Kent State Office of Global Educaiton
International Graduates:

Register for the International Graduation Reception by April 23 to Receive a FREE Graduation Stole Embroidered with the Name of Your Home Country
As you prepare for commencement, we hope that you take a moment to reflect on your accomplishments. Graduation is a milestone; in just a few weeks, you will join the ranks of over 241,000 former students as proud Kent State University alumni.

Graduation Stole
In celebration, the Office of Global Education, International Student Affairs, and the Alumni Association would like to recognize your achievements as an international graduate by presenting you with a FREE Graduation Stole embroidered with the name of your home (see photo above). Graduation stoles are traditional adornments worn at graduation to denote outstanding achievement and membership within a community.

To receive your FREE graduation stole, you must register before April 23 for the
International Graduation Reception which will be celebrated May 10. You will receive your stole at the Reception.
 
Graduation Invitation Letters

If you are graduating this May, congratulations! Many international students want their family and/or friends to visit for graduation. Often times, these individuals will need a visa to enter the United States. In order to prepare them for a visa interview, you can provide them support by writing them an invitation letter. 
 
We offer a guide, along with an example letter, on our  Invitation Letter Guideline page  to help you. You will also want to send them a copy of your transcripts to demonstrate you are a current student enrolled in courses at Kent State University. Transcripts can be ordered online through the  Registrar's Office
 
Once again, congratulations on your upcoming graduation! We look forward to seeing your friends and family here on campus. And be sure that you and your family and friends attend the International Graduation Reception on May 10. Click the link for more event information and registration.
NF/SF Grades  

Did you know?
Attending class is the number one predictor of academic success. Similarly,  maintaining full time status 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.

International Student and Scholar Services (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.
 
Income Tax Reminder  

Reminder to International Students: Tax Returns are Due by April 17!
Federal law requires all international students to file an income tax return each year. Tax returns for 2017 are due April 17, 2018 for students who worked in 2017 or June 15, 2018 for students who did not have income in 2017 within the United States. The  Kent State 2017 Tax Guide  is now available with 
step-by-step instructions to help you determine your residency status as a 
non-resident alien or resident alien, and to guide you through the 2017 tax filing process.
 
Links to Helpful Resources:
For a more in-depth explanation about filing your U.S. income taxes, please 
refer to our previous article from our February 28, 2018  issue of the
Remember to Keep Your Local Address and Phone Number Updated

Did you know that you have to update your address and phone number within 10 calendar days of the change in order to maintain your immigration status? In order to update the changes, please log into flashline and update your "Local Address." For specific steps, please use our Local Address and Telephone Update Guide to assist you.
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 student are paired, they meet once a week for one hour to have an informational conversation in English. The program not only helps int ernational students develop English skills, it helps build cultural awareness as well as rewarding friendships between students.
Find Back Issues of International Student News on Our New Archive Webpage 

Have you deleted last week's issue of International Student News, then realized that there was an important article about immigration that you wanted to reread? Wish you could reference and article from Student Legal Services that appeared last fall? Want to check the times and dates of an upcoming event?

Well, now you can! We've just launched a new archive web page where you can reference all of our recent ISN issues dating back to the beginning of Fall Semester 2017. The site includes a thumbnail image, a list of the contents and a link to each issue. We hope our international students find the site a useful and convenient link to important information, helpful article and entertaining student profiles. Enjoy!
Walk-In Advising Hours for Spring 2018

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

International Student News
April 11, 2018  |  Number 12  
Library Workshops for International Students
University Library Offering Workshops for International Students
 
All international students are invited to attend one of the many writing workshops, which are being offered at the University Library this semester.  The one-hour workshops are designed specifically to support the academic success of international students. Topics range from public speaking to writing and grammar. All workshops are free and are held in the University Library. Check out the following list of workshops, dates and times.
 
Writing Sophisticated Sentences
April 13, 12:15 pm, Room 334

Searching Databases and Google Scholar
April 16, 4:00 pm, Room 333

Citation Basics: Avoiding Plagiarism
April 17, 10:50 am, Room 152
 
Writing Literature Reviews
April 19, 9:15 am, Room 334

Public Speaking
April 19, 4:30 pm, Room 018 (lower level)

