Connections
A International Newsletter for International Students
June 2008 Edition
S
tudent Profile:
Maiko Todo
Over the years, receiving an education was somewhat of a right of passage. Today earning a college degree, a necessity for success, is almost a luxury. It is available to those who have the financial resources and are able to endure the pressures of higher education with hard work, courage and commitment. Just ask Maiko Todo who has done just that and on June 10, 2008 she will march across center stage at Corsair Field to be awarded her Associate Arts Degree in Marine Biology. Maiko is transferring to Cal State Northridge to complete her Bachelors degree. Born in Tokyo, Japan, and raised in Taiwan Maikos astrological sign is Libra. Maiko has weighed the many difficulties she has confronted over the past 3 years of study here at Santa Monica College. "A few of my friends told me about SMC and of its high transfer rate and I chose to attend." said Maiko. "I picked Marine Biology to major in because my father loves animals and I was brought up with birds,
cats, dogs and just about any kind of animal you could imagine, she said. "While I have grown as a person in and outside the classroom, I never thought I would experience the many tough times I have gone through just trying to get an education, states Maiko. I have gone through four apartment moves and countless roommates while studying here at SMC. You know you really don't how alone you are and how important friends you make mean to you while youre at school, described Maiko. On the other hand, the many good things about her education included the wonderful professors and students she was able to learn from and meet. It's just hard to be so far away from your family and to have to worry about them as well as your studies as well as all the other day to day issues youre faced with when your away trying to get an education to make a better life for yourself and your family, proclaimed Maiko. I am so grateful to so many professors and staff at SMC like DK and Lynn, exclaimed Maiko. Ive learned so many things! beamed Maiko. When Maiko finds spare time between work and her studies she enjoys spending time with my friends and listening to music. "I love Al Green and Nat King Cole is my favorite! He had what I would call a satin voice and I just love to hear his music, cooed Maiko. After Maiko studies at Northridge, she plans to attend graduate school at the University of Hawaii in Manoa. Maiko will finally feel what she has accomplished attends graduation next week. Not only will Maiko be receiving it for her hard work in her classes, but it will also be for her perseverance and having endured the test of time away from her family and friends and having mastered Survival 101 in college! . By: Lynn W. Washington
Important Dates Six-week session
Final Exams Tue, June 3 Tues, June 10, 2008 Last day of spring semester Tues, June 10, 2008 Commencement Tues, June 10, 2008 Session begins Mon, June 16, 2008 Avoid a W drop deadline Sun, June, 22, 2008 CR/NC petition deadline Fri, June 27, 2008 Refund deadline Sun, June 29, 2008 Independence Day Holiday Sun, July 4, 2008 Guaranteed W drop deadline Sun, July 6, 2008 Faculty drop deadline Wed, July 16, 2008 (need C grade or better and instructors approval) End 6-week session Fri, July 25, 2008 **Reminder: Students can enroll themselves into open classes until the night before the second class meeting, except for online, hybrid and arranged hour classes.
Inside This Edition
Update-OPT Extensions Important Dates SMC Soccer Fest Home Sweet Home Counseling Corner Page 2 Page 2 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4
2 INTERNATIONAL CONNECTIONS MARCH 2008
Immi
1) 2) 3)
gration Update-OPT Extensions
Important Dates Eight-week session
Session begins Mon, June 16, 2008 Avoid a W drop deadline Sun, June, 22, 2008 CR/NC petition deadline Friday, June 27, 2008 Refund deadline Sun, June 29, 2008 Independence Day Holiday Sun, July 4, 2008 Guaranteed W drop deadline Sun, July 13, 2008 Faculty drop deadline Fri, July 25, 2008 (need C grade or better and instructors approval) End 8-week session Fri, Aug. 8, 2008 **Reminder: Students can enroll themselves into open classes until the night before the second class meeting, except for online, hybrid and arranged hour classes.
