INTERNATIONAL STUDENT NEWSLETTER
Winter Term 2021, Week 2
It's the second week of the term!
How are you all doing so far?
In this Issue...
OISS Announcements
  • Message from the OISS Director
  • Closures
  • Notice: Tax Email from PCC
  • OISS Virtual Front Desk
  • Policies, Deadlines & Important Info
  • Health Insurance Information

OISS Activities & Events
  • Winter Term Talk Time Café
  • Health Insurance Workshop

PCC Events, Info & Resources
  • COVID-19 Resources
  • PCC Foundation Scholarship
  • PCC Career Services Winter Events
  • Roadtrip Nation
  • Apply for Scholarships
  • Oregon Transfer Days
  • SE International Club Meeting
  • Virtual Open House Tour Vancouver Island University
  • Bingo Nights
  • Trivia Nights
  • Craft Event & Kits

Housing
  • Submission Information
OISS Announcements
Closures
All PCC Campuses and Centers REMOTE ONLY
for fall and winter terms due to Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Check the Coronavirus (COVID-19) page on PCC's website
for regular updates!
Notice: Tax Email from PCC Account Services - Please Ignore!
You might have received the email below from Student Account Services (donotreply@pcc.edu) regarding income taxes. It was sent to all students with the subject SSN or TIN Request: 2nd NOTICEPlease IGNORE this email and similar future notices. It does not apply to students studying in the US on an F-1 student visa.

More information about US income taxes will be sent out next month. Please continue to read the International Student Newsletter for information or review the tax page on our website.
OISS Virtual Front Desk
Meet LIVE with an OISS Office Assistant or Receptionist for general questions, admissions help, and campus information, each week! 

The Virtual Front Desk is open
Monday-Friday from 9am-12pm (PST)
AND
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday from 3pm-5pm (PST)
Policies, Deadlines & Important Info from the SEVIS Team
Winter term classes and student services are offered remotely for
the entire term. 
All campus locations are closed.

ENROLLMENT FOR WINTER TERM
As a reminder, all F-1 international students must be enrolled full-time (minimum of 12 credits) each term to maintain their status. (Exceptions: Students on an annual vacation term, or approved Reduced Course Loads)

MANDATORY SEVIS CHECK-IN FORM
All F-1 international students must complete this Mandatory SEVIS Check-In form by Wednesday, January 13. If you have not already filled it out, please do so before the deadline.

IMPORTANT ACADEMIC DATES
The following important dates help you plan ahead for winter term at PCC. Please review the Academic Calendar for a full list of academic dates.

  • Tuesday, January 12: Last day to add classes
  • Tuesday, January 12: Last day to drop classes (to receive a full refund)
  • Saturday, March 13: Last day to change grade option
  • Saturday, March 13: Last day to withdraw from classes

DROPPING CLASSES
  • DO NOT drop any classes! Please check with our OISS SEVIS Advisor before dropping any classes. The last day to drop any classes and receive a full refund is Tuesday, January 12.
  • An instructor may drop a student from their class as a “no show” if the student does not attend their first class session or stops attending class any time through the end of the first week. 
  • Remember, it is not an instructor’s responsibility to drop you from a class. If you don’t plan to attend, be sure to drop your class officially through your MyPCC account. You will still be charged tuition for a class if it is not dropped before Tuesday, January 12.
Health Insurance Information
  • Remember to use TelaDoc! You can use it for both medical and mental health issues.
  • If you need to be tested for COVID-19, the testing (including co-pay) is covered by your PacificSource health insurance.
For any additional questions or if you need help signing in to your Pacific Source account, please email us at oiss.insurance@pcc.eduFor additional information please visit PCC's health insurance webpage.
OISS Activities
Winter 2021 Talk Time Cafe Schedule
Join us for Talk Time Cafe in Winter 2021 starting TODAY!
Mondays - Vivian Liu (she/her/hers), International Peer Leader from China
Tuesdays - Yen Le (she/her/hers), International Peer Leader from Vietnam
Wednesdays - Fatimah Alsomali (she/her/hers), our new International Peer Leader from Saudi Arabia!
Health Insurance Workshop for
International Students
Learn more about your PacificSource Health Insurance with ASPCC and OISS! Join us on Wednesday, Jan. 13 from 2-3 PM for information about benefits, coverage, deductibles, and so much more! We'll also be addressing questions that you submitted through the International Health Insurance Survey last month.
*The workshop will also be recorded and made available for viewing afterward*
PCC Events, Info & Resources
COVID-19 Resources
PCC is working hard to support students during this time. See below for some of the resources available through PCC during COVID-19. Please reach out if there are specific resources you'd like to see!
PCC Foundation Scholarship
The PCC Foundation Scholarship Application is open now and will close on March 1st.
For more information, please email: scholarships@pcc.edu
The Foundation also offers workshops to help make your scholarship application as strong as possible! For more information and workshop dates, click on the button below!
PCC Career Services Winter Events
Here are January's upcoming webinars!
 
