Announcements

Middlebury College in Vermont

Travel Signature Drop-in Time at ISSS!

**Stay tuned for the next travel signature drop-in time at ISSS… 

Upcoming Programming

The ISSS Express…come aboard, learn something new, express your thoughts & questions, and socialize with us!

This month’s ISSS Express event is…

Housing During Breaks & Social Time with ISSS
Spend some time with ISSS staff and learn about the housing application process. We’ll discuss when it’s necessary, and how, to apply to stay on campus for various breaks.

We will also offer travel signatures and answer any visa-related or other questions. We will spend the remaining time socializing with each other & enjoying some snacks. Come for all or part of our event! 

Friday, October 6, 3-4:30 PM US ET
McCullough, Mitchell Green Lounge

Important Housing Dates

Fall Term

• November 18, 2023: Thanksgiving break begins at 2:45 p.m. 
• December 19, 2023, at 12 p.m.: Residence halls close for winter break.
  • All students are required to leave campus within 24 hours of their last final, and no later than 12pm on December 19th. Please make your travel plans accordingly.  

Winter/J Term 

• January 2, 2024, at 9 a.m.: Residence halls open for J term.
  • Arrival before that time is not permitted and will result in conduct charges and/or fines, so please plan travel accordingly. 
• February 1, 2024, at 4 p.m.: February break begins at 10:25 p.m.
• February 3, 2024: Feb Celebration 

Spring Term

• February 10, 2024, at 9 a.m.: Residence halls open for students moving to campus for the first time.
• March 15, 2024, at 3 p.m.: Spring break begins at 2:00 p.m.
• May 22, 2024, by 12 p.m.: Residence halls close, and non-graduating students must be moved out (including those who live with graduating seniors). Students are required to leave campus within 24, hours of their last final and no later than 12pm on May 22. 
• May 26, 2024, by 11 p.m.: Graduating seniors must be moved out.

Break Housing

• The residence halls stay open for Thanksgiving, February and Spring breaks, and students staying will be asked to complete the break form. No approval is needed to stay for these breaks, but students must sign up to stay on campus. Thanksgiving break registration will be available in late October.
• Winter recess housing will be limited, and an application will be available later in the semester. You must be approved to stay over the winter break, and there are no dining services available. 
• Facilities and Residential Life staff may enter rooms during breaks to conduct safety checks, perform work needed, and ensure the building is closed appropriately. 

Middlebury Institute in California

ISSS Advising Framework: What to expect and how to contact ISSS while we seek a qualified candidate to fill our vacant Assistant Director of ISSS position at the Institute.

• Middlebury has a long-standing commitment to its international community of students, staff, scholars, and faculty. In 2011, we created a cross-institutional International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) office to support our international population across the whole institution (i.e. all of Middlebury)—including the College, the Institute, and the Schools.
• ISSS is here for you. It is important to note that Middlebury, Vermont, where most of the ISSS team is based, is in the Eastern time zone, which is 3 hours ahead of Monterey, California in the Pacific time zone. ISSS operating hours are Mon. through Fri. from 8:30 am-5:00 pm (ET), which translates to 5:30 am to 2:00 pm (Pacific) Mon. through Fri.
• If you have questions, first thoroughly check our website for answers and information. You may be most interested in the For Students area or the Forms & Resources page.
• Since February 2022, our website contains institution-wide information for all international student and scholar populations rather than maintaining separate ISSS websites for the Institute or the College with much of the same information. We continue to refine the information for consistency and accuracy for all populations. See: https://www.middlebury.edu/office/international-student-and-scholar-services. 
• If after reviewing the website you still have questions, then email us at isss@middlebury.edu. Let us know that you already checked the website and still require assistance, because our first recommendation will be to do that.
• For a truly urgent immigration or visa-related matter, call ISSS at 802.443.5858 or email isss@middlebury.edu and be sure to indicate in the subject line “Urgent-Emergency”.