Many international students who are considering or are currently participating in optional practical training are wondering if the recent changes to the law will affect their status in OPT. There were several changes recently and have the following effect: F-1 visa students who have completed a bachelors degree in one of the STEM majors: Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics can apply for a 17 month extension of the OPT period if their employer is registered with the USCIS E-Verify Employment Program. This will allow a student a total of 29 months of OPT. Unfortunately, students who have completed only an associate of arts degree or certificate are not eligible for this extension. F-1 students who have applied for an H1B working visa and have an approved receipt from the DHS can apply for an extension of the OPT end period up to the H1B start date of October 1st. This is called the CAP-GAP Relief. All F-1 visa students who are participating in OPT must report to the school where they are working and any periods of unemployment. A period of 90 days of unemployment may cause a student to fall out-of-legal F-1 status. As always students are required to find employment within their approved major field of study and report any change of address within 10 days of moving.
Any international student, who will be graduating with an associate of arts degree or a career certificate this spring 2008 semester or summer 2008 session and is interested in applying for OPT, should see the Immigration Coordinator as soon as possible to complete the paperwork.
Spring Semester Ends With A Soccer Fest
R&B recording artist Rod Stewart once recorded a song title "Every Picture Tells A Story, Don't It?" and from the looks of these pictures, one could easily see the, story was, Santa Monica College International Student 1st coed Soccer Fest told the story of a fun fill afternoon to be had by all. On Friday May 9, 2008 some 43 international students and about as many friends and spectators heard the call for soccer anyone? And gathered at the Santa Monica Airport soccer field to enjoy an afternoon of fun on the soccer field. Santa Monica College International Education Center rented all the all three soccer fields for the entire after noon, while 3 match's were played simultaneously. At the sound the whistle of Head Coach Aaron Benditson, for SMC's Women's Soccer team, all 43 international soccer participants headed for the center of the soccer field, where they were joined by assistant coaches Benjamin Benditson and Timothy Pierce, who served as referee's for the matches, along with the SMC Women's Soccer Team Manager, who served as the official score keeper for this event, Coach Benditsonthen announced "The one thing I want to make perfectly clear, Is today's soccer matches are not all about winning, these matches today are all about having fun! explained Coach Benditson. On that note, the coach passed out a variety of colored jerseys for each player to wear and told the teams to choose a team name. The Green color the choose name the "Dream Team", the Yellow color called themselves the "Lakers", the Orange color was called the "All Stars", the red team was known as the "Red Devils", the blue team was the "Beautiful", and finally the white color called themselves the SMC Fighters. After choosing and naming the teams, it was time to let the fun and games begin. Once a couple of rounds had been decided and team changed, a couple minor injuries thing's started to shape up as to who would be in the final play off. After a shootout between the "Beautiful" and the "Dream" team, to decide the SMC International Soccer Team Fest, the "Beautiful" went on to face the SMC Fighter's for the championship. Needless to say, The SMC Fighter's won the over all Soccer Fest. Without a doubt all students in attendance found it a wonderful experience to just have fun and "KICK IT" with other international students. Just take a look at these pictures and you'll see, "Every Picture Tells A Story."
3 INTERNATIONAL CONNECTIONS JUNE 2008
H
ome Sweet Home!
-Teresa Morris
Yay! Spring Semester is drawing to a close. New students youve almost survived your first semester at SMC. Continuing students finals are coming, but there is light at the end of the tunnel. Graduating, transferring or students receiving certificates congratulations! No matter which category you fall into, summer should offer some time off for all. If you plan to stay in LA, close your books for a while and take a moment to explore your temporary home. Visitors come by the thousands to see all that Southern California, the ethnic and cultural hub of the Pacific Rim, has to offer. You can set a more leisurely pace in previous issues, we have invited you to visit Chinatown and the Fairfax District, two distinct cultural areas that can almost make you think youre not in the US at all. This month, why not take a short ride to Koreatown?
Koreatown
Located in the Mid-Wilshire area, just south of Hollywood and west of Downtown LA, Koreatown is the nucleus of Korean society in Los Angeles. There you can find authentic Korean BBQ, cosmetics, music, groceries stores almost as if you had taken a quick trip to Seoul! Also known as K-Town, its nightlife is pulsing, with exclusive clubs and bars dotting every street. Each club has an age group, so chose appropriately! The Wiltern Theater also lies just to the north, and plays host to a variety of high-profile and indie rock evening concerts. Koreatown is known for noraebangs (Korean karaoke), bakeries, salons/barber shops, PC rooms, and many more. Koreatown also offers tofu houses, noodle shops, and a wide selection of 24-hour restaurants. Korean cuisine includes a vast array of side dishes, so if you would like to try a variety of banchan, or are confident enough to brave a walk on the wild side with some gochujang, a visit to Koreatown is in order!
