February 11: Scholarship deadline February 12: ISC Club Winchester Mystery House Trip February 12-15: Campus closed February 17-19: Laura Bush Celebrity Forum February 18: Lunar New Year Coffee Hour February 25: International Transfer Fair February 26: Transfer Presentation: Johnson and Wales & University of Montana
In the Spotlight...
Planning to Transfer? Attend International Transfer Day on February 25
Foothill College will be hosting its annual International Transfer Day on Thursday, February 25 from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm.
International Scholarship Panel: 12:00 pm - 12:50 pm, Room 5001
Learn about scholarship opportunities for international students to many excellent universities, including Johnson and Wales, Menlo College, Notre Dame de Namur, St. Mary’s, University of Iowa, and University of Montana.
International Admissions Panel: 1:00 pm - 1:45 pm, Room 5001
Learn about the admissions procedure for international transfer students. SFSU will discuss the admissions procedure to CSUs, Columbia University will discuss private school admissions, and UC Davis will present on transferring to UCs. Bring your questions and find out when to apply!
Art and Design School Admissions Panel: 1:00 pm - 1:45 pm, Altos Room
Dreaming about a career in design or craving to study the arts? What are these fields all about? How to get accepted to an art school? The Academy of Art, School of Art Institute of Chicago, and other art schools will discuss the specific admissions procedure and portfolio preparation for transfer students during this unique panel.
International Student Transfer Fair: 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm, Campus Center Cafeteria
Don’t miss your chance to meet face-to-face with international admissions representatives from over 30 universities, including some very prestigious schools from California and many other states, for example, Columbia, UC Davis, University of Iowa, University of San Diego, and many more! Free refreshments and delicious hors-d’oeuvres will be provided for visitors. Learn more about different universities and participate in an exciting raffle to win prizes from participating schools! Come find out which universities are still accepting applications for Fall 2010 and how to make your application more competitive.
Admission is free for all events. Please encourage your friends at De Anza College to attend this event as well. There will be a special free shuttle for international students from De Anza on February 25. More information can be obtained in the international office.
This event is sponsored by the Transfer Center, International Programs Office, Johnson & Wales University, Academy of Art, St. Mary's College and San Francisco State University. For more information, contact Maureen Chenoweth in the Transfer Center at ChenowethMaureen@fhda.edu or call (650) 949-7235.
The United States tax system requires every nonimmigrant present in the U.S. in 2009 (even for a day), WHETHER YOU WORKED OR NOT, to file a form with the Internal Revenue Service. This also applies to your spouses and dependents/children on F-2 visas.
Note: The International Student Office is not able to provide individual tax advice. More information and instructions will be available in the special issue of the Tax Edition of I-NEWS in the middle of February.
The forms that you need to file depend on your status. For federal tax purposes, you must first determine whether you are considered a RESIDENT or a NONRESIDENT alien. If a student spends more than 5 years in the United States in F-1 status, he/she will be considered a resident alien and must be taxed like a U.S. citizen. Note that any part of a calendar year in which a student is present in the U.S. counts as a full year. If you determine that you are a resident for tax purposes, you will not be able to use CINTAX.
Our office will continue to offer a service exclusively for international students – FREE ACCESS to CINTAX software. The software provides an easy and user-friendly way to prepare your federal tax returns online in under 20 minutes. Since there is a limit on the number of people accessing the software, international students will have to request a password in advance on a first come first served basis. If you are having any doubts or questions about what you should do, please wait for the Tax Edition of I-NEWS.
Deadlines: If you worked in 2009, the last day to meet your federal and California state tax obligations is April 15, 2010. If you did not earn any income in the U.S. in 2009 or for spouses and dependents/children, your deadline for filing a federal Form 8843 is June 15, 2010.
Employer documents: In order to fill out your federal and state tax forms, you will need the following forms depending on the income you receive: W-2 and/or 1042-S. These forms will generally be mailed to you by your employer by January 31 of this year. If you worked in 2009 and do not receive a W-2 and/or 1042-S by the middle of February, you should contact your employer's payroll department. Make sure that your employer knows your new address if you recently moved.
For questions about your W-2 and/or 1042-S forms if you worked in Foothill College and to change your address, you should contact the Financial Aid and Student Employment office at 650-949-7470.
The schedule for Spring Quarter is now posted on Foothill’s website. Because of the recent budget constraints, classes that are not filled by a specific date are at risk of being cancelled. So be sure to outline your courses, check your schedule and register early! It is also very important that you attend the first class meeting of each class. If you miss the first class, the professor will most likely drop you from the class.
