From: VISA Office
Date: September 15, 2021
Subject: ISS News, September 15, 2021: OPT & CPT Workshops, Mid-Autumn Asian Festival, Virtual Fairs, Hispanic Heritage Month, Good Vibes, and More


IS

September 15, 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. An Introduction to US Taxes
  7. COVID-19 Surveillance Testing Adjustments

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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.

covid 19 website image

COVID-19 Surveillance Testing Adjustments

On September 9, President Kaler and Provost Vinson wrote to the university community with an overview of the university's adjusted surveillance testing protocol and campus testing positivity rates.  You can read the message on the COVID-19 Communications page.
 

For the most up-to-date information and resources, continue to visit:

Please continue to keep in touch with ISS.  Staff is here to help you.  If we do not know how to answer your question, we'll help you find someone who can.  Be sure to check your case.edu email address regularly too- this is the university's main form of communication.  Now is the time to stay informed!

Sprintax logo

An Introduction to US Taxes

ISS staff members are not tax experts so the office partners with Sprintax to provide tax assistance to international students. Throughout the year, ISS will promote Sprintax workshops, like this one, to help students with their tax-related needs:

An Introduction to US Taxes, being offered on September 15 at noon, will provide individuals with information about:

  • what to expect during employment or receipt of US income
  • the basics of tax obligations for international students in the United States
  • preparing in advance for tax filing season 2021

This workshop is free to join and open to both new international populations or returning students who want to brush up on their tax responsibilities.

Features

EVENT

Asian Mid-Autumn Festival

Tuesday, September 21
3:00pm - 5:00pm
Private Location (rsvp to display)
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All CWRU students are invited to celebrate the Asian Mid-Autumn Festival on Tuesday, September 21 from 3-5 pm in the KSL Oval!

The Center for International Affairs will be handing out FREE mooncakes and rabbit stress balls and there will be live rabbits on hand for students to pet!

The Asian Mid-Autumn Festival is a celebration of a successful harvest throughout much of Eastern Asia and is enjoyed by bringing together families and friends. It goes by many names including Tet Trung Thu, Tsukimi and Chuseok.

Traditions vary, but often include celebrating the harvest of rice and wheat by eating special desserts like mooncakes, sharing stories, and hanging lanterns. The moon is an important part of the holiday, and it's common for celebrations to take place at night to provide an opportunity to enjoy it. The rabbit is a popular symbol of the festival based on Chinese mythology.

You can learn more about the festival with the Kelvin Smith Library's Asian Mid-Autumn Festival Resource Guide: http://researchguides.case.edu/mid-autumn-festival
RSVP

Campus Happenings

Hispanic Heritage month calendar

EVENT

Understanding the Black Student Experience at CWRU

Wednesday, September 22
5:30pm - 7:00pm
Private Location (rsvp to display)
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Learn about resources, academic units, programs and student organizations. Build community with current and new students. Experience small group discussions facilitated by students.
RSVP

EVENT

SEXPOpalooza

Thursday, September 16
12:00pm - 5:00pm
TVUC Ballroom, 11038 Bellflower Rd. , Cleveland, OH 44106, United States
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SEXPOpalooza is returning in person for 2021!

Local drag performer Pineapple Honeydew will be your host this year, and the event will feature on-site STI testing, health experts available to answer your questions, sex-toy giveaways, a photo booth, and more!

Free and confidential STI testing will be available from 1-4 pm through UHS and the local health department!

SEXPOpalooza is a health fair hosted in collaboration by the Mather Center, IFC/PHC, USG, SMARRT, CWRU Intactivists, and other CWRU community members intended to remove the taboo associated with openly discussing sex and sexuality. This event challenges established social norms by giving students a safe place to learn, discuss, and participate in activities and discussions.

