SIUE will be closed for the Christmas holiday break. Make sure to plan accordingly if you intend to stay on campus.

• Friday, December 23, 2022 - Christmas Day Holiday
• Monday, December 26, 2022 - Winter Break
• Tuesday, December 27, 2022 - Winter Break
• Wednesday, December 28, 2022 - Winter Break
• Thursday, December 29, 2022 - Winter Break
• Friday, December 30, 2022 - Winter Break
• Monday, January 2, 2023 - New Year’s Day Holiday

Housing Break Reminder

Evergreen Hall and Cougar Village Apartments are open during break periods (Fall, Winter, and Spring). There is not an additional cost because the community is still open, and costs are already in the housing contract. 

Bluff, Prairie and Woodland Halls are closed for break periods. Residents who need to request housing over the break periods can complete a break housing request. 

• Fall Break: closes at 5 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 18, and reopens at 10 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 27
• Winter Break: closes at 5 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 16, and reopens at 10 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 8
• Spring Break: closes at 5 p.m. on Friday, March 3, and reopens at 10 a.m. Sunday, March 12

The daily costs for break periods are: 

• $20/night for a shared bedroom space
• $38/night for a deluxe private bedroom or deluxe suite bedroom space

Students who are approved to stay for an entire break period will be charged $100 for fall break, $300 for winter break, and $100 for spring break. Students are required to submit a break housing request form online for review and approval. Break housing requests are not guaranteed. 

In most cases, residents who are requesting break housing will have to relocate from their permanent assignment and be consolidated to Cougar Village for safety, access to a kitchen and more. Please note dining options are very limited during break periods and University closures.

If your plans to remain or leave campus housing during the break have changed, please email University Housing at housing@siue.edu as soon as possible. 

Traveling Home for the Break?

International students in F-1 or J-1 status must get a travel signature on their I-20 or DS-2019 if returning to complete their studies after traveling outside the U.S. Travel signatures are valid for 6 months. If your signature has expired and you are planning to travel, you must get a new signature. Please see Traveling Outside the U.S. If you have been issued a Form I-515A contact your DSO immediately.

Please submit a Travel Signature Request a couple of weeks before you travel.

•  F-1 students: An ISSS advisor will email you an electronically signed I-20 for travel. As a result of COVID-19, SEVP and CBP have agreed to allow the use of the electronically signed I-20 to use for re-entry to the United States. It is required to print the I-20 and sign in blue ink. CBP officers will not accept forms I-20 shown on a phone or other electronic device. 
•  J-1 students: The Department of State has not announced that electronic forms DS-2019 are acceptable for travel. An ISSS advisor will let you know when your signed DS-2019 is ready, and you will be instructed how to request a shipment using EShipGlobal.
• For life-safety emergencies or if a Customs and Border Protection officer needs to reach us, please contact the SIUE police at: 618-650-3324.

Class Registration & Enrollment Requirements 

International Students admitted and enrolled after March 9, 2020 (beginning the summer 2020 semester), can only enroll in ONE online class toward their full course of study during the spring and fall semesters. If a student needs only one course to complete the program of study, the course cannot be online. Please refer to the FAQs for additional information.

Normal Course Load Requirements

International students in F-1 and J-1 status must register for and complete a full course load each semester (not including summer). Students who drop below a full course-load without immigration advisor approval will be reported to SEVIS. If this occurs, your SEVIS record will be terminated, and you will lose your F-1 or J-1 status, including employment eligibility and benefits.

For immigration purposes, full-time enrollment (during fall and spring semesters) is defined as:

• Undergraduate students: 12 credit hours (4 courses)
• Graduate students: 9 credit hours (3 courses)
• Graduate students with a graduate assistantship: 6 credit hours (2 courses)

All students are still required to maintain a full course unless their DSO has authorized a Reduced Course Load. Summer enrollment is optional unless it is your first semester. Full-time summer enrollment is 3 credit hours, and it cannot be an online course if it's your first or last semester.



• There are limited circumstances in which a reduced course load is permitted. Visit Reducing Your Course Load for information.
• The last day to register for spring is Sunday, January 8, 2023. Beginning with the first day of the term (January 9), you will need an instructor's and/or your advisor's approval to register for classes. You will be charged a non-refundable $25 late registration fee for late registration.
• For more registration details, please visit the Registrar's website.

UNIV 500

In order to maintain your immigration status, you cannot be enrolled only in UNIV 500 to meet full course of study, as this enrollment is only used for administrative purposes and credit is not given. If you have applied for OPT and choose to enroll in UNIV 500, you will incur a Health Service charge and the administrative fee for each semester you are only enrolled in UNIV 500. Please see additional information regarding UNIV 500 here.

For additional questions about enrollment requirements, please email isss@siue.edu