Please be reminded that international students have until the second week of classes to pay their tuition fees. Students will be automatically dropped from their courses if they are unable to meet the deadline for payment.
For any registration problems or concerns, contact the Admissions and Registration Office at (650) 949-7325.
The Foothill College campus will be closed on Friday, February 12 for observance of Abraham Lincoln’s birthday and on Monday, February 15 in observance of George Washington’s birthday.
It is mandatory (required) for international students to have health insurance. Having health insurance will cover you in the unfortunate and usually unforeseen event that you become sick or injured or when you are just in need of medical assistance while studying at Foothill.
Your health insurance fees are automatically added to your quarterly fees. You will automatically be registered for the international health insurance by the ISO, and upon registration, you will receive your insurance card by mail within the next couple of weeks along with some instructions on how to register for the online system for speedy assistance and inquiries.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding your health insurance, please stop by the International Student Office in Room 5922 or call (650) 949-7293. You could also e-mail Lark Cratty at CrattyLark@fhda.edu.
Current students: Are you expecting to graduate soon and thinking about applying for Optional Practical Training (OPT)? If so, now is a good time to attend our Practical Training seminar and get all the information you need to prepare your OPT application.
New students: This is your chance to get all the information about employment and practical training options available for international students (Curricular Practical Training, CO-OP, CO-OP Education, Internships, OPT).
A practical training workshop will be held on Friday, February 26 at 10:00am in Room 3203. Please Come Early!
International Night is the biggest multicultural celebration of the year and a wonderful chance for international students to showcase their cultures, learn about our global community, and gain excellent leadership experience. This event, with over 700 guests, is planned and organized by students. The International Night 2010 Planning Committee is currently looking for volunteers.
The first meeting was held on February 4. For more information about regular meetings, please contact Allison Largent at largentallison@fhda.edu or visit Room 5403.
If you have a traditional costume from your country, we encourage you to share it during International Night. You can wear it in our fashion show or lend it to a friend to wear. Do you play music, dance or would you like to exhibit your culture in another way? We would like you to perform during International Night!
The International Night Planning Committee will begin meeting this Winter Quarter. Volunteers are needed for the following sub-committees: Banquet Committee, Marketing Committee, Performance Committee, and Fashion Show Committee. If you are interested in joining the Planning Committee but did not come to the first meeting on February 4, please come to Room 5403 to speak with Viktoria or Allison.
Thursday, February 18
12:00 pm-1:30pm
Student/Hearthside Lounge
Come to learn about the history, traditions, and superstitions surrounding Lunar New Year. Celebrate the Year of the Tiger with the International Programs Office, International Student Connection Club, and Hong Kong Student Union! Come to meet new friends and enjoy free traditional refreshments and entertainment.
Laura Bush: February 17-19 at 8:00pm, De Anza College Flint Center
Laura Bush, wife of George W. Bush, was involved in topics of both national and global concern during her eight years as First Lady. Such concerns include education and literacy as well as health and, in particular, women’s health. Come to hear a thought-provoking talk by one of the most popular First Ladies!
Get your FREE tickets in Room 5403 starting at 2:00pm on Wednesday, February 10!
The International Student Connection Club is taking a trip to the world’s oddest mansion, the Winchester House. The Winchester House was built by Mrs. Sarah Winchester who moved from Connecticut to California after her husband and only child died. The house is known to have been “built by spirits or ghosts.” If you are intrigued as to why this could be, join us for a trip to the mansion that features 160 rooms and bizarre architecture.
The trip will be on Friday, February 12, and the cost is $19. For more information and to sign up, please contact the ISC Club at InternationalStudentConnection@gmail.com, come to their weekly club meetings on Fridays at 12:00pm in Room 3304, or visit the advisors in Room 5403.
It is quite difficult when you celebrate the holidays away from family and friends. For international students, it could be quite depressing. Foothill College is well aware of the holiday blues some of its international students go through during the holiday season.
To cheer students up and to share the joys of an old American tradition, the college community once again celebrated its annual Home-Away-From-Home Thanksgiving Feast at the Campus Center Dining Room last November 24, 2009. The event aims to make the college community feel like a family especially for those who are away from home.
“Thanksgiving is a powerful day in which we can take time to be thankful for what we have. In America, we usually spend it with our families,” Ahmed Mostafa, ASFC President, said. “While many international students may not be able to celebrate Thanksgiving with their immediate families, we have the Home-Away-From-Home Thanksgiving Feast so the international students can celebrate with their Foothill family. Being the student body president, I feel Foothill College is my family. I hope my fellow students feel the same way too, especially for those who are not in their home countries.”
