International Buddy Program and African Scholars Student Coordinator

We have two opportunities through the Office of International Student Affairs (OISA).

Students continuing their studies at Wes in the Fall 2023 Semester to sign up for our International Buddy Program (IBP) and be matched with an incoming international student. All returning Wesleyan students are eligible to sign up for IBP. The deadline to sign up is next Sunday, May 14th at 11:59 p.m. EST. 

The second opportunity is a current student staff opening to serve as Wesleyan’s first African Scholars Student Coordinator. The student who will be selected for this role will work with OISA professional staff and other campus stakeholders to plan and implement support structures and programming for the inaugural cohort of Wesleyan’s new African Scholars Program, which will be comprised of at least 10 new undergraduate scholarship students from Africa this fall. The deadline to apply in Handshake is this Sunday, May 7th at 11:55 p.m. EST.

Choosing Majors and Careers for F-1 Visa Holders

Intended Audience: Classes of 2025 and 2026 F-1 visa holders

Join us for this session to learn about important factors (personal interests, career prospects, immigration-related benefits/regulations) to consider when choosing a major as an F-1 visa holder. Class Deans from the Office of Academic Advancement and staff members from the Office of International Student Affairs (OISA) and Gordon Career Center will lead this informational workshop, which will include an overview of the major selection process, post-completion employment as an F-1 visa holder, and STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT) Extension-eligible programs of study at Wesleyan. You will also have the opportunity to hear from upper class international students who will share their own academic major and career decision making experiences.

Co-sponsored by the Office of Academic Advancement, Office of International Student Affairs and the Gordon Career Center

Navigating (LIFE): Living in Full Experience

How do you find self care and community care while navigating transitions in life?

Wed, Nov. 17 from 4 – 5pm in Usdan 108

Questions? Contact skidkarndee@wes, pgordon02@wes, or jdebari@wes

Sponsored by CAPS (Counseling and Psychological Services), SHAPE (Support Healing Activism and Prevention Education), & WesWell as part of the International Education (IEW) Workshop Series.

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Choosing Majors and Careers for F-1 Visa Holders

Thursday, November 4, 4:30-5:30 p.m. EDT

Zoom link: https://wesleyan.zoom.us/j/4831393485

Intended Audience: Classes of 2024 and 2025 F-1 visa holders

Session Description: In this virtual session, you will learn about important factors (personal interests, career prospects, immigration-related benefits/regulations) to consider when choosing a major as an F-1 visa holder. Class Deans from the Office of Academic Advancement and staff members from the Office of International Student Affairs (OISA) and Gordon Career Center will lead this informational workshop, which will include an overview of the major selection process, post-completion employment as an F-1 visa holder, and STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT) Extension-eligible programs of study at Wesleyan. There will be time for Questions and Answers (Q&A) in the second half of the session.  

Please RSVP through this link.

Notes from International Student Orientation 7/21

If you plan to attend ISO, please fill out this form by TODAY, Wednesday, July 21, 2021. Wesleyan needs to keep track of students’ vaccinations records to determine the plan of our Fall orientation activities. This information will not only help us anticipate the logistics needed for orientation but it will also inform your decisions on (1) when you should be arriving to campus, (2) when you should be buying your ticket if you haven’t done so yet, or (3) make changes to your travel arrangements if necessary/possible.

If you have any questions, email them to iso@wesleyan.edu.

Notes from International Student Orientation – 7/2

• Complete the ISO Registration Form by Thursday, July 15, 2021

• Follow us on Facebook to find biweekly releases of the My Wesleyan Journey video series

• Subscribe to the Wes and the World newsletter to stay up to date on intercultural events and activities, study abroad, global opportunities, international updates, and more!

Starting later this summer, the Fries Center for Global Studies will send out the Wes and the World Newsletter every other week. The newsletter features a wide range of global or international themed information and resources, such as intercultural events and programs, study abroad, global opportunities, language resources and opportunities, and international updates.

Past content that was published through the newsletter can be found on our blog. Here is the link to subscribe to the newsletter. For additional information and questions, please contact Zijia Guo, Global Marketing Specialist, at zguo@wesleyan.edu.

Required Documentation for International F-1 and Non-US Citizen Students

All incoming F-1 international and Non-U.S. Citizen students must complete the appropriate process to become enrolled as payees at Wesleyan.

Visit the following path on WesPortal and follow the instructions provided to become a payee:

WesPortal>Campus Applications>Documents Required by Non-US Citizens-Undergrad

Note: You must complete this documentation process regardless of whether you plan to work on campus.

Please contact Christine Rodrigue, in International Compensation and Taxation, at ict@wesleyan.edu with any questions. 

Free Coursera Course for New International Students at Wes: Academia, Culture and Campus Life – Opens 7/1

International students can enroll in Academia, Culture and Campus Life: What to Expect at Wes starting on July 1st. This five-week course will be offered for free on Coursera. It introduces you to people that work with and resources for international students, shows you around campus, talks about academic life at Wesleyan, and gives you an opportunity to meet each other. You can find more information about the course on the OISA Facebook page. 
https://www.facebook.com/WesleyanOISA

Notes from International Student Orientation – 6/18

The ISO Registration form is live since Wednesday, June 16, 2021. The deadline to fill it out is Thursday, July 15, 2021. You can find the form on your WesPortal under your checklist. If you have any questions, email them to iso@wesleyan.edu.

We have extended the registration for the International Buddy Program from Sunday, June 20, 2021 to Sunday, June 27, 2021. Please make sure to fill out the sign up form so you can be matched with current international students who can help answer all your questions about the Wesleyan experience.