More info: http://www.koreatownlosangeles.com/
Soccer Fest Brings Out the Fun in ALL
Teresa Morris works at the International Education Counseling Center and is happy to help you with all non-academic matters, including housing, insurance questions, finding on-campus jobs, social security issues, banking, cell phones, utilities, drivers licenses, notarizing documents etc. Feel free to visit her at 1734 Pearl Street during the following hours: Monday through Thursday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm Fridays 8:00 am to 12:30 pm. You may also contact Teresa directly at 310-434-4126 or by e-mail at [e-mail]
Feel free to contact Teresa directly at 310-434-4126 or by e-mail at [e-mail]. Additional resources are available online at http://www.smc.edu. Click on International Students then Housing.
4 INTERNATIONAL CONNECTIONS MARCH 2008
C
ounseling Corner
-Peggy Kravitz
Enroll now for summer and fall 2008!
Students planning to continue at SMC should have received their enrollment dates by now. Enrollment began on May 5th. Refer to your Student Self-Serve records to find out your enrollment date and enroll as soon as possible for the best class selection. If you have problems enrolling please refer to the list of common problems below. Meet with a counselor if you are still unable to determine what the problem is. Common enrollment problems 1) Unable to enroll into repeated classes Students who attempt to enroll into a class they previously failed or withdrew from will be allowed to repeat it once more. Subsequent repeats will require a counselors approval. Plan ahead and meet with a counselor far ahead of your enrollment date. 2) Hold on your records Two of the most common holds are an IEC hold and an IEC non-payment hold. IEC holds are typically due to students being below 12 units or other immigration matters. Students with IEC holds should meet with an International Counselor for further instructions on removing the hold. IEC non-payment holds have to do with late payments of tuition and fees. Students who paid their fees late and still have a hold on their records must go to the International Education Center to have this hold removed. All payments must be paid for prior to any further enrollment. 3) Exceeding unit limitations Most students are eligible to enroll into a maximum of 16 units for fall and spring and 8 units for summer and winter. Students on probation are limited to 12 units during the fall and spring and 8 units during the summer and winter. Students needing to take more than the maximum units allowed will need to get approval from a counselor. Consideration is given to past semester grades and course loads as well as current class progress. 4) Expired math and ESL assessment scores Students who have taken the math and ESL assessment tests but have not enrolled in a math or ESL course during the past year may find that their assessment scores have expired. At this point, students must retake the assessment tests prior to enrolling. 5) Unable to enroll into the next ESL or math class Students who plan to take a math or ESL class during the fall semester but are also taking either class during the summer must wait until their summer instructors give their approval to advance to the next level. Math and ESL instructors will generally do this around the third or fourth week of the summer session. Students can then enroll into their fall math or ESL classes at that time. Counselors Available! If you need assistance with your class selections for summer and fall, counselors are available in the International Education Counseling Center on a walk-in (first-come-first-serve) basis only. Office hours are Monday-Thursday, 8:00am-4:30pm and Fridays, 8:00am-12:30pm. During this busy time of the year, it may take longer to meet with a counselor so plan ahead and do not wait until the last minute to take care of matters.
Santa Monica College International Education Center 1900 Pico Boulevard Santa Monica, CA 90405 U.S.A.
VISIT US ONLINE! WWW.SMC.EDU/INTERNATIONAL
Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone] [e-mail] Monday - Thursday: 8:00 AM-4:30 PM Friday: 8:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Santa Monica College Board of Trustees: Rob Rader, Chair; Louise Jaffe, Vice-Chair; Dr. Susan Aminoff; Judge David B. Finkle (Ret.); Dr. Nancy Greenstein; Dr. Margaret Quionez-Perez; Dr. Andrew Walzer; Adel Morad, Student Trustee Dr. Chui L. Tsang, Superintendent/President