March 2nd, 1999
Phone: 601.232.7404
Fax: 601.232.7486
Email: ipdept@olemiss.edu
online edition edited by Brian O'Flynn
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A number of fellowships for the academic year are available to students with exceptional academic credentials. Students must be accepted in a degree program (non-degree students are not eligible). An Honors Fellow must enroll for a full load (at least 9 hours in each semester) of graduate credit, on the Oxford campus. Registration through Continuing Education will not satisfy this requirement, nor will enrollment in thesis or dissertation hours if the student is not on campus.
Honors Fellowships may be received for a total of four semesters for master’s students, six semesters for MFA students, and eight semesters for doctoral students. Failure to maintain a 3.0 grade point average will result in a review of the Fellow’s eligibility to receive continuing financial support through the Graduate School. If Fellows change degree programs, they must be renominated for fellowship consideration.
Stipends: $2,000 per academic year ($1,000 per semester), regardless of degree program.
Qualifications: To be considered for an Honors Fellowship, candidates must be eligible for admission in Full Standing, and meet standards listed below. The final decision on awards will be made in the Graduate School.
For all students:
An assistantship paying at least
$1,125 per semester.
For International students: A GRE verbal score of at least 450.
For Master’s students:
An undergraduate GPA of at least 3.3;
A GRE score of at least 1100 OR
A GMAT score of at least 550.
For Doctoral Students: An
undergraduate GPA of at least 3.4 OR
A graduate GPA of at least 3.75;
A GRE score of at least 1150 OR
A GMAT score of at least 550.
NOTE: A GRE score of at least 1250
or a GMAT score of at least 570,
regardless of GPA, will make a
doctoral student eligible for nomination.
Please note that the awards are available by departmental nomination
only. You cannot apply. For more information, go to your department,
not International Programs.
Good news! The Association of International Educators (NAFSA) is pleased to announce a second year of funding for the ASEAN Student Assistance Awards Program (ASAAP). Under the auspices of its ASPIRE program, NAFSA will again administer the ASAAP program for academic year 1999-2000, pending funding from the US-ASEAN Business Council and its members. ASAAP is a national grants competition for all accredited 4-year academic institutions in the U.S. currently enrolling students from Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Thailand - the four ASEAN countries most affected by the Asian economic crisis. NAFSA anticipates another year of funding for the Korean Student Assistance Awards Program (KSAAP), and will make the appropriate announcement as soon as possible.
Eligibility Guidelines are:
Student nominees must be citizens of Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, or the Philippines.
Student nominees must be currently enrolled in the accredited four-year U.S. higher education institution that nominates them.
Recipient students must be undergraduate juniors or seniors or master's degree students in 1999-2000 and remain enrolled and on campus in the U.S. for the duration of their grant.
Student nominees must be continuing a degree program in academic year 1999-2000.
Students beginning new degree programs in AY1999-2000 are not eligible.
Recipient students must have and maintain appropriate nonimmigrant visa status for the 1999-2000 academic year. Permanent residents are not eligible.
Student nominees must have a minimum 3.2 grade point average at the time of application.
Eligible fields of study: business & economics, physical science, computer science, and engineering.
Student nominees currently receiving assistance from any U.S. government funded program are not eligible.
Students sponsored by their home country government are eligible, provided they need supplemental support.
Recipient institutions must guarantee cost sharing at least equal to the grant request.
Student nominees must agree to join the ASPIRE Asia-Pacific Job Seeker's Database and agree to have information about them in the database released to companies that participate in ASPIRE and to companies supporting the ASAAP awards program.
U.S. academic institutions, not individual students, may apply.
For further information, please contact Tanja Owen, Acting Assistant Director at Tanja@olemiss.edu
A) Please be mindful of the expiration date on your I-20. If you are not going to graduate by the time your I-20 is due to expire, you must apply for an extension. Please contact Jean Robinson (jcrobins@olemiss.edu) 30 days PRIOR to the expiration date on your I-20 to begin the extension process. You will need to present a letter from your academic advisor which states the reason you have not graduated in time and gives a new graduation date. You will also need to complete a new Affidavit of Support form.
B) Remember that the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) requires that students in F-1 and J-1 visa status be enrolled full-time every semester. The University of Mississippi defines full-time enrollment as at least 12 hours for undergraduates and 9 hours for graduates. The only exceptions to this rule are if 1) it is the student's last semester prior to graduation and he/she only needs "x" number of hours to complete degree requirements; 2) the student has a medical condition that necessitates less than full-time enrollment; or 3) If the student is a graduate student, has completed all formal coursework and has passed his/her comprehensive exams, then the student is allowed to enroll for a minimum of 3 credit hours. A letter from the student's academic advisor must be sent to the Office of International Programs verifying these conditions have been met and it must be on file with the Graduate School. These situations require written notification (from the student's academic advisor in the case of #1) (or the student's physician in the case of #2), PRIOR to enrolling for less than full-time. Written notification should be presented to the Office of International Programs.
C) Optional Practical Training may be applied for up to 4 months before graduation and 2 months after graduating. May graduates who are interested in Practical Training should come to the Office of International Programs, get the handout and watch the video, then contact Jason Borders (cborders@olemiss.edu), or Tanja Owen (tanja@olemiss.edu) to make an appointment for processing the application.
Tax Return time is almost upon us. In April, all international students will have to file tax returns. There will be help sessions arranged. The details will be announced later. Meanwhile, you can check if you are exempt from paying federal income tax. Many countries have tax treaties with the USA. To determine your eligibility, there are two resources on the internet. FMS Web at Indiana University has a list of countries with treaties and the particular details for each country. The official government IRS site also has a publication available for downloading. Go to the site and select publication 901.
If you are working at the university and you find you are eligible for tax exemption , then you need to fill out forms in the payroll department. Contact Roberta Humphrey at 232 7028 or Al Fenger at 7068 for more information.
All students should have received their new insurance cards by now.
If you have not, please contact Tanja
Owen immediately.
It is very important to notify the Office of International Programs about any changes in your physical address, mailing address, phone number, or e-mail address. In times of emergency it can be vital that we know how to contact you. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.
The Lafayette Chapter of the American
Association of University Women (AAUW) will be meeting Tuesday, March
16, 6:00pm, at the Ramada Inn, 2201 Jackson Avenue West. All international
women are invited to attend.