Andrews University Agenda

Andrews University Agenda http://www.andrews.edu/agenda/ News and Events at Andrews University en-us Copyright 2025, Andrews University Thu, 12 Jun 2025 09:43:00 +0000 Thu, 12 Jun 2025 09:43:00 +0000 webmaster@andrews.edu webmaster@andrews.edu Response to Student Visa Freeze http://www.andrews.edu/agenda/67312 Greetings! I am writing in regard to the recent news about the U.S. State Department freeze on new student visa appointments at U.S. consulates and embassies worldwide. I know these developments raise questions of concern for our international students already on campus and for Andrews University faculty and staff who support and advise international students. However, I realize the news is especially concerning to our newly-accepted international students who have not yet received a student visa. If you are in this category, please know that the International Student Services (ISS) office at Andrews University is monitoring the situation daily, and ISS staff are prepared and ready to support you no matter what happens next. I also wanted to offer these thoughts: <ul> <li> The current freeze is temporary and could change at any time.</li> <li> ISS is ready to change and adapt in response.</li> <li> ISS will continue issuing new I-20s during the freeze, so once the freeze is lifted, I-20s will have already been emailed if all requirements were met.</li> <li> ISS will communicate updates and new options as changes to the student visa process are clarified by the U.S. government in the coming days and weeks.</li> </ul> Though I cannot guarantee answers to every student visa question at the moment, I can guarantee that ISS is closely watching for new U.S. government guidelines and is ready to support you in whatever way possible. Our prayers and best wishes are with you during this time of uncertainty! Christian Stuart Associate Dean for International Education Wed, 28 May 2025 16:33:08 +0000 International Food Fair 2025 http://www.andrews.edu/agenda/67035 The International Food Fair will take place on Sunday, April 6, from 12–7 p.m. in the Johnson Gym. A rich tradition at Andrews, we are looking forward to having the campus and surrounding community come together to experience food and culture from around the world! Tickets are required to purchase food and other items at the International Food Fair, and they will be sold at the door at $1 per ticket. Credit cards and cash will be accepted for payment. If you are a member of a student club or an organization that wishes to have a booth at this event, there may be a few spaces left. Please email International Student Services at <a href="mailto:iss@andrews.edu">iss@andrews.edu</a> right away if you are interested. We are looking forward to seeing you at this year’s International Food Fair! Wed, 26 Mar 2025 14:34:55 +0000 International Student Visas http://www.andrews.edu/agenda/66881 Dear international students, We hope you are doing well and wish you many successes for the spring 2025 semester! We wanted to send a message of support and clarification amidst the news of arrests, detainment and deportation by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). We assure you that if you are studying at Andrews University with a student visa, your valid F-1 or J-1 status allows you to be present in the United States legally, and the current enforcement actions do not target individuals who maintain their visa status. As always, but especially now, it is important to make sure that your student visa is in good status, particularly in the following areas: <ul> <li> Full-time status: You must be a full-time student each fall and spring semester (and your first summer if you start your studies on campus in the summer). Full-time status means registering for at least 12 credits per semester for undergraduate students, at least 8 credits per semester for graduate students and at least 9 credits per semester for MDiv students (alternatively, graduate students can meet the requirement by registering for any course number described in the current University bulletin as meeting full-time status). <ul> <li> Note to graduate students at the thesis or dissertation stage: Upon completing coursework, you must continue to meet full-time status through a thesis or dissertation continuation section that counts as full-time status in the University bulletin.</li> </ul> </li> <li> Employment: You can work on campus for up to 20 hours per week (and more during school breaks), but you need prior authorization from the International Student Services office before working off campus in Curricular Practical Training (CPT) or Optional Practical Training (OPT).</li> <li> Deadlines: You must keep track of your I-20 end date (for F-1 visa holders) and contact International Student Services at least 30 days before this date if you wish to extend; upon completion of your program of study, you will have 60 days to apply for OPT, be accepted into a new program of study, or transfer to another institution. If you have a J-1 visa, your DS-2019 has similar deadlines that vary depending on your program category; always check in with International Student Services at least 30 days before the end date on your DS-2019.