November 13, 2010

F-1 Student Advising for Beginners

This introductory workshop offers participants the basic knowledge, skills and resources for advising F-1 students on common immigration issues. The workshop first lays out the environment in which the Designated School Official (DSO) works—the federal regulatory and SEVIS structure, the DSO’s own institutional culture, as well as DSO influences and constraints. Using a framework of three F-1 students journeying through their academic program, participants work with the most common student immigration advising and SEVIS scenarios, such as issuing I-20s, applying for a visa, entering the US, SEVIS registration and reporting, maintaining status, employment, travel and reentry, and program extensions. Please note that this workshop does not cover processing of reinstatement, change of status, transfer of SEVIS records, or SEVIS terminations.

Workshop Objectives

• Provide participants with the theoretical and practical knowledge needed for basic F-1 immigration advising, as well as a framework for thinking through a variety of advising situations.
• Offer international student advisers, new to the profession, basic regulatory training.
• Prepare participants to accurately process the immigration forms that their students require to stay in good legal standing.

F-1 Student Advising – Intermediate

Audience: Designated School Officials with at least 15 months experience, who have participated in the F-1 Regulations for Beginners workshop, or have received training equivalent to the F-1 Regulations for Beginners workshop.

This intermediate level workshop is designed for Designated School Officials who understand the processes of F-1 student advising and are ready to tackle some of the more complex, or "gray", situations. Participants will discuss a range of case studies on the topics of DSO Responsibilities, Maintenance of Status, Travel, Transfers, Employment, Change of Status, Reinstatement. By addressing these case studies, participants will learn how to advise students when regulations and guidance do not give a clear answer to their situation. Participants should have been in the field for at least 15 months, have participated in the F-1 Regulations for Beginners workshop, or have received training equivalent to the F-1 Regulations for Beginners. If you are new to the field, in order to receive the maximum benefit from this training, it is recommended that you allow for some time to apply the skills introduced in the F-1 Regulations for Beginners workshop before you attend the Intermediate level workshop.

Workshop Objectives

• Be a self-sufficient adviser by knowing your resources
• Develop interpretations of F-1 regulations and guidance
• Interpret and develop institutional policy
• Learn techniques to advise F-1 students on situations where clear guidance is not available

Education Abroad Advising 

Audience: This Foundations Workshop is an introductory workshop for education abroad advisers who have been in the field for less than three years, as well as individuals hoping to enter the field and professionals working in other areas of international education interested in cross training. It is geared particularly to advisers who have been in the field for one year or less.

This 12-hour workshop seeks to provide new advisers with a broad overview of the issues in education abroad. Topics covered include program models and student development, issues in advising, promotion and recruitment, orientation, and reentry, as well as an understanding of how these issues intersect with varying institutional and student circumstances in the advising profession. This workshop provides participants with the framework and resources for continuing their education in this field.

Workshop Objectives  

• Develop skills in preparing students for an education abroad experience, including advising, predeparture orientation, and reentry programming
• Identify offices or contacts on and off campus who can assist in preparing and advising students
• Describe a variety of program models and how they might be suited to students in different developmental stages, personal circumstances, and institutional settings
• Discuss the impact of a variety of financial, academic, and personal circumstances on student participation and how such circumstances can be addressed by the adviser and institutional resources
• Enhance skills in advising students with a variety of personal, financial, and academic circumstances and in designing and implementing recruitment plans, predeparture orientations, and reentry programs
   
• Appreciate the importance of tailoring advising strategies to institutional profiles and individual student circumstances

November 14, 2010

J-1 Regulations – Advanced

Audience: Participants should have an intermediate knowledge and understanding of immigration and J visa regulations.

This eight hour workshop will provide Responsible and Alternate Responsible Officers (RO/AROs) with a conceptual foundation, practical knowledge, and skills for advising on J visa regulations. Topics include:

• The roles and responsibilities of the RO/ARO
• Ethical considerations
• The use of resources in problem-solving
• Decision making

This workshop specifically addresses advanced topics that lie in the grey zone for which there are no clear answers. It requires the participant to have an intermediate knowledge and understanding of immigration and J visa procedures. This workshop will not include basic procedural training, the trainee category, or foreign medical graduates.

Workshop Objectives  

• Develop conceptual foundation, practical knowledge, and skills for advising on J visa regulations
• Develop critical analytical skills for resolving J student and scholar visa dilemmas
• Exercise creative thinking powers for managing J visa programs
• Establish solid professional networks in the J visa community

SEVIS II Implementation Plan Workshop

No details at this time.

Health and Safety in Education Abroad

The health, safety, and responsible personal behavior of education abroad participants have always been paramount to education abroad professionals. Using the document "Responsible Study Abroad: Good Practices for Health and Safety," participants will learn to apply recognized standards of good practice in health and safety to their institutions or organizations education abroad programs. Participants will gain competencies needed to identify, research, and assess health and safety risks, and communicate these to key constituents. Participants also will create a framework for emergency response, communication, and crisis management.

Workshop Objectives

• Learn to apply recognized standards of good practices for health and safety for education abroad programs to their institutions or organizations.
• Gain competencies needed to identify and communicate health and safety issues in education abroad programs to key constituents.
• Learn to research and assess health and safety risks abroad.
• Learn to create a framework for emergency response, communication, and crisis management.

Basics of Filing Academic H-1B Petitions

Audience: International student and scholar advisers new to the H-1B program

In this workshop, you will learn the basics of the H-1B process. The workshop lays out the basic foundations of the H-1 program and takes you through the step by step process for filing an academic H-1B petition. By the end of the workshop you will have assembled a full H-1B petition. You will learn how to assess whether a position and the alien worker qualifies for the program, about prevailing and actual wage, preparing the Labor Conditions Application, building inspection files, the I-129, and dependents.

Workshop Objectives  

Participants will:

• Identify the key government regulations and processes associated with academic H-1B nonimmigrant status and petition
• Acquire the skills and tools needed to file an academic H-1B petition
• Practice and complete an academic H-1B petition
• Be better prepared to advise their institutions and international employees on H-1B obligations and responsibilities
• Receive sample forms and resources to help manage the academic H-1B petition completion process

Management Basics for International Educators

Audience: Foreign Student Advisers, Study Abroad Advisers, Overseas Advisers, and other administrators of International Education services with at least 24 months experience. Attendees should be international educators who are seeking additional skills in office management and service delivery for the sake of moving into a leadership position within their current office or in a future position.

This eight hour Professional Practice Workshop provides an introduction to management foundations for international educators who are seeking to move into leadership positions within their current office or in the long-term. Topics covered include understanding organizational behavior and applying this understanding to your workplace and your position; understanding and identifying your management style; group dynamics; basics of human resource management and developing and writing a mission statement.

Workshop Objectives

• Articulate key management areas essential for international education management
• Apply techniques to management areas in order to build management skills
• Understand the importance and effect of organizational behavior and group dynamics in the successful operation of your institution
• Understand the fundamentals and key elements of human resource management

Campus and Community Programming for Intercultural Learning

Audience: Experienced professionals in the field of international education with a focus on campus and community initiatives

Enhance your campus and community programming efforts by incorporating theory-based practices, tried and true templates and resources, and strategies for working with volunteers.

Workshop Objectives

• Plan, organize, and implement campus and community programs
• Learn about theories that apply to campus and community programs
• Use strategies to manage your volunteer base
• Expand your programming knowledge base and access to tools to help with programming