Graduate Coordinators Handbook

Section 8

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The Graduate School requires a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score of at least 213 on the computer based exam (corresponding to 550 on the paper based exam) as a condition of admission to Full Standing for international students. Some departments may require a higher TOEFL score.

The Graduate School defines native language as being the medium of instruction for at least four years at either the secondary or undergraduate level.

All international students whose native language is not English are required to submit a TOEFL score. Upon arrival at the University, those students with a score of 213 or above (550 the paper based exam) must take an English Placement Test (currently we are using the Michigan Test). This placement test is administered by the Coordinator of the Intensive English program (IEP). Students who do not make a score of 80% on this test are required to take a one semester English training course, EFS 100, during their first semester of enrollment. This course must be repeated until satisfactory performance is demonstrated on the institutional TOEFL (paper-based exam). Students may pass EFS 100 with a Z grade. Their grade is not dependent upon achieving a TOEFL test score of at least 550. Students must continue to take the institutional TOEFL until they score the minimum 550. Some programs require a 600 score. The Graduate School puts an administrative hold on the enrollment of such students. If there are conflicts with other required courses, the Graduate Dean may give permission for the student to take EFS 100 during his or her second semester of enrollment.

In addition, ALL in-coming students who have a TOEFL between 193 and 212 on the computer based TOEFL (or between 523 and 549 on the paper based TOEFL) are required to take EFS 100. Students who have less than a 193 on the computer based TOEFL (below 525 on the paper based form) cannot be admitted in degree-seeking standing, but they can enroll in the Intensive English Program (IEP). An academic department may recommend that a student be provisionally admitted into their graduate program following successful completion of the IEP program, or an academic department may offer no such provisional guarantee.

Students who have scored between 193 and 212 on the TOEFL may also elect quarter- or half-time enrollment in the Intensive English Language Program concurrent with their enrollment in graduate course work. Half-time enrollment will be equated as 12 hours; quarter-time enrollment as 6 hours. Under no circumstances will a graduate student be allowed to exceed 15 hours--12 in the summer sessions--of combined Intensive English and graduate course work.

The University of Mississippi requires international students to present acceptable results on the Test of Spoken English (TSE) or the institutional version, SPEAK, prior to qualifying for positions of graduate instructor (Form #7 appointments). This requirement applies to all international students whose native language is not English.

The University of Mississippi SPEAK test is now administered by the Intensive English program. New students who wish to be considered for graduate instructorships should arrange for testing prior to the beginning of class sessions.

The following SPEAK score requirements were approved:

Unconditional Approval: 250 and above. Students achieving scores in this range are considered to have sufficient command of spoken English to serve as classroom teachers.

Conditional Approval: 225-249. Students achieving scores in this range may serve as classroom teachers, subject to periodic observation in the department.

Limited Approval: 200-224. Students achieving scores in this range are restricted to service as laboratory assistants and only in the company of another assistant has acceptable spoken English.

Prohibited: 199 and below.

Students are responsible for achieving and maintaining their visa status. The Office of International Programs provides assistance and monitoring of international students with respect to immigration and visa matters. The majority of international graduate students will enter on an F-1 student visa, though some may enter with a J-1 sponsored or exchange-student visa, a F-2 dependent or a J-2 dependent visa. Graduate Program Coordinators are advised to direct questions in the area to the Office of International Programs.

An I-20 form is a document that students present to the Consular Officers when applying for an F-1 student visa. In some countries, this document is even necessary to apply for a passport. In order for the Office of International Programs to issue an I-20 to an international student who is not presently in the U.S., the student has to have been admitted by the Graduate School and there must be documentation that the student has sufficient funds to attend Ole Miss. The estimated cost of attendance (ECA) is $14,804.00/year (for the 1999-00 year) for most graduate programs; it is $16,804.00 for MBA students, since they are required to obtain a notebook computer. The ECA will increase as tuition and non-resident fees are increased and as the cost of living expenses increases. Graduate Program Coordinators should check with the Office of International Programs about the ECA for the upcoming semester. Whether an academic department requires enrollment during the summer will make a difference in the ECA.

If a student is offered a graduate teaching assistantship, with the accompanying partial tuition scholarship and non-resident fee scholarship, this financial assistance can contribute to the resources needed by the student to meet the ECA. If a department offers an incoming international student an assistantship, it is very important that the department informs the Office of International Programs about this offer so that they can include the amount in the I-20 visa application form for the student. Applicants will often need to supplement any University support with their personal funds to meet the ECA.

Students who are already in the U.S., but want to begin studies here, will also need to complete a School Transfer Eligibility form that is available in the Office of International Programs. Though the processing time will vary from country to country, it generally takes a minimum of two months for an I-20 form to be prepared, mailed to the student, and for the student to obtain a visa.