Co-sponsored by IFC/PHC and Undergraduate Student Council
RSVP

EVENT

CWRU Sustained Dialogue - Day of Dialogue

Friday, September 17
10:30am - 2:00pm
various locations on campus and online, 10900 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, United States
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Members of the CWRU community are invited to take part in Sustained Dialogue's Fall 2021 Day of Dialogue, including a campus-wide discussion on the challenges and opportunities we face returning to campus (morning), and a variety of dialogue groups and topics in the afternoon. Come to share your thoughts, gain empathy for others, and learn more about the Sustained Dialogue program at CWRU!
RSVP

EVENT

Become a Civic Engagement Scholar!

Monday, August 16 at 9:00am
to Sunday, September 19 at 11:55pm
Private Location (rsvp to display)
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Now in its twelfth year, the Civic Engagement Scholars program, hosted by the Center for Civic Engagement & Learning (CCEL), promotes and recognizes meaningful student involvement in the community. Scholars complete at least 30 civic engagement hours in their choice of direct service, advocacy, philanthropy, political involvement, and more over the course of the academic year. They also participate in two all-Scholars trainings to enhance their understanding of Cleveland and social change in addition to completing a final reflection. Upon successful completion of the program, Scholars earn a Certificate of Distinction recognizing their commitment to community. Both undergraduate and graduate students of all years and majors are eligible to become Civic Engagement Scholars, and many students elect to participate in the program multiple years.

The Scholars enrollment form (https://cglink.me/2cS/s51867) is due by 11:59 p.m. EST on Sunday, September 19. Visit the Civic Engagement Scholars website for more information: https://case.edu/studentlife/civicengagement/community-service/civic-engagement-scholars
RSVP

EVENT

It's On CWRU Overview

Tuesday, September 21
12:00pm - 12:30pm
Virtual
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The mission of It’s On CWRU is to unify our community’s effort to disrupt the culture of violence. Through evidence-informed education, consciousness raising visuals, survivor support, and community investment, the campaign aims to initiate and support ongoing societal shifts that foster a safe environment for all people.

Join us to learn more about the Mather Center for Women and the Its on CWRU Campaign!
RSVP

EVENT

It's on CWRU Pro-Social Bystander Workshop

Wednesday, September 22
6:00pm - 7:30pm
Mather Center - TVUC 248 and virtual, 11038 Bellflower Rd, Cleveland, OH 44106, United States
Link
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The Its on CWRU Pro-Social Bystander training is an evidence-informed bystander intervention program that uses community care as the foundation for intervention. Participants will learn how to define prosocial bystander behavior, recognize potentially harmful situations and articulate their community responsibility to intervene and Implement intervention skills to safely and positively intervene before, during, and after acts of violence.
RSVP
OMA flyer for grad sutdent open house

EVENT

Community Service Fair

Friday, September 24
12:30pm - 2:00pm
Thwing Ballroom, 10900 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, United States
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Explore the Community Service Fair and Get Involved!

The Center for Civic Engagement & Learning will be hosting the Community Service Fair in the Thwing Ballroom on September 24, 2021 from 12:30 to 2 p.m. Explore volunteer opportunities with 20 non-profit organizations. Open to all CWRU students, staff and faculty to drop-in and learn more about opportunities!
RSVP
career fair image

Virtual Fall 2021 University Career Fairs

Engineering, Technology and Science Virtual Career Fair

Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. EDT

Employers who attend this event are interested in recruiting CWRU students and alumni who are seeking careers in the fields of engineering, computer science, natural sciences, and more.

Business, Arts and Service Virtual Career Fair

Friday, Sept. 24, 2021 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. EDT

Employers who attend this event are interested in recruiting CWRU students who are seeking careers in the fields of business, social sciences, law/government, public service, art, and more.

Stay up-to-date on all career fair details on the Post-Graduate Planning and Experiential Education website.

BIPOC flyer

BIPOC Support Space

Thursdays 1-2 pm via zoom
Friday's 3-4 pm in OMA (Sears 409) 

Other Opportunities

county fair clip art

County Fairs in nearby Cleveland area

Nearby county fairs to Cleveland are highlighted.

welcome week image for global cleveland

Interested in Volunteering?  Sign up!

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!

vaccination day parody of Frozen song

Dancing Bird of Paradise