</li> <li> International Travel: Plan carefully if you want to leave the United States before completing your program of study. You must ensure that your F-1 or J-1 visa will still be valid when you return to the United States, and you must have a current travel endorsement on your I-20 (for F-1 visa holders) or DS-2019 (for J-1 visa holders). We strongly advise any international students planning international travel to stop by the International Student Services office before departure.</li> </ul> Once again, we want to assure you that your student visa grants you legal status to be in the United States while you study, keeping you out of the scope of the current enforcement efforts. If you are at all concerned about your student visa status or have questions, don’t hesitate to visit us in the International Student Services office (Administration Building, Room 307). We will listen to you, pray with you and offer guidance to best solve any challenges or concerns you may have. Our prayers and best wishes are with you this semester, and we are privileged to serve you! Christian Stuart Associate Dean for International Education Principal Designated School Official (PDSO) Silmara Ferreira International Student Services Director Designated School Official (DSO) Thu, 13 Mar 2025 17:32:53 +0000 Update on the Return to Standard I-20 Regulations http://www.andrews.edu/agenda/62868 Greetings, international students! We hope you are having a great summer whether you are taking a break, taking classes, working or perhaps some combination of the three! With the fall 2023 semester right around the corner, we wanted to share with you an important update from the U.S. government specifically concerning those of you with an active I-20. On May 12, the U.S. government’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) sent a broadcast message to U.S. universities announcing that COVID-related flexibilities relating to student visas will end upon completion of the summer session. As a result, beginning this August with the start of the fall 2023 semester, pre-COVID regulations relating to student visas for Andrews University students will be permanently back in place. This change will affect Andrews University students who are studying with an I-20 in two important ways: <ul> <li> Online class allowance: Beginning fall 2023, international students with an I-20 can take one online class that will count toward the full-time requirement. All other classes taken to meet the requirement must be face-to-face on the Berrien Springs campus.</li> <li> Required presence on the Berrien Springs campus: To maintain an I-20 in active status, students must be physically present on the Berrien Springs campus as full-time students in both the fall and spring semesters (and in summer if the summer is the first time taking classes on the Berrien Springs campus).</li> </ul> If you are an Andrews University student studying remotely from outside of the United States, these U.S. visa requirements do not apply to you and you are free to take as many online classes as your program of study qualifies you to take. However, once you plan to come to the Berrien Springs campus to study in person, you will then need an I-20. When it is time to begin the I-20 process, you can do that by emailing <a href="mailto:isfs@andrews.edu">isfs@andrews.edu</a>. Please feel free to reach out to either one of us if you have any questions about this return to standard SEVP I-20 regulations. You can also visit the Office of International Student Services <a href="https://www.andrews.edu/services/international/index.html">website</a> to review ongoing updates and to find additional information regarding visas and I-20s, maintaining status, and life on the Berrien Springs campus as an international student. We offer our prayers and best wishes to you for the remainder of these summer months, and we are looking forward to serving you in the new school year! All the best, Christian Stuart Associate Dean for International Education Silmara Ferreira International Student Services Director Fri, 09 Jun 2023 11:48:56 +0000 Spring 2023 OPT and CPT Workshops http://www.andrews.edu/agenda/62173 Jan. 19, 2023 Dear international students, I hope this new spring 2023 semester has started well for you! As you settle into your class schedules and other routines, I wanted to write to let you know about some important events: our upcoming Optional Practical Training (OPT) workshop and the Curricular Practical Training (CPT) workshop. For this semester, we will hold our OPT workshop on Tuesday, Jan. 24, from 3:30–5 p.m. and the CPT workshop on Tuesday, Jan. 31, from 3:30–5 p.m. Both workshops will be presented via Zoom (go to this <a href="https://andrews.zoom.us/j/5322129830">link</a> or use ID 532 212 9830 <a href="https://zoom.us/join">here</a>). Both of these workshops will be recorded, so if you are unable to attend the live Zoom sessions, you can watch the presentations later by going to the <a href="https://www.andrews.edu/services/international/optional-practical-training-opt-.html">OPT page</a> and <a href="https://www.andrews.edu/services/international/curricular-practical-training-cpt-.html">CPT