INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS, OFFICE OF

The Office of International Programs (OIP) promotes, fosters, encourages, and coordinates international activities at Sam Houston State University. Such activities include the recruitment and retention of international students, the administration of study abroad programs for SHSU faculty and students, and assistance to international visitors to the campus. The Office also publishes a newsletter informing students and faculty of grant opportunities, deadlines, and events of special interest.

OIP is active in the recruitment of international students to the University. Its staff handles visa procedures for all international students. The Office serves as a primary contact for international students when they first apply and continues to serve in that capacity throughout their stay at the University.

Sam Houston State University offers opportunities for study in exchange programs around the world. Its own faculty members have led programs in recent years in countries such as Italy, France, Russia, England, Mexico, China, Spain, and Poland. In addition, the University is a member of the Texas Consortium for Study Abroad, which has an agreement with the American Institute for Foreign Study (AIFS). Students at the University can participate in any study abroad program organized by AIFS.

Visit or call the Office of International Programs in Frels Bldg., Room 207 (near campus post office); telephone (936) 294-3892. Information is available at the website http://www. shsu.edu/oip. Mail address: International Programs, Sam Houston State University, Frels Building 207, Box 2150, Huntsville, TX 77341-2150.

Maintaining F-1 Student Visa Status
-U.S. Government Requirements for All F-1 Students-

IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO FOLLOW THESE REQUIREMENTS OR FACE POSSIBLE REMOVAL FROM THE UNITED STATES.

Maintain a valid passport at all times, unless exempt from passport requirements. Your passport should be valid for at least 6 months into the future.

Only attend the school listed on your current and stamped I-20. To attend another school, you must transfer to that school (obtain approval on a new I-20) or receive a concurrent enrollment letter from an International Student Advisor.

Complete an I-20 transfer whenever you change schools. An I-20 transfer (not the same as transferring academic credit) must be completed within 30 days of the beginning of classes of the first semester at the new school. An I-20 transfer is not complete until an International Student Advisor from the International Office processes your new I-20 through the USCIS Database.

Be a full-time student each long semester. You must complete (not just register for) a full course load each long semester. To maintain your F-1 student visa status, undergraduate students must complete at least 12 hours and graduate students must complete at least 9 hours each long semester. Note: Some degree programs may require more hours for academic reasons. Check with your department. You are not required by USCIS to enroll in classes during the summer session, unless summer is your first semester in the U.S. If you need to drop below full-time hours, make an appointment to see an International Student Advisor BEFORE taking any action.

Apply for an extension of your I-20 thirty days before the expiration date. The extension can only be applied for at the Office of International Programs within the 30-day period before the expiration date.

Obtain a new I-20 whenever you make a change in degree levels or majors. This includes changing levels at the same school or a new one (e.g., bachelor’s to master’s degree) or beginning a new degree at the same level (e.g., master’s degree to a 2nd master’s).

Never work off-campus unless you have current authorization from an International Student Advisor and the USCIS. You must either have an employment authorization stamp from our office on page 4 of your I-20 or an employment authorization card from the INS. All off-campus employment has a beginning and ending date. Renewals must be done before resuming work. If you work even one day before or after your authorization, you are in danger of being removed from the U.S. On-campus work does not require specific authorization, but you must maintain your full-time student status to be authorized. On-campus work is limited to 20 hours or less per week during the fall and spring and may be full-time during the summer if you do not take summer classes.

Obtain a travel endorsement on the back of your I-20 before leaving the U.S. This will be needed if you want to reenter the U.S.

Willful failure to maintain health insurance at the required level will be considered a violation of status.

A student may apply for Optional Practical Training up to 90 days prior to graduation. (Contact the Office of International Programs to schedule an appointment and to obtain instruction.)

Maintain a current address with the Office of International Programs and the USCIS at all times while you are on the I-20 of SHSU. Therefore, update your address with the Office of International Programs every time you change addresses.

USCIS: Change of Address (08-28-02)

Any alien [nonimmigrant international] in the U.S. is required to report his or her address to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) within ten (10) days of the change of address. You may report your change of address to the Office of International Programs. The office will make the change in the government’s online database, as well as in the SHSU database.

HUMAN RESOURCES

The Human Resources Department provides services in the areas of: Employee Benefits, Employee Relations, Staffing, Records, Staff Wage and Salary Administration, Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action, Civil Rights Compliance, Risk Management, and Employee Development/Training. It is University policy that all Human Resources functions be conducted in a fair and equitable manner without discrimination toward any protected class under State and Federal civil rights laws and regulations.

