From: VISA Office
Date: October 27, 2021
Subject: ISS News, October 27, 2021: OPT & CPT Workshops, Town Hall Meetings with ISAC, Reminder about Extension Requests, Food Insecurity Resources, Diwali, Opportunities with CCEL, Fall Feast, Tell Your Story, Good Vibes, and More


IS

October 27, 2021

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in this issue:

  1. OPT & CPT Workshops
  2. Features
  3. Campus Happenings
  4. Other Opportunities
  5. Good Vibes Only
  6. Beware of Scams
  7. Request an Extension for I-20 or DS-2019
  8. Food Insecurity Resources

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ISS Staff is available to students, without an appointment, on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday during advising hours:

11am to 1pm- through virtual advising available online

1pm to 3pm- through in-person advising in the office

There are no advising hours on Wednesday.

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If you need to speak with an advisor outside of our advising hours, please send an email to international@case.edu to schedule an appointment. Please provide your full, legal name and a brief description of the nature of your appointment when you contact us.

OPT and CPT workshop branding telling students that workshops are available online

OPT & CPT Workshops

ISS is offering Optional Practical Training (OPT) and CPT Workshops to go over in detail the application process, student responsibilities, and other important considerations.

Being well informed before applying for either authorization is extremely important and applying early is critical!

USCIS is publishing that it takes 3-5 months to process submitted OPT applications. Plan to complete a required OPT workshop as early as possible to be best prepared. Remember, you do not need to have a job offer to apply for OPT!

You do need to have a job offer before applying for CPT authorization and you are not eligible to begin your experience until you have proper authorization in place. It can take several days to become authorized.

Virtual workshops led by an advisor have been scheduled and information about required registration, attendance, and the application process can be found on our website under the OPT and CPT sections.

Attention Read Me sign

Request an Extension for
I-20 or DS-2019

If your I-20 or DS-2019 will expire at the end of the semester, but you're not ready to graduate, you need to request an extension before your document expires (and within plenty of time for ISS to process your request).  Initiate your request through Terra Dotta and identify an advisor who will then be contacted to upload information on your behalf. Undergraduates should list their Dean in Undergraduate Studies.  Graduate students should list their academic advisors.

ISS advisors will review all of the material and contact students by email when their new, extended document is ready.

For more information,
F-1 students visit: https://case.edu/international/international-student-services/f-1-students/maintaining-status
J-1 students visit: https://case.edu/international/international-student-services/j-1-students/maintaining-status

scam spelled out on keyboard

Beware of Scams

ISS wants to make sure that international students are aware of these scams and know how to protect themselves.  Visit our website for more information.

food box clip art

Food Insecurity Resources

There are various food pantries for students who are facing food insecurity.  Take a look at the list of the different food pantries and other resources available on campus and in the community.

Features

ISAC Town Hall flyer
Cleveland Bucket List Flyer

Campus Happenings

joy M gif

Undergrads: The Admission Office Wants to Share Your Story

The Office of Undergraduate Admission wants to share your experiences and stories with prospective students.

The office knows our current students’ experiences are important to high schoolers considering CWRU, and know you have great insiders’ information to share. Share your thoughts and you could be featured on the admissions website, in print publications, emails, social media and help recruit the next class of CWRU students.

To share your story:

  1. Complete the form.
  2. You’ll get an email with instructions to share a photo and quick video.

Questions? Email Melissa Persensky at mje48@case.edu.

Fall feast flyer
group study photo

Become a Peer Tutor

Learn more about information sessions and the application process.

Once you attend an information session, you will be eligible to submit an application. The application opens Friday, Oct. 29 and is due by 5 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 19.

If you have any questions about becoming a peer tutor, contact David Paulik, assistant director for academic resources.

EVENT

oSTEM@CWRU HalloQUEEN Drag Show

Friday, October 29
8:00pm - 10:00pm
Tinkham Veale Ballroom, 10940 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH 44106, United States
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The HalloQUEEN Drag Show will feature Cleveland drag queens for an incredible night of spooky performances in the Tink Ballroom. Queens will be dancing, lip-syncing, and more, with a meet and greet at the end. There'll be food, drinks, prizes, and (very loud) music!

All students are welcome to this amazing show for FREE!!

Performers include: Alejandra J-Love, Natasshja Norielle, Marilyn Dubois, Sarah Tonin, Joliee Blak, and Anhedonia Delight!!
RSVP

EVENT

Game Night: Trivia Edition

Thursday, November 4
7:00pm - 9:00pm
Kelvin Smith Library, Room 215, 11055 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH 44106, United States
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It's the last KSL Game Night of the semester! We're finishing the semester with a game of trivia!

