*********************************

* Welcome to all new and returning international students.

* Students in F-1 status who plan to do a Co-op this summer or who will graduate and plan to engage in Optional Practical Training must attend a Practical Training Session before working. The Practical Training Sessions are held each Wednesday a fternoon from 3 to 4 PM in Daniels 246. No reservation is necessary, but please come soon, since INS is taking 3 to 4 months to process the Employment Authorization Documents for Optional Practical Training.

* International Women's Potluck Dinner: All women (students, scholars, and spouses) are invited to attend a free monthly international potluck dinner sponsored by OISSS and the Women's Center. These dinners are held at 6 PM on the 4th Wednesday of each month as follows: Feb. 24, March 24, and April 28. Please bring a dish of food from your home country to share and come to the Women's Center in the Talley Student Center (3rd floor). Meet new friends, enjoy delicious food, and learn a lot from th is special program. This month's presentation and discussion will be on the History of Women's Rights.

* SCHOLARSHIP ANNOUNCEMENTS

1) The Rotary Club of West Raleigh is offering a $1000 scholarship to a few international students. The application deadline is March 19.

2) Eligible international WOMEN students may apply for the McNamara Scholarship (worth $9000!!). Deadline is March 1. (Some of the eligibility requirements include: Female, financial need, citizen of a developing country, intend to return to the home c ountry upon completion, record of service to women and/or children, 25 years or older.)

OISSS has applications and details for the two scholarship opportunities mentioned above. Apply soon - the deadlines are very soon!

* Need to practice your English? Want to meet new friends? The English Conversation Club continues to meet every Friday from 3:30-4:30 pm in Daniels 226. It is open to Americans and internationals, both fluent and not-so-fluent speakers. Come an d see for yourself!

* We need your advice and help! Would you like to help improve the international student and scholar handbook? Students, scholars, and spouses are needed to serve on the International Student and Scholar Handbook focus group. Please contact Darl a K. Deardorff at OISSS (515-2961) by Feb. 24 if you are interested in helping out. Remember when you first arrived with all your questions and difficulties?? Help us re-write this important book so others might find it even more useful. Call today.

* As we reported in our last newsletter and our website, we changed our walk-in hours on Mondays to 1:30 to 4:00 - all other times for advising, extensions, employment authorizations, etc., are by appointment only. When you would like to speak w ith an advisor, please call OISSS to make an appointment for Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday. The front part of the office will continue to be open 9:00 to 12:00 and from 1:00 to 4:00 Monday through Friday for picking up forms, getting signatures, asking general questions, and other items of business which do not require an advisor. Thank you.

* When you come to an appointment with an OISSS adviser, please remember to bring your important immigration papers. You will be asked to sign in when you arrive and will also be asked to help us update our records by completing a short Data Form.

* Lawful Status Reminders: 1) Please do not work more than 20 hours per week maximum while school is in session, 2) Please do not work off-campus without written authorization from this office, 3) Please maintain fulltime enrollment (9 hours for graduate students; 12 hours for undergraduates) each semester, 4) Please keep your passport valid at all times, 5) Please see an OISSS adviser several weeks BEFORE the completion date of your visa certificate (Item 5 of your I-20 or Item 3 of your IAP-66 ), 6) Please have your visa certificate signed by an OISSS advisor before you leave and re-enter the US, 7) Please consult an OISSS adviser if you have any difficulties or questions that cannot be resolved appropriately elsewhere.

* OISSS will be hosting the First International Research Exposition on April 16th from 3 to 4:30 PM in the Walnut Room of the Talley Student Center. Select international students and scholars are being nominated by their supervisors or advisors to present in a posterboard format some of the exciting research our international students and scholars are doing at NC State. If you are interested in being nominated, please talk to your adviser or Department Head.

* Crosstalk Seminars (Career Catalyst Series) for Graduate Students:The first presentation in this series, "The Ph.D. as Entrepreneur: Pitfalls and Payoffs," featuring Dr. Brand I. Fortner, chairman, Fortner Research, and founder of Spyglass Inc ., will be from 3:30-5 p.m. Tuesday, February 16, at 2405 Williams Hall. Dr. Fortner will offer his personal insight into how today's graduate students may better prepare themselves to take advantage of the opportunities outside of academia. Second in the Career Catalyst series will be "Ethics in the Workplace," presented by Peter M. Leher from 3:30-5 p.m., Thursday, April 8 at the theater in Witherspoon Student Center. More information is available at http://www.fis.ncsu.edu/grad/calendar/cc_021699.htm.< /P>

* Spouse Orientation. If your spouse has recently arrived in the US, or will arrive soon, let them know about our special orientation just for spouses (kids are also welcome). The dates for the Spring 99 semester are Feb 26, Mar 26, or April 30 and will be from 2:00 to 3:30 PM in Daniels Hall room 216.

Have a great semester.