Scholarship Workshop
Tuesday, 1/12 at 3pm: Register here

Informational Interviewing
Thursday, 1/14 at 11:00am: Register here

What to Know About Being a Business Major
Thursday, 1/14 at 11:30am: Register here

Registration is required.
Roadtrip Nation
HAVE YOU HEARD ABOUT ROADTRIP NATION?
 Wondering what to do with your life? Roadtrip Nation is here to help.
See how people like you found work that they love. Just last month, our friends at Roadtrip Nation talked to some amazing people about the power of computer science. Check out the links below to learn more!


Catch up on the full prerecorded Live Event series here!

Still deciding on a career or major?
Meet with one of our Career Services staff to get your unique access code
and learn more about this software and other career exploration tools.
Apply for a Scholarship!
 
Get help with your scholarship essays at the
To locate local and national scholarships make an
 
If you're planning to transfer to a 4 year college,
contact your transfer school about scholarship opportunities!
Oregon Transfer Days
Tuesday, 1/26 & Wednesday, 1/27
Morning Fair: 10am to 1pm 
Afternoon Fair: 4pm to 6:30pm

Learn more and attend Oregon Transfer Days HERE
No registration required

Schools scheduled to attend so far...

  • Bushnell University
  • Central Washington University
  • Columbia University (School of General Studies)
  • Concordia University, St. Paul Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program
  • Corban University
  • Eastern Oregon University
  • George Fox University
  • Grand Canyon University
  • Lewis & Clark College
  • Multnomah University
  • National University of Natural Medicine
  • Northern Arizona University
  • OHSU School of Nursing
  • Oregon Institute of Technology
  • Oregon State University
  • Oregon State University - Cascades
  • Pacific Northwest College of Art
  • Pacific University
  • Pacific University
  • Portland State University
  • Portland State University - Criminology & Criminal Justice Online Program
  • Roseman University - College of Nursing
  • Southern Oregon University
  • University of Alaska Anchorage
  • University of Idaho
  • University of Oregon
  • University of Portland
  • Warner Pacific University
  • Washington State University Vancouver
  • Western Governors University
  • Western Oregon University
  • Willamette University
SE International Club Meeting
The SE International Club meets via Zoom
Every Wednesday from 4-5 PM. Join us! 

The International Club Meeting at virtual SE campus is coming for Winter 2021. We invite you to the first meeting this Wednesday, Jan 13th at 4PM! Please come to join the club meeting and have fun.
Virtual Open House Tour
Vancouver Island University
Vancouver Island University is a mid-sized public university with 4 campuses, the largest in Nanaimo on Vancouver Island (a beautiful west coast location). VIU is a teaching-focused school with affordable tuition and small class sizes, offering undergraduate (diploma and degree), graduate (certificates and diplomas), and Master’s degrees. International students with an Associate degree are also able to transfer into their Bachelor programs.

If you are interested in attending university in Canada September 2021, January 2022, or September 2022, join their 3-day
Open House on January 16, 20 & 21.

Dedicated content will be available for international applicants, which includes live and recorded events for students, school counsellors, academic advisors, and parents.
Bingo Nights
Join Student Leadership for BINGO Nights Winter Term 2021! We will be hosting BINGO on Thursday evenings this term!

Thursday, January 14th 
Thursday, January 28th
Thursday, February 11th
Thursday, February 25th
Thursday, March 11th 
AT 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM

PCC students are eligible to win gift cards that will be emailed directly to you! Login to PantherHUB with your PCC credentials for the event links. 
For more information, contact Chelsea at cellerts@pcc.edu
Trivia Nights
Join Student Leadership for Trivia Nights on Wednesdays 6:30-7:30 PM. These games will be played using Kahoot! Each week we will be asking a variety of questions about themed around the decade -80s, 90s and the 2000s! 

Wednesday, January 20th
Wednesday, February 17th
Wednesday, March 3rd 
AT 6:30 PM-7:30 PM

Top 5 players will win a $50 gift card! For more information, login to PantherHUB at hub.pcc.edu or contact Chelsea at cellerts@pcc.edu!
Craft Events & Kits
Let’s get crafty this term! Sign up for our free crafting events! Use the google registration form and we’ll send you your crating kits in the mail! Each month has a different craft:

Paper Bowls in January - register HERE by Jan. 14
Tie-Dye in February - register HERE by Feb. 7
Yarn Kits in March - register HERE by Feb. 14

Must register for each craft separately. Post a picture of your final product, tag us and use the #aspcclovesyou to be entered to win a prize!

For more information, contact Chelsea at cellerts@pcc.edu!
Check out the pages on our OISS website for more great
information and tips!


You can also visit the PCC Event Calendar and our social media pages linked below to connect with us!
Housing Needed & Offered
Submission Information
If you are looking for housing or have housing available and would like to share with other students, please complete the form HERE and we will include it in this newsletter for two weeks.
Disclaimer: The information in this newsletter is meant to provide assistance in locating off-campus housing. Inclusion of any property, rental unit, or other housing options in this newsletter does not constitute, and shall not be construed or reported as an endorsement or approval by Portland Community College of the housing option, landlord, its properties, or its business practices. Portland Community College expressly disclaims any and all responsibility for any problems that may arise with regard to such housing options, property or rental units or with regard to disputes between landlords and tenants concerning such property or rental units.
All prospective tenants are encouraged to exercise their own good judgment
when evaluating housing options, a prospective rental unit, or landlord. 
Stay Connected with OISS