If you don’t have a team (up to 6) no worries, we’ll match you up with other trivia pros when you arrive or you can play solo! For those who don't want to participate in Trivia Night, the usual board games will be put out on the 2nd floor Dampeer Room.


Location: Kelvin Smith Library, Room 215 for trivia / Board Games in Dampeer Room
Time: 7pm

Questions? Please contact Kelvin Smith Library administration at KSL-mail@case.edu or at 216-368-2992.
RSVP

EVENT

Bridging The Gap: Explore Gap Year Opportunities

Friday, November 5
12:45pm - 2:00pm
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Considering taking a gap year after graduation to research, scribe, serve, or intern before graduate school or entering the workforce? Come to this Zoom info session to learn how to take your career to the next level!

You’ll first hear tips from Post-Graduate Planning & Experiential Education about locating gap year opportunities, and then you’ll have a chance to learn about organizations of your choice through a couple different breakout sessions.

Attending organizations include:
ScribeAmerica
AmeriCorps Corps for Rural and Urban Success in Health
City Year
Teach For America
Cleveland Foundation Fellowship
Peace Corps
Northern Ohio Watershed Corps
Jesuit Volunteer Corps

Event is co-sponsored by the Center for Civic Engagement & Learning (CCEL) Executive Council, Post-Graduate Planning & Experiential Education, and The Upperclass Experience. You'll receive the Zoom link in a CampusGroups email after registering.
RSVP


roxboro school image from Cleveland.com

Volunteer as Mandarin Classroom Assistant

 
Friday, November 5
Start End   Event         Location
12:40pm 2:15pm Flexible Serves: Mandarin Chinese Tutoring (Fridays 12:40-2:15pm) Meeting location: CCEL (Tinkham Veale University Center, Suite 165)
Friday, November 19
12:40pm 2:15pm Flexible Serves: Mandarin Chinese Tutoring (Fridays 12:40-2:15pm) Meeting location: CCEL (Tinkham Veale University Center, Suite 165)
Friday, December 3
12:40pm 2:15pm Flexible Serves: Mandarin Chinese Tutoring (Fridays 12:40-2:15pm) Meeting location: CCEL (Tinkham Veale University Center, Suite 165)
Gayme Night flyer

EVENT

Fall Saturdays of Service November 6 & November 13

Saturday, November 6 at 9:00pm
to Saturday, November 13 at 5:00pm
Projects will take place both on and off campus, 10900 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, United States
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The Center for Civic Engagement & Learning's (CCEL) will host two Saturdays of Service this fall on November 6 and 13. Open to all all CWRU students, this day of service, features on and off-campus projects throughout the day. Transportation is provided via walking, public transit, or CCEL minivan.

Registration will be opening soon! Projects will be listed individually here for registration and will provide detailed information. Spots are filled on a first come, first serve basis.
RSVP

EVENT

Diwali 2021 - The festival of lights

Sunday, November 7
6:00pm - 9:00pm
Thwing Excelsior Ballroom (229), 10900 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, United States
Link
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Diwali is one of the most popular festivals of the Indian culture that is celebrated all over the country. This event is a grand celebration of the festival with the campus community with traditional Indian food, music and a lot of fun!
RSVP
flu shot flyer

Free Flu Shots Available

Get your free flu shot at one of the free walk-in clinics.

All participants need to bring their CWRU ID.

Please wear an outfit that allows the upper part of your arm to be easily exposed.

This schedule will be updated with various locations on campus where you can get your flu shot.

Spoken English Seminars

Other Opportunities

Working in Canada flyer

This event is geared towards students with 2 years, or nearly 2 years, of STEM work experience.

Please note, not every person who registers will receive an invite due to capacity restrictions.

Cleveland Metroparks Trail Challenge logo

Cleveland Metroparks Trail Challenge 2021


Welcome to the 2021 Trail Challenge, a guest led program where you discover new trails throughout Cleveland Metroparks on your own, move to better health, discover the wonders of nature, and earn awards along the way! 

Good Vibes Only

During this very challenging time, ISS staff wants you to know that we are thinking about you- hoping you are safe, healthy, staying positive- and sending out good vibes!

In this section, we are including some things that we hope will make you laugh and smile, help you relax, be entertaining, give you something to do, etc.

This is a good vibes only section!

Halloween (October 31) Edition

Halloween is celebrated today by wearing costumes, trick-or-treating, carving pumpkins into jack-o-lanterns, and eating sweets and treats, but it's actually a holiday rooted in centuries-old traditions!  Here are some brief histories of Halloween.

Halloween image with jack-o-lanterns
halloween image with big house in the background