Academic Writing Workshop
April 23, 3:00 pm Room 334

Resume and Cover Letter Writing
April 25, 4:00 pm, Room 334
 
APA Workshop
April 26, 10:00 am, Room 333

Citation Management Workshop
April 27, 10:00 am, Room 334
 
More Resources for Instruction:
For more information, contact Peggy Nzomo , Global Education Librarian
Phone: 330-672-1661
Email:   pnzomo@kent.edu 
Upcoming Events
April 12  |   "Whose Career Is It Anyway
Schwartz Center Auditorium  |  6:00 to 8:00 pm
Join Career Exploration and Development for its Game Show Extravaganza "Whose Career is It Anyway!" Win prizes, earn Flashperks, Enjoy free Vegan and Vegetarian Food, Network with Employers, and More! Free and open to all.    
April 12 and 19  |   Career 911!
Center for University Excellence, Room 141  |  4:30 to 6:30 pm
Career 911_ April 12 and 19 Not sure what to do after graduation? Career 911 is here to help. Sponsored by Career Exploration and Development, Career 911 covers everything you need for post-graduate success. Plus, FREE Pizza! Don't miss it.     
April 14  |  Cleveland Art Adventure
Cleveland Art Museum, Bus Tour of Downtown and West Side Market  |  Day Trip
Join us as we take a Saturday Day Trip to Cleveland, OH. We will spend the morning at the world-renowned Cleveland Museum of Art. Then we'll take a leisurely drive through downtown Cleveland to see numerous points of interest on our way to the West Side Market for an afternoon of shopping and fun. Join us! 
April 14  |  Holi: The Festival of Color
Manchester Field  |  11:00 am
The Kent Indian Association invites you to join them to celebrate Holi, the Festival of Colors. On Manchester Field near the Student Center. Enjoy snacks and drinks, music and fun games. Join in the color toss, the highlight of the day's fun and festivities. Event is free and all are welcome.
April 14  |  Run the World 5K Run, Stark Campus
Race begins at 8:30 am | Start and finish line is the Recreation and Wellness Center at Kent State - Stark
Run the World 5K Run_ Stark Campus_ April 14 If you enjoy running and supporting a great cause, join your fellow students for a fast and friendly 5K race across the Kent State Stark campus. Things get underway at the Recreation and Wellness Center on the Stark campus at 8:30 am, Saturday, April 14. There is a $25 admission fee which help fund study abroad scholarships.  
April 18  |  Cultural Café, Rwanda and Vietnam
Kent Student Center Ballroom Balcony, Third Floor  |  4:00 to 5:30 pm 
Cultural Cafe_ Rwanda and Vietnam_ April 18 Join us for our final Cultural Cafe of the semester. Learn everything you ever wanted to know and then some about Rwanda and Vietnam as two international students host fascinating and informative presentations about their native lands. In between the presentations, sample selected dishes of the two countries' cuisine. 
April 18  |  A Flash of Cultures: Art Gallery Exhibition and Panel Discussion
Room 134, Uumbaji Gallery, Oscar Ritchie Hall  |  6:00 to 8:00 pm 
A Flash of Culture_ April 18 View the gallery then join to hear a panel discussion on how art can bridge cross-cultural boundaries between. Panel includes three well-recognized intellectuals in the Kent State Community: Drs. Marcello Fantoni, Uma Krishnan and Kristin Staslowski. Refreshments provided. Free and open to all
April 18  |  Entrepreneur Workshop
Multicultural Center,  Room 206, Kent Student Center  |  7:00 to 8:30 pm 
Are you an international student with a great idea for a business, but aren't sure how to set up one in the United States? Then join LaunchNET to get free legal advice, receive tips on setting up a successful buisness and learn about business related resources available to you on campus. Win $380 towards Optional Practical Training (OPT). 
April 25  |  International Scholar Poster Fair
Second Floor Mezzanine, Kent Student Center |  1:00 to 3:00 pm 
International Scholar Poster Fair_ April 25 The Office of Global Education invites you to explore the important work and research being performed by Kent State International Scholars. The Poster Fair format enables you to meet our scholars and listen as they present their research.
April 26  |  SummerTime Sign and Dine
Office of Global Education, Van Campen Hall  |  1:30 to 4:00 pm 
International students planning to travel outside the United States over the summer need to obtain a travel signature prior to leaving the country. We invite you to plan ahead in requesting a travel signature. The best way to do this is to join us to connect, enjoy refreshments, and receive your travel signature all at once.
Plan Ahead
 
April 13 to May 6  |  Spring for the Arts
April 27  |  World Music Ensembles
April 28  | Kent State Night at Progressive Field: Cleveland Indians vs. Seattle Mariners
May 1  |  World Music: Asian Music 
May 4  |  May Fourth Remembrance
May 6  |  Spring Classes End
May 7 to 13  |  Spring Final Examinations
May 10  | International Graduation Reception
May 12  |  Spring Commencement 

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