss student is a welcomed tent member.

Everybody's Tent will be set up in the grass along the Student Union Plaza, tucked as close to the Walk of Champions arch as possible. Free food, nonalcoholic drinks and entertainment will be provided from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday (Sept. 13). The group started in 2013 as a student-led, student-organized tailgate and was born from a student's desire to help make everyone feel welcome in The Grove.

 

Dates and times for Everybody's Tent home games:

  •  Louisiana-Lafayette, Sept. 13, 11a.m - 2 p.m.
  • Memphis, Sept. 27, times TBA
  • Tennessee (Homecoming), Oct. 18, TBA
  • Auburn, Nov. 1, TBA
Cultural Connections Club (C3)

Wednesdays 5pm - 7pm 
Martindale 3rd Floor Conference Room


We are a social support club of international and American students at the University of Mississippi. Our mission is to provide support with adjustment and acculturation for international community on campus. We meet once a week and hang out. We eat yummy snacks, drink flavorful teas, share our experiences from different countries, and talk about what it's like to be in new places. If you want to make new friends, this is the right place for you.

 

Volunteer opportunity for international students

 

Dr. Lambert in the Department of Nutrition and Hospitality Management (NHM) is looking for international students to volunteer in allowing her senior students to interview them. She would like for you to share information about your country and you! Such as what aspects of living in your country is different from living in the United States? How are universities and the educational systems different? What are some of your traditional foods? What do you miss most about being away from home? What do you like about the American culture and what would you change about the American culture? She calls the assignment "All the Human Race, Just Born a Different Place."

Dr. Lambert is looking for a variety of different countries to be represented. Her students will contact you to set up a meeting date and time where you can be interviewed. They will then present their information obtained from their interview to the rest of their classmates. If you are interested or need more information please contact Dr. Lambert at [email protected]. She would like to have 13 volunteers from different countries if possible.   


 


Ole Miss Badminton Club

 

Interested in joining the Ole Miss Badminton Club or just want to know more information? 

 

You may reach us by following methods.
(1) Email us to [email protected]om

(2) Send us a message through our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OleMissBadminton


(3) Just walk into our practice session and meet our club officers (Mon, Wed, Fri 6-9pm & Sun 4-7pm)

 

Newcomer's Badminton Tournament September 22 - 26, 2014!

Ole Miss Sports 

We have many international students that play sports competitively for Ole Miss. We are in the beginning or middle of their seasons. Please check out http://www.olemisssports.com/ for information on game times and locations. Please support your fellow international students by attending their sporting events and cheering them on to victory!

Looking for Off-Campus Housing? 
http://offcampus.housing.olemiss.edu/

Global China Connection

 

Community News

Sunday School for International Students and Scholars

 

North Oxford Baptist Church

Sundays 9:15 - 10:10am

Room 212 C

 

For more information and directions, please visit 

 

University of Mississippi
Office of International Programs
331 Martindale 
University, MS 38655
 
662-915-7404
http://www.international.olemiss.edu/