Monday, May 18, 2015

Digest 5/7/15

Click HERE to view digest online
May 7, 2015
Office of International Students and Scholars
Weekly Digest


Important Announcements

*NEW* JOB SPOTLIGHT SECTION! See the LEFT column below, last box!

http://www.mbsacuboulder.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Career_Ladder.jpgOptional Practical Training (OPT) Applications
OPT is a benefit available to all students who have been in F-1 status for at least one academic year. OPT allows you to work in your field of study for up to 12 months (27 months for certain STEM fields). First, review the PowerPoint of our OPT Workshop information:CLICK HERE. Then, read and complete the OPT application: CLICK HERE.
  OISS will hold weekly sessions at the following times to take OPT applications. These sessions will repeat weekly for the coming months; always check the OISS DIGEST for the latest information. You MUST arrive on time with your application and all the required supporting materials:

      Mondays, 12:00 pm or 3:00 pm: OPT Intake 
     Tuesdays, 8:30 am: OPT Intake

ATTENTION ALL SEVIS USERS​
Recently, the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) became aware that scammers are targeting students in the Chicago area in an attempt to solicit funds on behalf of the I-901 Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) Fee. Scammers are requesting those targeted to send up to $4,000 to avoid deportation. The scammers are using the ‘Location Services’ app on students’ cellular devices to find the students’ location and threaten them with continued pursuit if they do not receive the money. The incidents are currently under investigation by the Chicago Police Department and SEVP intends to cooperate fully and will provide additional information as it becomes available.
Click on THIS LINK, for more information and to refer to the detailed instructions when handling any future fraud incidents, should they arise.
Please contact the SEVP Response Center immediately at 703-603-3400 or 1-800-892-4829 between the hours of 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET or email SEVP@ice.dhs.gov if you have further comments or problems.

Nepal: Immigration Relief Measures 

USCIS has several immigration relief measures that may be available to Nepali nationals who are affected by the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck Nepal on April 25, 2015.

Measures that may be available to eligible Nepali nationals upon request include:
·            Change or extension of nonimmigrant status for an individual currently in the United States, even if the request is filed after the authorized period of admission has expired;
·            A grant of re-parole;
·            ­Expedited processing of advance parole requests;
·            Expedited adjudication and approval, where possible, of requests for off-campus employment authorization for F-1 students experiencing severe economic hardship;
·            Expedited adjudication of employment authorization applications, where appropriate;
·            Consideration for waivers of fees associated with USCIS benefit applications, based on an inability to pay; and
·            Assistance replacing lost or damaged immigration or travel documents issued by USCIS, such as Permanent Resident Cards (green cards).

To learn how to request relief or more about how USCIS assists customers affected by unforeseen circumstances in their home country, visit uscis.gov/humanitarian/special-situations or call the National Customer Service Center at 1-800-375-5283 (TDD for the hearing impaired: 1-800-767-1833).​​

For information on the Nepal Earthquake, organizations to donate to, and guidelines to follow when choosing an organization, CLICK HERE.
Person of the Week
                
    
Name: Raquel Horlick
Home Country: Montreal, Quebec Canada
Degree: Research & Instruction Librarian for Sciences
Birthday: November 1st

                                        cid:8ca5279d-a93f-4387-9997-79783ae37591

Raquel Horlick spends her days in Howie T helping others with their research in the scientific field. She loves her job as a science librarian and hopes to continue helping current and aspiring scientists for the rest of her career.

What is your role here at Tulane as a scholar?
    I am one of the research and instruction librarians at Howard-Tilton Memorial Library. My job consists of helping science students, staff, and faculty identify, access, and use information effectively, ethically, and quickly. It’s a great job as I get to help people become smart and efficient users and producers of scientific information while simultaneously satisfying my endless curiosity for all things science!

What has been one of your most memorable experiences at Tulane University so far?
     One of my favorite annual experiences has been attending the School of Science & Engineering (SSE) Research Day – Poster Sessions. I am always in awe of the amazing and invaluable scientific research being conducted by Tulane undergraduate and graduate students. Students are working to help us age better, cure cancers, protect the environment, understand how our mind works, and develop new technologies for human enhancement.

What advice would you want to share with other/incoming scholars?
      Don’t be afraid to reach out to new people and put yourself out there! Everyone in this city is really friendly and we all want to ensure everyone is safe and having fun. Attend events within and outside of your department and never stop learning and growing.

STAFF 


Ainsley Fagan
Student Affairs Associate

Evan Kirk
Operations Assistant

Nancy Lauland
H-1B Employees
J-1 Scholars
     
Kristy Magner
OISS Director

Beth Nazar
J-1 Students

Belinda Schneider
F-1 Students

Classified Spotlight


Looking for a new place to live? New car?  Check the listings!



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New Job Listing!!!
Receive Free Room and Board and Get Paid a Stipend


Please refer to the linked flyers for more details. Check out the classifieds link for more!
                              
Looking to advertise? Please send a detailed description to oiss@tulane.edu with the subject line “Classifieds”.

