ISSS WEEKLY UPDATE FOR
April 22, 2008 to April 28, 2008
NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS:
- FRAUD ALERT! IRS NEVER SENDS YOU EMAIL MESSAGES!
- CPT/OPT WORKSHOP - APRIL 22
- FILM SCREENING AND DISCUSSION: "DARK MATTER" - APRIL 24
- SMALL WORLD COFFEE HOUR: TURKISH CHILDREN'S DAY" -APRIL 25
- CULTURE CORPS EVENT: "PRIVATE PHILANTHROPY" - APRIL 29
- CULTURE CORPS EVENT: INTERNATIONAL MOVIE SERIES "SEPET" - MAY 2
- END-OF-THE-YEAR AND GRADUATION PARTY - MAY 9
- GRADUATING STUDENTS: NOTICE OF INTERNET/E-MAIL ACCOUNT STATUS
- ATTENTION STUDENTS AND SCHOLARS PREPARING TO GO HOME!
- NEW OPT REGULATIONS!
REPEATED ANNOUNCEMENTS:
These are announcements from previous ISSS Weekly Updates. They
are current and relevant to this week. To read the full text of
each repeated announcement, please refer to the dates indicated
below on the ISSS Weekly Update web page.
- . IMPORTANT REMINDER FOR CINTAX USERS! KEEP YOUR RECORDS! (Update
04/01/2008)
- GLBTA INTERNATIONAL RESOURCES WEBSITE (Update 3/18/2008)
- GLBTA INTERNATIONAL INITIATIVE MEETINGS (Update 3/18/2008)
NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS:
1. FRAUD ALERT! IRS NEVER SENDS YOU EMAIL MESSAGES!
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) doesn't communicate by email. Any email
from the IRS is Fraud!!!!!
Check with an advisor at ISSS if you have any
questions.
2. CPT/OPT WORKSHOP
Find out everything you need to know about Curricular and Optional Practical
Training. Obtain the forms you need, ask questions, and learn from your
fellow students' questions as well. See more information ...
3. "DARK MATTER" MOVIE AND DISCUSSION
ISSS invites you to a screening and discussion of the new film, "Dark
Matter," which is a fictionalized account of a campus shooting by an
international student at the University of Iowa in 1991. A panel discussion
following the film will explore student mental health, adjustment issues,
and campus safety. The panel will include experts from University Counseling
and Consulting Services, University Police, School of Social Work, and
International Student and Scholar Services. The movie is rated R and has
some violent content. We request that if you attend the movie that you stay
for the discussion.
DATE: Thursday, April 24, 2008
TIME: 3:30 - 4:00 pm Seating
4:00 - 5:30 pm Film
5:30 - 6:30 pm Discussion
PLACE: Coffman Memorial Union Theater, First Floor, Minneapolis East Bank
FREE: Entry is free, but seating is limited so arrive early
See Details ....
4. SMALL WORLD COFFEE HOUR: TURKISH CHILDREN‘S “DAY“
Let's celebrate the Turkish Children's Day at Small World Coffee Hour. Bring
your family and friends to enjoy mouth-watering treats from Turkey. Don't
miss delightful Turkish folk dance performance. Come, make lots of
international friends and join us to enjoy the Turkish cuisine and culture.
As always, we will have fresh brewed coffee, tea, and hot chocolate.
DATE: Friday, April, 25, 2008
TIME: 4 PM - 6 PM
PLACE: 110 Heller Hall, West Bank
COST: Free!
Turkish Children's Day is co-sponsored by Turkish American Student
Association.
Private philanthropy is a broader concept than foreign aid and has a deeper
philosophical foundation than the simple transfer of money, material and
expertise. Can you really change the world? What's an effective way to
identify a margin and make long-lasting differences? This charitable action
is of interests to individuals, corporate, government as well as
multi-national NGOs alike.
We are delighted to have Ms. Susan Wilkes, founder and president of
Adventures in Giving, LLC and director of Oswald family foundation. Susan
advises family foundations and individuals on international grant making and
takes family members abroad to visit effective international projects in the
United States and abroad in a forty-year career as a leader and innovator.