page</a>. Also, we ask that you review the recorded <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDTpCMGnDW4">fall 2022 OPT presentation</a> and the recorded <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUYn3jUQn9U">fall 2022 CPT presentation</a> before you attend this semester’s workshops as the information in both presentations remains valid and is still up to date. As a result, we will use the OPT workshop time on Tuesday, Jan. 24, and the CPT workshop time on Tuesday, Jan. 31, entirely as question-and-answer sessions. We hope to see you online in one or both of these important sessions! Prayers and best wishes for a great semester. Christian Stuart, PhD Executive Director Thu, 19 Jan 2023 12:46:45 +0000 Holiday Treats and More for International Students http://www.andrews.edu/agenda/62011 Greetings, international students, As we wrap up the busy final days of this fall semester, I wanted to check in with you before you head into a much deserved holiday break, wherever it takes you. If you have a chance between final exams this week, please take a moment to stop by our International Student Services office (Administration Building, Room 307) tomorrow, Tuesday, Dec. 13, through Thursday, Dec. 15, for a holiday treat. We will have an assortment of holiday cookies and other treats along with hot drinks for you to choose from. We would love for you to stop by as we celebrate this semester and holiday season. This also offers you a great chance to ask any questions you might have now that the fall semester is ending and you are making plans for the holiday break and the upcoming spring semester. It’s especially important to drop by if you plan to travel internationally during the break. If that’s part of your plans, be sure to stop by and let us know so we can make sure you have all the necessary travel endorsements and other immigration requirements you’ll need before you travel. Also, if your I-20 has a program end date in December but you are not actually going to complete your program of study this month, please make sure you let us know before the end date listed on your I-20 so we can help you revise your I-20 information in order to maintain your immigration status. We hope to see you this week between your exams, but even if you can’t stop by, I wish you all a relaxing break, a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Christian Stuart Executive Director Mon, 12 Dec 2022 15:32:45 +0000 Invitation to Participate in Research Project http://www.andrews.edu/agenda/61814 Greetings, international students! I want to first thank each one of you for how you add to the cultural richness and international diversity that contributes so much to our Andrews University experience and identity. With this in mind, I am writing with an exciting and important opportunity for you to help our Office of International Student Services better understand how we can more effectively serve our international students here at Andrews University. Specifically, my colleague, Gilbert Wari, has begun work on a yearlong project for the College of Education & International Services to better understand the challenges, needs and successes of our international students on campus. We would appreciate it if you could take a moment to assist with this project by simply emailing Gilbert directly at <a href="mailto:wari@andrews.edu">wari@andrews.edu</a> with a response to these two questions: <ol> <li> What is your country of origin?</li> <li> Based on your experiences studying on the Berrien Springs campus, in what ways do you feel Andrews University could better support its international students, make them feel happy, and offer them a sense of belonging?</li> </ol> Your participation in this project will just take a moment and will greatly contribute to our efforts to serve you and other international students effectively. We are looking forward to hearing from you! All the best, Christian Stuart Executive Director Tue, 22 Nov 2022 17:21:34 +0000 Update: Nov. 20 Banquet for International Students http://www.andrews.edu/agenda/61781 Nov. 15, 2022 Dear international students, Thank you for your interest in the upcoming Thanksgiving Banquet for on-campus international students and their immediate family members, to be held on Sunday, Nov. 20, from 5–7 p.m. on the second floor of the Campus Center (next to the Terrace Café). Attendance requires a ticket, and at this time all of the tickets, over 200, have been handed out. We wish we could hand out more, but due to limited spacing there are, unfortunately, no remaining tickets. We have been so sorry to tell people this week who have come in for a ticket that we are all out. At the same time, we are very happy to see the interest this event has generated, and we look forward to planning additional events like this in the near future. Some of you who received a ticket have asked about what to wear to the Thanksgiving Banquet. As this is a formal event, a good rule of thumb to follow would be to dress as you would dress when you are going to church. Prayers and Thanksgiving blessings to all of you. Christian Stuart Executive Director Tue, 15 Nov 2022 13:18:48 +0000