From: VISA Office
Date: April 26, 2023
Subject: ISS News, April 26, 2023: Good Luck With Finals, ISS' Availability Today, End of Semester Reminders, Summer Course Options, Support Resources, Wellness Programs and Information, Cap Decorating Event, Good Vibes, and More

April 26, 2023

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in this issue:

Good Luck With Finals
End of Semester Reminders
Alumni: Access to Google Workspace Changing Summer 2023
ISSNews Summer Schedule
OPT & CPT Workshops
Features
Campus Happenings
Other Opportunities
Good Vibes Only
ISS Staff Unavailable Today
Support Resources
Graduating Students- Info from UH&CS Related to Services

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ISS staff members are here to support you!

Please visit our website to learn about the advising options that are available and connect with us so that we can assist you.

schedule change written on post-it notes with blue push pin

ISS Staff Unavailable Today, April 26, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Center for International Affairs will be hosting the International Achievement Luncheon today.

Staff will also be unavailable between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. as everyone will be helping to prepare for the event.

Please plan your visit to ISS when staff members are in the office and able to assist you.

keep calm the semester is about to end meme

End of Semester Reminders

If you have thoughts about traveling abroad during the break, be sure to ask yourself these questions:

Do I need to extend my I-20 or DS-2019? If you do, read more under the Frequently Asked Questions Section. Undergraduates, be sure to list your Dean in Undergraduate Studies (This is not Dean Wolcowitz. If you don't know who your dean is, email ugstudies@case.edu to ask) on your request and graduate students, you should list your academic advisor.

Do I need to transfer my F-1 or J-1 SEVIS record? If you do, read more under the Frequently Asked Questions Section.

Do I need to get a new travel signature on my I-20 or DS-2019? If you do, you can read about that process and other factors related to travel and reentry for F-1 and J-1 students.

Also,

be aware of all travel-related policies. Be sure that you are monitoring all requirements for entry to the United States and complying with university policies related to returning to campus. **If you have any doubts or concerns about your ability to return to the United States by the start of the next semester, ISS recommends that you consider remaining in the United States and not traveling abroad.**
check the validity of the visa in your passport. Some US Embassies and Consulates still have limited services available and there could be significant delays in visa issuances. This delay could significantly affect your ability to return to the United States.
make sure your passport is valid at all times. Please prepare as early as possible if you need to apply for a new passport. There are certain benefits for which F-1 students apply when they are in the United States and the agencies that oversee those benefits often require applicants to have a passport that is valid for at least 6 months into the future.

Do you have more questions that you need help answering? Get in touch with ISS staff during advising hours or by email before you leave campus.

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.

basic human needs shown on wooden blocks

Support Resources

The Dean of Students Office and the Case Western Reserve University community are committed to helping students overcome challenges during their academic careers. A website has been developed to host a variety of resources and services, including information about various food pantries for students who are facing food insecurity.

Graduating Students: Info from University Health and Counseling Services Related to Services

Alumni: Access to Google Workspace Changing Summer 2023

The university needs to make significant changes in how it administers Google Workspace and you can read more here about its plans for alumni.

ISSNews Summer Schedule

After Commencement, ISS will continue to publish and send ISSNews to all international students, but not every Wednesday since activity slows significantly during the summer. Please continue to check your CWRU email regularly and read through any ISSNews publications that we do send out. They will include information that is important to be aware of as student visa holders!

ISS will resume its weekly ISSNews publication in August as we all prepare for the Fall semester.

Features

Campus Happenings

University Health & Counseling Services Offers Timely Care and a Variety of Other Wellness Programs to Consider

Thursday, April 27
Start	End	Event	Location
1:00pm	2:00pm	BIPOC Support Space	Online Event
Monday, May 1
3:00pm	4:00pm	BIPOC Support Space	Private Location (register to display)
6:00pm	7:30pm	I'm Fine, It's Fine, Everything is Fine.	Private Location (sign in to display)

Celebrate Legacy Week, April 24 - 29

Legacy Week was established in 2017, to observe and showcase the history of Case Western Reserve University's momentous history. During this week various departments, offices, student organizations, staff and faculty members, and individual students will host various programs and events to bring to light the unique history of CWRU.

To learn more about Legacy Week 2023 and planned events, visit Student Activities and Leadership's Campus Traditions website.

EVENT

Freedman Fellows Forum

Friday, April 28
10:00am - 12:00pm

Kelvin Smith Library, Freedman Center for Digital Scholarship, 11055 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44106, United States
Link

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Want to see what you can do using Kelvin Smith Library’s digital scholarship resources?

You're invited! Join us for a forum and reception celebrating the progress (and results!) of the ‘22-’23 student and faculty Freedman Fellows on April 28th from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in the Freedman Center for Digital Scholarship at Kelvin Smith Library.

Celebrate the accomplishments of your peers, hear about the impressive research conducted on campus and enhanced by digital scholarship tools, and learn about the opportunities of becoming a Freedman Fellow in the upcoming year.

2022-2023 Student Fellows
Jill Laquidara, doctoral candidate in Clinical Psychology
Manish Tyagi, master’s in Finance student
Felix Yan, master’s in Finance student
Prajakta Joshi, doctoral candidate in Biomedical Engineering

The Walter Freedman and Karen Harrison Freedman Student Fellowships provide funding for undergraduate and graduate students to complete targeted digital projects under the guidance of Kelvin Smith Library’s Freedman Center for Digital Scholarship team.

2022-2023 Faculty Fellows
Einav Rabinovitch-Fox, Department of History
Kevin Inouye, Theater Department
George Blake, Department of Music
Anastasia Dimitropoulos, Department of Psychological Sciences

The Freedman Faculty Fellows program is generously funded by the Freedman Fellows Endowment, established by Samuel B. and Marian K. Freedman.

See the projects of past participants here: https://case.edu/library/research/digital-scholarship/freedman-fellows-program

RSVP

Connect with Case Iranian Society!

Other Opportunities

Save the Date & Volunteer at the Cleveland Asian Festival

May 20 - 21, 11 a.m. - 7 p.m., AsiaTown | Rain or Shine | FREE Parking at CSU E. 24th & Payne Lots

Good Vibes Only

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 and we're sending them out to you!

Brain Science (and Benefits) of ASMR

If you would like to promote your event or opportunity through ISSNews, please make a complete submission (including flyers, images, details, etc.) for consideration by noon on Monday to international@case.edu. ISS cannot guarantee that all submissions will appear in the newsletter, as space is limited, but staff will review all timely submissions fo