DATE: April 29, 2008
TIME: 12 noon to 1.15 pm
PLACE: 110 Heller Hall, Minneapolis, West Bank
Free and open to all! Pizza lunch will be provided to participants.
RSVP highly recommended for food purchase! Questions and comments please
address to: Yongling Zhang or Yuki Watabe.
6. INTERNATIONAL MOVIE SERIES ‘SEPET’
: CULTURE CORPS EVENT
"Sepet" is a 2004 Malaysian romantic comedy drama film set in Ipoh,
Malaysia. It tells a tale of a love that blooms between a Chinese boy and a
Malay girl. Nineteen-year old Ah Loong is in charge of a stall selling
pirated VCDs. His life takes a sudden turn one day when Orked, a Malay
schoolgirl, arrives at his stall. Love blossoms between Orked and Ah Loong
although social and racial pressures stand in their way. Afterwards we will
have a discussion on the film.
DATE: Friday, May 2, 2008
TIME: 2 pm - 5 pm
PLACE: 430 Blegen Hall, Minneapolis West Bank
COST: Free and open to the public with free Malaysian refreshments
See more information
7. END-OF-THE-YEAR AND GRADUATION PARTY
Students, scholars, families and friends! Mark your calendars for this
get-together to celebrate graduates in 2007 and 2008 as well as everyone who
has completed a program and returning home. Great food! Music! Take a
self-guided tour of the galleries and have your picture taken with Goldy
Gopher!
DATE: May 9, 2008
TIME: 4:00 to 6:00 pm
PLACE: Weisman Art Museum
CURRENT EXHIBITS
"Paul Shambroom: Picturing Power"
"The Exquisite Book"
"Who is a Citizen? What is Citizenship?"
8. GRADUATING STUDENTS NOTICE
OF INTERNET/E-MAIL ACCOUNT STATUS EMAIL
Please note that your e-mail inbox will remain active a minimum of
three semesters after the last term you register. To keep it active longer,
you must access it once every 6 months. The University and ISSS will
continue to use your e-mail address for official communications, so check
your e-mail regularly or have it forwarded to an address you actively
monitor.
INTERNET ID (for example, "user1234") and password will remain active for
five years. This gives you access to:
1. Your e-mail inbox -- as long as it remains active (see above).
2. Directory Tools -- for e-mail forwarding and other account options.
3. OneStop -- for updating address information, transcripts, etc.
9. ATTENTION STUDENTS AND SCHOLARS PREPARING TO GO HOME!
Check out the helpful hints on the ISSS website
http://www.isss.umn.edu/reentry/ to prepare you for re-entering your home
country, and be sure to inform ISSS of your departure plans.
10. NEW OPT REGULATIONS!
**** Highlights of the New Rule****
- a. The current 12-month limit on OPT will be extended by 17 months, for a
total of 29 months for certain STEM degree holders ONLY.
- b. The H-1B "Cap Gap" (the gap between the end of OPT and the beginning of
H1B) is eliminated by extending OPT employment and status for those who are
beneficiaries of a timely filed H-1B petition, by their employer, with an
October 1 start date (available to ALL OPT participants).
- c. The filing deadline for initial OPT applications is changed (applies to
all OPT participants). You may now file up to 60 days after the completion
of the requirements for your program.
- d. There are new reporting requirements for students and employers (applies
to all OPT participants).
- e. Post-Completion OPT will now be dependent on employment. Only limited
periods of unemployment will be permitted (applies to all OPT participants).
You may not accrue an aggregate of 90 days of unemployment during 12 months
of OPT.
What is STEM?
S = Science
T = Technology
E = Engineering
M = Mathematics
See this more detailed
University and ISSS Events Calendars
Visit the ISSS Event Calendar and University Events
Calendar regularly for programs, films, concerts, and celebrations
of special interest to you! Many events are free or affordable to
University Community members and the public.
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Weekly Update 2007