2016 Spring International
Orientation
Presented by
Global Engagement Office
Plymouth State University
January 2016
Pemi the
Panther
1
A Dozen Things You Need to Know
About…
IMMIGRATION
&
Status
2
Passport
Must be valid for AT LEAST 6
months into the future at all time to
remain in legal status in the U.S.
3
VISA vs. F1/J1 Status
 Your VISA is like a ticket. It gets you
into the USA
 Your status is reflected in your I-20
(F1) or DS-2019 (J1) documents.
 It’s okay if your visa expires while in
the USA (See Jane/Tom if you have
Qs)
4
Be A Full Time Student
 Students must be registered full time
(undergrads = 12 credits per semester) to stay
in legal status in the USA. Only 3 credits can
be from an online class.
 Unforeseen Circumstances: Must meet with
Jane or Thomas before dropping below full
time.
5
Reporting to Jane (F1) or Thomas
(J1):
 If you change any of the following…
 ADDRESS
 MAJOR
 FACULTY OR DEPARTMENT
 DEGREE
 FUNDING SOURCE
…inform us within 10 days of any changes or you will be
considered out of legal status.
PSU is obligated to update your SEVIS record within 21
days of receiving your change notification.
6
Travel Abroad and Re-entry into
the US
 1-20 (F1) or DS-2019 (J1) must be signed
by Jane (F1) or Thomas (J1) before leaving
the U.S.
 Travel signature is only valid for one
year (6 months is preferred)
 If your VISA has expired, you must make
arrangements to renew it while in your
home country.
7
I-20/DS-2019 Extension of
Status
If you need more time to graduate
J-1 exchanges must also extend
status if pursuing Academic
Training (AT) after exchange
program
Apply for an extension before the
program end date
8
ON-CAMPUS employment
 Can obtain an hourly job on PSU’s campus (bookstore,
library, etc.)
 Cannot work more than 20 hours per week during
semester/term
 During semester/term breaks, working 20 hours or more
per week is ok
 Only eligible for student hourly positions (Not Work
Study)
9
OFF-CAMPUS employment
 Must be related to field of Study
 NOT PERMITTED without proper authorization (CPT or
OPT for F-1s) from Jane or (AT for J-1s) from Thomas,
even if it’s an unpaid internship or a volunteer
position!
 CANNOT work more than 20 hours per week during
semester/term
 During semester/term breaks, working 20 hours or more
per week is ok
10
Social Security Number (SSN)
Are you Eligible?
 To be eligible, you must have a paid job (on-
campus or off-campus)
 Must be in the U.S. for at least 10 business days
to apply
11
Driving in New Hampshire
 Can drive in NH for up to 60 days with:
 A valid foreign driver’s license; and
 An international driving permit
 OR
 Apply for your New Hampshire Driver’s License
 Visit Global Engagement before you apply to learn
the procedure
 Visit our page: Google Global Plymouth State
Int’l Support Services Driving in NH
12
I-94 Admission Record
 What is this?
 Electronic proof of your lawful entry into the United
States
 When would I need this?
 When applying for a driver’s license
 When applying for you SSN
 When leaving the USA by airplane
 Where can I learn more & print out a copy?
 www.cbp.gov/I94
13
Maintain Legal Status:
Your Responsibility!
 Do your best in your courses!
 If you have any troubles, seek help
early!
 Follow all laws set by the state of New
Hampshire and the USA!
 Follow all university rules and
regulations!
 When in doubt, come to Global
Engagement
14
Get Ready!
Clicker
How do you feel?
1. 
2. 
3. 
0%
1.
0%
2.
0%
3.
How far into the future must my
passport be valid to remain in
legal status?
1. 1 year
2. 6 months
3. 3 months
4. My status is good until
the expiration date on
my passport
0%
1.
0%
2.
0%
3.
0%
4.
To apply for a SSN, I must…
Have unpaid volunteer
work/internship
2. Be a full time student
3. Have paid
work/employment offer
4. Have a US bank
account
1.
0%
1.
0%
2.
0%
3.
0%
4.