Emergency Reminders:

• Call 911 (from within the U.S.) for any medical, fire, police, or life-threatening emergency.

Appointments

• If you wish to discuss a matter with international student advisor, Kas Singh, you may book a remote appointment via zoom using the Calendly scheduling tool: https://calendly.com/middleburyisss.
• Click on “Institute Student Appointment with Kas Singh” appointment block. If you choose a different type of appointment, we will email you to reschedule using the correct appointment type.
• Unable to find a time to fit your schedule? Email ISSS at isss@middlebury.edu and address it to your advisor asking for further assistance. We will do our best to accommodate you.

Travel Signatures

• Travel signatures (on page 2 of your I-20 for F-1 students or in the Travel Validation box on the bottom right corner of the DS-2019 for J-1 students) should be no older than 1 year and we recommend that they be within 6 months (i.e. have it signed once per semester). 
• Please look at your most recent/current Form I-20 or DS-2019 to see if you have a travel signature and what the date is by the signature name. 
• If it is older than 6 months, you can request an updated travel signature.  If you do not have a travel signature or need an updated one, then please email isss@middlebury.edu for instructions on how to obtain one.

Anticipated ISSS Programming during Fall Semester (specific emails will be sent with dates/times)

• For F-1 students:
  • General Curricular Practical Training (CPT) sessions—off-campus training/employment authorization
  • General Optional Practical Training (OPT) sessions—off-campus training/employment authorization
• For J-1 Students:
  • Academic Training session (for off-campus employment authorization)
  • Note: For on-campus employment authorization for J-1 students, please email ISSS to inquire.
• For any international students:
  • Immigration attorney session regarding post-graduation employment-based visa options in the U.S. (note: this session may be offered early next Spring)

General Announcements

International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) & International Programs and Off-Campus Study (IPOCS) represented Middlebury well at the NAFSA: Association of International Educators-Region XI Conference held in Manchester, NH from Oct. 18-20, 2022. See highlights below. 

1.       As NAFSA Region XI Chair for 2022, Assistant Director of ISSS Christy Fry oversaw the first in-person regional conference for international educators in New England since fall 2019. With 276 attendees (42% were first-time participants), it was a resounding success! Two pre-conference workshops and more than 45 sessions and events took place over the three days. Christy led the 22-person regional team in offering an engaging conference that provided opportunities for professional development, networking, plus social and self-care events. Two of three regional awardees were from Middlebury! (See the PIE News post about the conference and see below for photos.)

2.       International Services Specialist Loren Scott was recognized with the Rising Professional Award for his engagement in and contributions to the field of international education, which range from offering conference sessions at the regional and national level, being selected as a RISE Fellow and NAFSA Academy participant, providing input to articles, webinars, and trainings for Peace Corps and other organizations, assisting at a week-long intensive English program for children in Costa Rica, and more.

3.       Associate Dean and Director of ISSS Kathy Foley was nominated by colleagues who represent many different institutions and was chosen for the Sally M. Heym Award. This recognition celebrates the many ways Kathy has elevated her staff, the field, and peers across the region. A leader and mentor who is trusted for her astute and compassionate guidance and support, Kathy joins this select group of 25 leaders in our region who are making (or have made) a difference in international education since the award’s creation in 1996.

4.       Middlebury’s Christy Fry and Loren Scott co-led a Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Roundtable session. Fifteen participants actively engaged in dialogue and discussion about lived experiences and best practices for making our field and our offices more attentive to DEI principles. The conversation also focused on identifying effective ways within Region XI and NAFSA to operationalize the many ideas generated.

5.       Middlebury C.V. Schools Abroad showcased our 37 sites abroad and our 13 language schools at the Exhibit Hall. Assistant Director of University Relations Catherine Pierattini and Director of our School in Puerto Rico Teresa Peña-Jordán met with conference attendees to discuss opportunities for students to participate in our programs.

Middlebury Schools

**Stay tuned for updates.**