On Going Weekly Events

  
Downtown hours
Location:  Tidewater Building, Room 2460
Time:  1:00- 4:00pm

If you need documents or mail brought from OISS, please email or call us before 10:00 am that day.

Coffee Hours
There will be no more Coffee Hours this semester. Join us in the fall for more fun filled Coffee Hours at the OISS. 

Prayer Space (Downtown)
Tidewater Building 15th floor Room 1506, has been dedicated as a quiet prayer space for students of all religious denominations.
Hours: Open when building is open.

Check the digest weekly for more updates about times and locations!
 GOOD LUCK ON YOUR FINAL EXAMS!
Job Spotlight


 
OISS Fall International Student Orientation Leaders (5/7)

International Student Orientation Leaders will assist the OISS staff with the Summer 2014 and/or Fall 2014 orientation for new international F-1 and J-1 students. Orientation leaders will work in a variety of capacities throughout the week to ensure that students become familiar with Tulane and to facilitate their adjustment to the campus community. Specific duties will include, but are not limited to:

* Attending training for International Student Orientation
* Answering questions from students and parents
* Organizing and participating on 1-2 student panels-panels are designed to give new students your perspective on academic and campus life, what you wish you'd known when starting out at Tulane, and practical concerns like cell phones, bank accounts, residence hall and off-campus life, etc.
* Offering campus tours for students and parents
* Organizing a social activity for students after orientation
* General office duties will be required as they relate to orientation responsibilities
Qualifications
A desire to share your experiences with new international students and their parents and a willingness to help them adjust to Tulane.

Fall 2015 Schedule and Wages
Must be able to work from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday, August 17 - Friday August 21. NOTE: You must plan to arrive in New Orleans by Sunday, August 16 at the latest to be ready for orientation on Monday.

$250.00 lump sum
Click here to apply  Deadline May 15
 

OISS Summer Administrative Student Worker (5/7)

The OISS is looking for a part-time student worker from May 18-August 14, 2015.  The duties include, but are not limited to:

*Filing
*Data entry
*Answering the phone
*Making appointments
*Other administrative support duties as needed to support the OISS staff.

Pay: $10.00 per hour/ 10- 20 hours per week.

Click here to apply  Deadline May 15 


Global Collective Community – Community Advisor (5/7)

cid:0a089bbe-1b55-49d7-88bb-1e798132545fThe Department of Housing and Residence Life is looking for two graduate students to work as live-in Community Advisors with our new Global Collective Community, a living-learning community in the Aron campus apartments. 

In summary, these graduate students will work with RAs to develop and implement programming for international graduate students living in the Global Collective.  They will be supervised by a Community Director and Resident Director, receive room and board, and get paid a stipend.  If you could please send this opportunity around to your graduate students, that would be great!  If you have any students you would like to recommend that we reach out to for these positions, please let us know.
Interested applicants can apply for the position at: http://www.tulane.erezlife

EVENTS
               

OISS EVENTS  

OISS Classifieds
Sell your stuff, or get some good deals through our Classifieds. To submit housing rentals, vehicles, or other items for sale, email oiss@tulane.edu with a description, price, and your contact information. Pictures help!

And if you’re moving away but you don’t have time to sell your stuff, donate it to Trash to Treasure, a new Tulane program. There are donation sites at the Wall, Paterson, Sharp, Monroe, Greenbaum, and JL  dorms until May 10. On May 16 and 17, they will be accepting donations at Aron Residences.


There will NOT be a Coffee Hour this Friday. 
Coffee Hours will resume next semester, so hope to see you then!


Audubon Zoo Ticket Sale  

Tickets are available for $5 plus fees via Brown Paper Tickets -(CLICK HERE)
  
     Please print out your ticket and bring it to the OISS Office. Your print-at-home ticket will be exchanged for a physical zoo ticket the front desk.

TULANE AND LOCAL EVENTS

The New Orleans Voodoo
Various Dates. 7 pm. Smoothie King Center.
The New Orleans Voodoo,  NOLA's very own arena football team has multiple games coming up as their season begins. They are the most electrifying team in the Arena Football League. The team's exciting style of football and fun gameday atmosphere with Bones, Mojo, and VooDoo Dolls make every kickoff an event. Find dates and tickets HERE.


Fidelity Concert in the Park
Thursday, May 7, 2015. 6 pm. Al Copeland Concert Meadow, La Freneire Park, Metairie
Sponsored by Fidelity Band and Jefferson Parish, Swing in the Park features classic and modern favorites guaranteed to please generations of listeners. This Thursday, the New Orleans Concert Band and the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra will be performing. Selections will include the theme from Jurassic Park by John Williams, "A Song of Fire and Ice" from Game of Thrones by Ramin Djawadi, and much more. This event is free and open to the public.


Louisiana International Film Festival
and Mentorship Program
Thursday, May 7 – Sunday, May 10, 2015. Various Times. Cinemark Perkins Rowe, Baton Rouge.
The Louisiana International Film Festival celebrates the film industry and fosters connections between Louisiana talent and veteran filmmakers. LIFF is a non-profit organization dedicated to the development of Louisiana’s film, digital media, innovative talent and the representation of that talent to the world. Not only will there be a showing of films, but through the Mentorship Program, there will be special guests teaching workshops, holding panels discussions, and presenting interactive presentations. For more information on LIFF, click HERE.