The Human Resources Department is located in the Estill Building, Room 334. The office is open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. The telephone number is (936) 294-1070. For current staff job openings, call the Job Information Line at (936) 294-1067. Job openings for faculty and staff positions can be accessed on the Human Resources website: https://www.shsu.edu/~hrd_www/employment.

Student Employment

SAM HOUSTON PRESS & COPY CENTER

Sam Houston Press & Copy Center is the University’s in-house printing and copying facility. It provides year-round service for students, faculty, and staff of Sam Houston State University. All types of copying, binding, fax services, and printing services are offered to students and student organizations.

Sam Houston Press & Copy Center is located on the first floor of the Thomason Building. The facility is open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. For information or to arrange an appointment for placing an order, call (936) 294-1856.

SAM HOUSTON MEMORIAL MUSEUM

UNIVERSITY ADVANCEMENT

The University Advancement Division is responsible for enhancing the visibility and image of Sam Houston State University. The primary goal is to attract significant private support and, in the process, create a growing awareness of the University’s quality by prospective students and their parents. The division seeks to achieve its goal through a range of comprehensive activities that will build strengthened relationships between the University and its various publics and to present a compelling case for involvement with and support of SHSU.

The Sam Houston Memorial Museum development, alumni relations, public relations, marketing, and advancement services comprise the advancement division. In discharging its responsibilities, the division conducts the following programs: publications, alumni affairs, media and public relations, web-based communications, marketing, annual giving, major gifts, planned gifts, and donor relations.

The University must increasingly rely on gifts from its alumni, friends, and parents to bridge the gap between what tuition, fees, and state support provide and what is necessary to fund first-rate programs. To this end, the University is engaged in preparations to launch its first capital gifts campaign.

For additional information about supporting the University through an annual, capital, or planned gift, please contact the division at 936/294-3625 or Box 2537, Huntsville, TX 77341-2537. Donors wishing to make a gift with a credit card can go online at https://www.shsu.edu/uadv01wp/home.php.

Alumni Association

The Office of Alumni Relations is a vibrant and growing part of the University Advancement Division and provides the support and direction for the Alumni Association. The alumni program is an important part of an integrated advancement effort to inform and engage graduates and former students with the University.

The Alumni Association exists to support and promote the University, and it represents the interests of over 70,000 alumni. The Association’s programs and activities are developed and planned in consultation with an alumni board of directors. The Association sponsors distinguished alumni and alumni service awards programs, homecoming, tailgate parties, a SHSU Alumni Association credit card, area alumni gatherings, newsletters, scholarships, student programs, merchandising, and the official class ring program.

Membership is open to all graduates, former students and friends of Sam Houston State University. For additional information, please call 936/294-1841 or visit the Alumni Association on the web at http://alumni.shsu.edu.

Public Relations

The Office of Public Relations is a significant component of the University Advancement Division, fostering communications and understanding between the university and a range of internal and external constituencies, including students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends. As the primary conduit for information with media outlets throughout the state and nation, the office produces and distributes news releases and articles, highlighting the quality of the University’s faculty, students, projects, and programs. The office maintains a comprehensive list of faculty and staff experts through the ProfNet media query service and, in doing so, is able to provide valuable assistance to local and national media on a broad range of timely topics and news events. Additionally, the office produces magazines, newsletters, brochures, invitations, printed programs, and flyers for the University Advancement Division.

The Public Relations Office also maintains a strong presence on the web, which includes news releases, a campus calendar, a listing of campus experts, historical information on the university and General Sam Houston, and the electronic newsletter Today@Sam. For more information, please call 936/294-1836 or visit Public Relations on the web at https://www.shsu.edu/today@sam.

UNIVERSITY HOTEL

The University Hotel and the George J. Beto Conference Center are conveniently located on the North East corner of campus at Bearkat Boulevard and Bobby K. Marks Drive. The University Hotel offers meeting space, dining accommodations, exercise equipment, and 89 comfortable furnished guest rooms. SSD accessible rooms are available upon request. Children 18 years of age and under stay free with parents in the same room. All rooms have two double beds. For additional information or to make reservations, please call (936) 291-2151, (800) 747-8466, or fax (936) 294-1683. Website: http://www.shsuhotel.com.