Departments should always provide original letters using University departmental letterhead to the student regarding any assistantship or fellowship award. Some students do have a difficult time in the visa application interview convincing the Consular Officer that they will have sufficient funds for study. It is also important for the student to be able to state clearly and concisely why a particular program in a particular school is important for their career plans. Departments can help by giving the student information regarding the outstanding aspects of the program, the faculty, the research opportunities, etc. at this university as compared to another. The emphasis should not be on opportunities that the student might have to stay in the U.S. after completing a degree, but rather how study here will benefit the student and his/her country upon return. The Office of International Programs can assist students and faculty with questions concerning visas.

To satisfy INS requirements, international students in F-1 or J-1 status must maintain full-time enrollment (defined as 9 hours per regular semester) during the fall and spring semesters until their final enrollment period. During the final enrollment period, an international student may enroll for a minimum of 3 hours (1 hour if a summer term). However, if a student does not complete all degree requirements during this semester, he or she will be required to register for a full 9 hours in all subsequent semesters. A modification of this general rule applies to doctoral students who have completed their comprehensive examination, all required coursework, and are in the condition of candidacy. These students are required to meet the requirements for continuous enrollment, but this may be met by enrolling for as few as 3 hours for two out of the three enrollment periods during a calendar year. To be allowed to enroll for this reduced amount of hours (i.e., 3 hours instead of 9), an international student must have on file in the Graduate School a report of completion of the comprehensive exam and a letter from his or her academic advisor stating that he or she has completed all required formal course work and has given a projected semester for completion of the degree.

Masters degree seeking international students may also avail themselves of the option of enrolling for fewer than 9 hours during a regular semester if they have completed all required course work. To be permitted to do so, the student must provide a letter from his or her advisor stating that all required formal course work (other than thesis) has been completed and projecting the semester for completion of the degree.

Note that these reduced enrollment options do not change the required enrollment for eligibility for tuition scholarships.

Failing to maintain full-time enrollment will cause the student to lose his or her legal status. Among other things this would mean the student could no longer have work authorization.

Students who hold the immigration status of F-2, J-2 or B are not required to be full-time students for immigration purposes. For questions concerning any other status, contact the Office of International Programs.

International students who hold the immigration status of F-1 and have a valid I-20 from the University of Mississippi are allowed to work up to 20 hours per week on campus when school is in session. During official breaks, such as the period between fall and spring semesters or spring break, these students can work an unlimited number of hours on campus. Students can also work additional hours during the summer if they are not enrolled in classes but do intend to enroll in the fall. Assistantships do count toward this total. Students who hold J-1 status also can have on-campus work authorization but first need to have written approval from the institution that issued their IAP-66. The University of Mississippi's Office of International Programs would need to give the permission. Those in J-2 status can apply for work authorization through INS, which may take 90 days to process. Students in F-2 or B status have no work authorization and therefore cannot accept assistantships. It may be possible to change their status to one that would allow work authorization, but this can take time. A change of status application can take eight months to be processed by INS and work cannot begin until the change is formally approved.

Some graduate programs accommodate opportunities for off-campus internships. If an international student in F-1 status wishes to participate in such an internship, this usually falls under the category of F-1 Curricular Practical Training (CPT). To be eligible for CPT it is necessary for the academic advisor of the international student to be able to stipulate that the training is designed to enhance the student's overall educational experience, that the advisor will provide a degree of remote supervision of this training experience, and that the training is a course requirement or is required for completion of the degree. Training may be for up to 40 hours per week. While there is no limit to the amount of time spent on CPT, it is important for the student to understand that time spent on a full-time CPT internship will be deducted from the 12 months of Optional Practical Training time that many international graduate students try to reserve for the period just after they complete their degrees. Training that is for 20 hours a week or less is considered part time and requires concurrent course work in order to maintain full-time status. See the Appendix for a form to be used for setting up a Curricular Practical Training experience for a student.

Optional Practical Training (OPT) authorization is another opportunity for students to gain professional work experience in their fields of study. Students in F-1 status have a one-year period of eligibility. It can be used in the following situations: (1) during the summer if the student intends to register for the fall semester, (2) while school is in session provided that the training is not more than 20 hours per week, (3) full-time after completion of all course requirements for the degree excluding thesis and (4) full-time after completion of the course of study. GAINING THIS TYPE OF AUTHORIZATION DOES TAKE SEVERAL MONTHS. Students should come to the Office of International Programs well before their anticipated dates of employment to apply for authorization. It involves an application to the Immigration and Naturalization Service and endorsement from the Office of International Programs. Once granted, the student receives an Employment Eligibility Document (EED), which lists the dates they are authorized to work. The authorization is not employer specific, but the work does need to be in the student's major field of study and commensurate with his/her educational level.

Foreign scholars who desire to enroll in the Graduate School but who do not wish to pursue a degree, may be admitted without the required TOEFL score. Those students will be limited to enrollment as auditing students only. Should a student be admitted under this provision later wish to be admitted to a degree program, all admission requirements, including acceptable TOEFL scores or the equivalent, must be met. However, no work taken while an auditing student will be applied in any way to the degree program.

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