Before working off-campus I have
to…
Do nothing
2. Apply for CPT or OPT or AT (J1)
3. Find a job
4. Buy a car
1.
0%
1.
0%
2.
0%
3.
0%
4.
To drive in New Hampshire
AFTER my first 60 days I need a
1. PSU ID
2. NH Driver’s License
3. International Driving Permit
4. Home Country Driver’s License
0%
1.
0%
2.
0%
3.
0%
4.
To work on-campus I must…
First ask my advisor
2. Make sure the job fits my field of study
3. Work only 20 hours a week during the semester
4. First ask my parents
1.
0%
21
1.
0%
2.
0%
3.
0%
4.
I must notify GEO within 10 days
when I change my…
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
22
Address
Funding Source
Major
Degree
Faculty or department
All of the above
0%
0%
1.
2.
0%
0%
0%
0%
3.
4.
5.
6.
My Visa is valid. Before traveling outside
the USA, I must first go to GEO to…
0%
1. Get a letter of full-time enrollment
0%
2. Get a travel signature on I-20/DS2019
0%
3. Say Goodbye to the Robert Frost statue
0%
4. Do nothing, my VISA is valid
23
If I need more time to finish my
program, I can always extend my
I-20/DS-2019 AFTER the original
program end date.
True
2. False
1.
0%
0%
…BEFORE the original program
end date.
1.
24
2.
To maintain immigration status, a
full-time PSU undergraduate
student means at least…
9 credits per semester
2. 12 credits per semester
3. 6 credits per semester
1.
0%
25
1.
0%
2.
0%
3.
When do I need to print out a
copy of my I-94 admission
record?
When applying for my PSU ID
2. When applying for my NH
Driver’s License/ SSN / or
leaving the US by plane
3. I never need a copy of this
1.
0%
26
1.
0%
2.
0%
3.
So, that’s it. How do you feel now
1. 
2. 
3. 
Questions?
Top Five Academic Things
You Need to Know:
The US College System
28
Syllabus
29
Syllabus
 Like a Contract
 They all look different
 All found in Moodle
30
Moodle – Online Academic Portal
 Learning Management System that all PSU
professors use in their classes
 Located in MyPlymouth My Courses

Some Features of Moodle
 Online resources for course (syllabi, videos, PPTs)
 Online communication (with classmates and/or
prof)
 View Grades (if prof has set up)
31
Moodle – Online Academic Portal
32
Online Course
 As an international student, only 1 online course
per term is allows
 An online course is only found in Moodle (class
never physically meets)
 Requires daily check-in to do well
 More reading, writing and online discussion based
33
Class Participation
 Students expect to participate
 Not just a lecture
 Students are expected to ask questions in
class and go to see the professor during
office hours if they don’t understand
something
 Group and pair work / projects / assignments
34
Plagiarism
 To steal or copy the words or ideas of another and
pass it off as your own
 Also known as literary theft
35
Penalties for Plagiarism at PSU
 The student will be dealt with accordingly
depending on how serious the offense is
 All decisions and judgments are made by the
Panel of Academic Integrity
 If you are caught plagiarizing, sanctions might be:
 Fail the paper
 Fail the course
 Suspension
 Expulsion
36
How to Avoid Plagiarism
 Recognize other people’s work
 Paraphrasing
 Sharing another's information but in your own words
 Still need to cite where you found original information
 Proper citation and formatting
 “Citation” or “Citing” means: properly identifying and
recognizing a source of information
 Most commonly used citation methods:
 MLA and APA
37
On-Campus Resources
 ALL of the following on campus resources are located
in Lamson Learning Commons
 PASS Office
 Writing Center
 Reference Desk
 When in doubt ask for HELP!
38
Question 1: Material taken from
the internet is free to the public
and does not need to be cited
A. True
B. False
0%
e
e
0%
#2 You have a really big paper due, and it’s
worth 20% of your grade. You really need to get
an A on this paper. What should you do?
A. Look up a really great paper
online and copy it
B. Ask your professor for help
C. Go to the Writing Center or
Reference Desk
D. Both B & C
0%
A.
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0%
B.
0%
C.
0%
D.