Crawfish Mambo
Saturday, May 9, 2015. 11 am - 7 pm. UNO Lakefront Campus.
The University of New Orleans is holding its annual Crawfish Mambo which will include all you can eat crawfish, a cook-off, and live music featuring The Honey Island Swamp Band, Stooges Brass Band, The 610 Stompers, and more! Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. For more information click HERE.

Limon Dance Company
Saturday, May 9, 2015. 8 pm. Mahalia Jackson Theater for the Performing Arts.
The New Orleans Ballet Association is presenting the Limon Dance Company as it kicks off its 70th anniversary season in New Orleans and begins a year-long celebration honoring the incredible legacy of founder and American modern dance icon José Limón. In tribute, this gorgeous company brings a brilliant program, including the musical gem Mazurkas (1958), set to Chopin, and the monumental revival of the "profoundly stirring and exalting" (Dance Magazine) masterpiece Missa Brevis (1958) made possible by NOBA. With an exuberant score by Hungarian composer Zoltán Kodály, this restaging will feature chorus and New Orleans-based dancers selected from the NORDC/NOBA Center for Dance. Click Here to Buy Tickets.

The Bayou Boogaloo
Friday, May 15 - Sunday, May 17, 2015. All day. Along Bayou St. John at Orleans Ave and N. Jefferson Davis Pkwy
The 3rd weekend in May of each year, the Mothership Foundation produces the Mid-City Bayou Boogaloo as a free celebration of New Orleans culture. We invite you to join our mission to improve the quality of life for New Orleans residents through the promotion of the arts, music, health, and recreation. This event will be a good time for all ages, with great music, food, art, and fun.

New Orleans Wine and Food Experience
Monday, May 20 - Thursday, May 23, 2015. 12 pm - 4 pm. French Quarter.
Each year, hundreds of wineries and restaurants participate in the New Orleans Wine and Food Experience. Menus feature local flavor and innovative new creations inspired by diverse cuisines. Top chefs from around the city create culinary experiences like no other. Over 2 dozen restaurants feature special dining evenings throughout the New Orleans festival. The weekend also features over 1000 wines from around the world,  with special tasting events from wineries. You can enjoy grand tasting events, promenade evenings in the French Quarter, and seminar series to hone your palate. For the grand finale, attend the gala at the end! For more information and to buy tickets, click HERE.

Greek Fest 
Wednesday, May 22 - Friday, May 24, 2015. Various Times. Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral, Bayou St. John.
Join us on Bayou St. John a the 2015 Annual Greek Festival! Featuring plenty of homemade traditional Greek food and wine, and lots of desserts. Live traditional Greek dancing will be performed by the Hellenic Dancers and a live Greek band will be playing on Bayou. Click HERE for specific event information and times.

Bayou Country Superfest 
Thursday, May 23 & Friday, May 24, 2015. All Day. LSU Tiger Stadium, Baton Rouge.
Don't miss out on this year's Bayou Country Superfest. This country music festival will have many well known artists including, Blake Shelton, Kenny Chesney, Miranda Lambert, Cassady Pope, and much much more. There will also be a fan fest and tailgating going on right next door. Tickets are on sale now. Click this LINK for more information.

New Orleans Oyster Fest
Saturday, May 30, 2015 & Sunday, May 31, 2015. 10:30 am - 6:30 pm. 
Woldenberg Park.
The New Orleans Oyster Festival will educate the country about the benefits of the Louisiana Gulf Oyster, honor and celebrate the restauranteurs and oyster farmers who have solidified the New Orleans French Quarter's position as the "Oyster Capital of America," and help raise funds for "Coastal Restoration." There will be live music, contests, and a ton of different dishes featuring oysters.

Hollygrove Market and Farm
Daily. Various times.  10:30 am - 6:30 pm. 8301 Olive St. New Orleans.
The Hollygrove Market and Farm is an urban farm, local produce market, and community garden space located in the heart of New Orleans. HM&F exists to increase accessibility of fresh produce to the New Orleans area while promoting sustainability through support of local farmers and the local economy as well as acting as a demonstration site for environmentally sustainable practices. Make sure to check out HM&F's website for times before you stop by.



News and Other Announcements 

News Articles and Interesting Reads

Top Golfer Gemma Dryburgh Drives for Excellence
For a More Creative Brain, Travel
A Fundamental Quest for Knowledge

Links for Nepal

Nepal Earthquake Support
CNN - Nepal Earthquake: How to help.
Nepal Earthquake Person Finder
Charity Navigator



Mission Statement

Links

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The mission of the Office of International Students and Scholars is to provide leadership in the internationalization of Tulane University by supporting the Tulane international community and facilitating cross-cultural interaction. By way of support, OISS offers quality programs and services and ensures compliance with federal immigration regulations.

Our strong belief is that a vibrant international community enriches Tulane University and the New Orleans community and is an essential component to understanding our role within the global community.




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Weekly Fact: The Q in Q-tips stand for Quality. They used to be called Baby Grays.







 

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