2011/12 - Bechtel International Center - Stanford University

• The Overseas Resource Center applied for and was
granted an IDEA grant (Innovation in Diversity,
Engagement and Awareness) in early 2011. During
2011/12 this project filmed students who had
been successful in scholarship applications and the
results of the project were presented at the Student
Affairs Poster Assessment Session in May 2012.
• During the University budget process we
received base funds for a 50% FTE to assist
with scholarship administration and outreach.
This position will begin in fall 2012.
• The Overseas Resource Center had almost
2500 student visitors during the year and
offered 30 workshops on scholarships.
MAINTAINED FOCUS ON IMMIGRATION
COMPLIANCE ISSUES AND IMPROVED SERVICE
TO STUDENTS, SCHOLARS AND DEPARTMENTS
In 2011/12, Stanford hosted 3732 international students,
2479 J-1 Scholars and Postdoctoral fellows, and 693 H-1
employees. Family members accompanied many of these
individuals.
In addition to providing one on one immigration advising
and SEVIS tracking services to international students
and scholars, the advising staff welcomed close to 1100
new undergraduate and graduate international students
to campus, and processed 1588 OPT/CPT applications
(a significant increase over the previous year). The
importance of academically related work experience to
international students cannot be over-emphasized and
such advising takes up a large percentage of our work.
During the year over 1800 one-on-one advising sessions
occurred between staff and international students.
The scholar advising staff produced 2025 DS-2019s for
new and continuing J scholars, processed 1505 arrival
confirmation (these represent substantial increases
over the prior year), submitted 320 H-1 petitions, 3 O-1
petitions and 24 permanent residency petitions. Staff
offered bi-monthly J orientation meetings to incoming J
scholars, and quarterly outreach and training meetings to
departments.
We processed 830 F and J SEVIS batches, responded
to 51,385 SEVIS alerts, and our front desk had over
16,000 individual interactions with students, scholars,
departments and other visitors.
During the year Stanford was also re-designated by the
Department of State for the administration of the J-1
program at Stanford.
Bechtel worked closely with the Office of the Registrar
to advocate for, and implement, a reduced tuition fee
10 Bechtel International Center Annual Report 2011/12
for summer CPT. This reduced fee went into effect in the
summer of 2012.
During 2011/12 there was a marked increase in the
number of applications submitted in support of
permanent residency for faculty and senior researchers.
GRADUATE STUDENT AND INTERNATIONAL
FROSH ORIENTATION
As in previous years, we ran two separate orientation
programs: one for undergraduate frosh and the other
for graduate students.
Undergraduate Orientation
International Student Orientation (ISO) is a very popular
and successful program, and frosh often make close and
long lasting friendships during this time. Participants
include not just students who are here on F and J visas,
but also US citizens who have largely lived or studied
overseas. This number has been growing steadily.
Keeping budget constraints in mind, this was the first
time that ISO participants, except those on financial aid,
were charged an attendance fee of $50.
The four-day long ISO dovetailed and complimented
the University-wide New Student Orientation Week, and
included informational sessions, “Breakfast at Bechtel”,
discussion sections on “Inside the Stanford Classroom”,
a scavenger hunt, a shopping trip, a barbecue, and the
always popular beach trip!
Attendance of international frosh parent events
during ISO is also growing . Both the Parents’ Welcome
Reception and the Question and Answer Session were
very popular again this year. Parents appreciated the
opportunity to meet and socialize with other parents as
well as with Bechtel I-Center staff.
Graduate Orientation
The weeklong Graduate Orientation, which ended just
before the start of the school year, was attended by
over 800 students and their family members. With the
assistance of Community Committee for International
Students (CCIS) and a team of dedicated staff and other
volunteers, graduate orientation was, once again, a
huge success.
CCIS volunteers offered one-on-one advising about
resources and settling in at Stanford, staff offered
over thirty “Maintaining Your Legal Status” sessions in
addition to the many sessions and events that offered
informational and social opportunities. Attendance
was high, and over 100 students attended the
“Culture of the U.S. Classroom” which explained
Stanford’s academic system and the Honor Code.
Like the previous year, and due to increased demand
and interest on insurance issues, we included a
session called “Medical Care- Insurance, Entrance