You finished a paper and completely
mastered paraphrasing and put everything
into your own words. Therefore, you
choose not to cite your paper. Is this
plagiarism?
A. Yes
B. No
0%
No
41
Ye
s
0%
Questions on US College
System?
42
Shake Hands or Kiss?
Cross-Cultural Presentation
International Student Orientation
Spring 2016
43
Characteristics Typical of American
Culture
 Friendly and polite
 Willing to talk to strangers about almost anything…
except a person’s weight, age, religion, or salary
 “Excuse me”, “Thank you”
 Physically self-aware (don’t want to offend people with
body odor or bad breath)
 Need personal space – like space around them
 BUT like to hug!
 Don’t push or shove, wait their turn
44
Typical Courteous Behavior
of American Culture, continued
 “How are you?”- Greeting
 Make eye contact when speaking to others
 A nice firm handshake is expected when greeting someone for
first time
 Informal- call people by first name, but still be respectful of
faculty members and other administrators. Some of them
prefer to be called “Professor” or “Dr.”
 Women will smile, say hello and be friendly
 This should never be taken as invitation for sexual advance
 Be prompt --- “Time is Money!”
45
Typical Values of American
Culture
 Americans believe in freedom of choice
 Pride in American things – but we’re not Donald
Trump!
 Independent, individualistic, like to be different
 But also sometimes value conformity
 Value the Rule of Law
 Men and women are equal
 Take care of the environment
 Littering or damaging property (vandalism) is not ok
46
Things to Know: Legal Advice
•
Must have driver’s license to drive
• If stopped by police officer, STAY in car
• Never attempt to bribe a law enforcement official
•
Age 21 for drinking alcohol
• Must be in restaurant or bar, or on private property
• “Open containers” are illegal
• Marijuana is not legal in NH
• Tobacco Smoking at age 18
• Only outdoors, in designated areas!
47
Things to Know: Illegal Behavior
• Sexual Harassment (physical or verbal), physically
fighting and “domestic violence” are illegal
• Urinating outside is illegal
• Marijuana is not legal in NH
• Plagiarism (copying another person’s writing or taking
someone else’s ideas as your own) isn’t illegal BUT is
a very serious offense in higher education.
48
Stereotypes of American College
Partying
Popularity
Good students are nerds
College is easy
Student athletes aren’t that smart
Students don’t ask for help
49
Useful tips as a consumer:
 Polite to restaurant workers, etc.
 Tipping- 15-20%
 When at restaurant- expect to pay your
share
 Must be over 21 and have I.D. to buy
alcohol
 Must be 18 to buy cigarettes
 Protect your identity – don’t give out credit
card numbers, Social Security number
50
Things to know about Cell
Phones
In the USA, Cell Phone plans can be very expensive
Do not sign a contract unless you understand all the
terms
Refer to Cell Phone Handout in your Packet
 Cell Phone Options:
 Contract Plan (expensive option):
 Usually a two-year contract with high monthly fee ($80 or
more per month)
 Requires Social Security Number or $400-500 security
deposit
 Cancellation fees can be very high ($200 or more)
51
 Pay-As-You-Go (easier option)
 Do not require SSN or credit history
 No contract, no security deposit and no cancellation fee
Winter Time in New Hampshire
 Get a jacket, gloves and winter boots!
 Average temperatures 2-14 degrees Celsius
 Be careful walking! There will be ice!
 Have fun in the Snow!
 Ski or Snowboard ($5 at Cannon)
 Snowshoe (Outdoors Center in AllWell North)
 Ice Skate (PSU Ice Arena)
 Go Sledding or snow tubing
52
Possible Culture Shock
 Honeymoon – Disorientation - Adjustment -
Integration - Acclimated
53
Tips for helping with Culture
Shock…
 Get involved on campus
 Global Engagement Programs (Saturday Movies in Mary Lyon
Lobby, Super Bowl 101, Ice Hockey 101 and more!)
 Friends of the Globe student organization (Join!)
 Student Activity Fair: JANUARY 29 in HUB (see all the clubs
you can join!)
 Stay connected! - Facebook, The Clock, etc
 Having trouble? - Global Engagement Office, Counseling Center
54
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