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Global Engagement

International Student Welcome (ISW)

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During ISW you will meet the ISS Team as well as other new and continuing international students. You will complete required immigration check-in, and learn about immigration rules and campus resources.

Participation is required for all international students who have been issued an F-1 I-20 or J-1 DS-2019.

Participation is recommended for Global Nomad students (U.S. citizens and green card holders who grew up or attended high school abroad).

Prior to classes all F-1 and J-1 students will be invited to an International Student Welcome module on Camino.  We ask that students complete the module prior to attending their Live ISW Event.

Live ISW Events

In addition to your completion of the ISW module prior to arrival, you are required to attend a live ISW event. You can see your event information below:

Date: August 8, 2023

Time: 9:00 -11:00 AM

Location: Charney Hall 201

A light breakfast will be served

Date: August 23, 2023

Location: JST

Note that International Student Orientation activities begin August 18, 2023.

Due to the size of our incoming cohort, we are hosting two ISW sessions for graduate students.  We ask that you attend the session for your school/department.

Engineering Students

Date: September 7, 2023

Time: 9:00 - 11:00 AM

Location: Mission Room, Benson Center

A light breakfast will be served, optional campus tour to follow

Business, ECP, and GPPM Students

Date: September 7, 2023

Time: 1:30 - 3:30 PM

Location: Mission Room, Benson Center

A light lunch will be served, optional campus tour to follow

Orientation Date: September 15, 2023

Time: 8:45AM-4:00PM

Location: SCU Recital Hall

Note that undergraduate International Student Welcome activities take place September 13-15. See the full schedule for all three days on our International Student Welcome Flyer.

Date: January 5, 2024

Time: 9:00 - 11:00 AM

Location: Locatelli Center

Date: March 27, 2024

Time: 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Location: Williman Room, Benson Center

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Information and Tips For Global Students and Families

If you have been issued an F-1 I-20 or J-1 DS-2019 you are required to attend ISW.

If you are a U.S. citizen or green card holder that went to high school abroad ("Global Nomad"), you are not required to attend ISW, but your participation is requested and highly recommended.

Less than 1 hour of ISW is spent talking about immigration rules (during this session Global Nomads will meet with student leaders who have also lived abooad before coming to SCU). The day is designed to be fun and infomative for all global broncos, regardless of immigration status -- plus attending ISW means you get to move-in early!

Everyone should bring:

  • A government issued photo ID (passport)
  • A pen or pencil and notepad
  • A reusable water bottle
  • Seasonal accessories such as sunscreen or a hat (May to September) or umbrella or rain coat (October to April)

If you hold F-1 or J-1 immigration status and have not completed immigration check-in, you must bring your immigration check-in documents and information:

  • eCampus login information
  • Home country address and phone number
  • U.S. address where you will be living
  • U.S. phone number (if you have one)
  • Emergency contact's name and phone number
  • SCU Student ID number (on your Access card)
  • SEVIS ID number (on page 1 of your I-20. Begins with “N00”)
  • Copy of F-1 or J-1 visa stamp
  • Print out of I-94 Entry Record (select “Get Most Recent I-94", you cannot print this until after you enter the U.S. in F-1 or J-1 status)

Students who have been issued J-1 DS-2019s: bring the above documents and a copy of page 1 of your DS-2019, as well as proof that you purchased the required J-1 insurance plan.

Students who have filed a Change of Status: instead of the F-1 visa stamp and I-94 Entry Record, please bring a copy of your I-797A, Approval Notice. You won’t check-in until your change of status to F-1 has been approved and you have received your I-797A.

Be sure to bring printouts and copies of your own documents. We won’t be able to print or copy documents for you.

 

You should wear casual clothing that you would find comfortable while walking and spending time outside. While we will mainly be indoors, there may be parts of ISW, including optional campus tours that take place outside, weather permitting.

You can check out the weather forecast for Santa Clara to help you prepare.

Enter the main campus entrance (500 El Camino Real, Santa Clara California) and stop at the gate. Let the Campus Safety Officer know that you are visiting campus for International Student Welcome (ISW). You will be provided a complimentary parking pass and instructions.

If you arrive at SCU before your ISW, you can:

You are not required to visit our office upon your arrival on campus. We look forward to seeing you at ISW!

Please be aware of campus closures for holidays.

The Cowell Health Center is responsible for all Health and Insuance related advising.
 
https://www.scu.edu/cowell/parent-and-student-information/new-student-information/
 
Health Forms / Vaccines
There are no mandatory health screening or vaccinations. However, it is recommended that all students provide a Health History and Immunization Record to SCU's Cowell Health Center. There is no specific deadline. We recommend that you have these completed by your doctor before you arrive on campus, and them deliver them to the Cowell Health Center once you've arrived on campus.
 
Insurance
  • F-1 Students: Are required to purchase and are automatically enrolled in the university's student health insurance plan. More information can be found here:  https://www.scu.edu/cowell/insurance/f1students/
  • J-1 Exhcnage Students: Are required to purchase a specific short term insurance plan. More information can be found here:  https://www.scu.edu/globalengagement/international-students/non-degree-international-students/health-insurance-for-j-1-visas/
  • Global Nomad (U.S. citizens and green card holders coming from abroad): Are not required to enroll in the university health insurance, but if you will not be covered by a comprehensive, U.S.-based health insurance plan, you should plan to use the university's student health insurance plan.  More information can be found here: https://www.scu.edu/cowell/insurance/undergraduate-students/
 
 

The Bursar's Office is responeible for tuition and bill payment. https://www.scu.edu/bursar/

Tuition, fees, insurance charges will be posted to each Student's eCampus account. 

Information on payment deadlines:  https://www.scu.edu/bursar/bill/

Information on payment methods: https://www.scu.edu/bursar/paymentoptions/

General information for international students: https://www.scu.edu/onestop/currentstudents/internationalstudents/

You will select classes and set your schedule at new student orientation in September. The university closes registration during the summer, and holds back seats in all of the required first year classes to make sure that students attending each of the 7 orientation sessions are able to get into classes. During your first year, you will primarily focus on general (or "Core") requirements as well as some of the foundation classes in your school / major.
 
During the summer, you will notice that several classes will be pre-assigned to you -- these are the required classes that you will take with the other members of your RLC. You should not remove these classes! On day 1 of orientation you will learn more about the core requirements and on day 2 of orientation you will meet with a faculty member and / or peer advisors to select the rest of your classes for the term. It doesn't hurt to have an idea of the kinds of classes that you are interested in ahead of time (you can look at the classes at scu.edu/courseavail), but depending on your school and major, there may be classes that you need to take in order to properly progress.
 
Here are some resources you might find helpful:
SCU Core (sometimes called "general education"): https://www.scu.edu/provost/core/student-core-resources/
College of Arts and Sciences Advising Resources (by department): https://www.scu.edu/cas/academics/departments-and-programs/
School of Business Advisign Resources: https://www.scu.edu/business/undergraduates/advising/
 

 

Once you've selected your classes for the Fall (which will happen on Day 2 of new student orientation) you will be able to access the text book and course materials lists online here: http://scu.bncollege.com

The ISW Leaders will be able to provide you with more information about the best ways for students to buy / rent text books, but generally, you can buy or rent the books / materials from the SCU bookstore (which will be open all week and weekend) or you can buy / rent them online.

Check out our ISW FAQs. If you still have questions, feel free to email ISS@scu.edu

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ISW Presentations for Download

 

Ways To Get Involved

Helpful Links

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