Traditional food like turkey, mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie and stuffing were served, while glasses were refilled with chilled apple cider. Ashley Chan, a student from Hong Kong and current ASFC Vice President of Administration, graced the event with her piano playing.
“It was very classy! It’s like attending a formal dinner,” Eun Song Kong, a student from Korea noted.
“Due to the amazing diversity we have at Foothill College through our International Programs, we realize that we need to give thanks to those students for being here with their unique and intellectual contributions,” Ahmed added. “The international student population of Foothill College definitely contributes to our educational institution as being one of the top community colleges in the U.S.! I think having this Thanksgiving feast is a good way of showing that kind of appreciation.”
After weeks of much anticipation and planning, Foothill College celebrated International Education Week for the fourth consecutive time from November 16 to 20, 2009.
Sponsored by the International Programs Office, the Associated Students of Foothill College (ASFC) and various clubs and organizations in campus, IEW kicked off the week with an international tea reception and a seminar entitled, “Stress and the International Traveler: Restoring Calm and Resilience” with guest speaker Brandy Vanderheiden.
Foothill Indian Student Association sponsored a film screening of the Academy award-winning film “Slumdog Millionaire” with free popcorn and drinks on November 17. Video arts professor Geetika Jain introduced the film at the Campus Dining Center.
Foothill’s IEW celebration was also differentiated by a creative theme of “Breaking the Stereotypes” best explored at the Country Fair on November 18. The Campus Center Dining Room was full of tables hosted by Foothill students representing different countries and cultures featuring the uniqueness of each part of the world. Students, staff, faculty and guests got to participate in the event by joining a trivia contest; prizes were sponsored by the Foothill Bookstore and KJ’s Café.
“I think the country fair was the highlight of the week because it was the students who organized everything. But of course, we had advisors from the ISO who really helped us come out with ideas,” Calvin Teja, Vice President of the International Student Connection Club and a student from Indonesia said. “The dining hall was full of people sharing cultures and even tasting food from different countries. It was really great!”
Among the countries that participated were Indonesia, Portugal, Russia, China, Korea, Philippines, Singapore, Brazil, Sudan, India, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Mongolia, and Japan in addition to tables held by the Foothill Heritage Month Series and Muslim Student Association.
“Preparing for the country fair was hard work. It was just crazy!” A student from Brazil Mariana Lobo shared, “But it brought me closer to friends from all over the world, and it definitely made my student life here at Foothill more memorable. So everything was worth it.” Mariana is the OBD Representative of the ISC. She is now interested in becoming a member of the International Night Planning Committee.
Thursday, Dr. Helena Ting of Palo Alto University held a seminar called “Preparing Yourself for Global Careers: International Business and Cultural Implications.” The talk was geared to help students decide on their future careers in the international arena.
On the last day, another seminar was held at the Student Lounge. A top San Francisco Bay area immigration lawyer Gali Gordon conducted a presentation about employment opportunities available to F-1 students upon graduation. “Beyond the F-1: Pursuing the H-1B and Permanent Residence after Graduation” gave the students some pointers on how to obtain a work visa and get permanent residency by staying up to date with the current immigration rules.
“I think it is really good for Foothill to invite somebody who is a specialist in post-graduation immigration opportunities to talk to students. It is definitely very helpful,” David Luo, former President of the International Student Connection Club said. “I am very impressed with Foothill’s commitment to assist its international students. My fellow international students will surely benefit from the information given to them during this seminar.”
IEW is an annual initiative mandated by the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education to promote the value of international education and to foster global awareness. It is celebrated in more than 100 countries worldwide.
The International Student Office warmly welcomes new student employees: Renata Staskievicz from Poland and Henry Villca from Bolivia.
Renata is a Business International Studies student at Foothill College, and already holds a Bachelor’s degree and Master’s degree in Organizational Psychology from Vilnius University. She loves traveling, cooking and kickboxing.
Henry has a B.A. in Computer Science from Bolivia and is pursuing the same major here at Foothill College. His interests include cooking, politics and music. He plans to apply for graduate school after Foothill.
Both Renata and Henry are working as international student assistants in Room 5922. Do stop by and say hello to them!
Do you know that there are dozens of scholarships available to current international students at Foothill? While many of them are competitive, some of them are never even awarded because students don’t apply for them!
Available scholarships for students are posted on the Financial Aid Office’s website. Most of the scholarship applications are due on February 11, 2010. If you are interested and in need of financial aid, start writing your essays and ask for recommendation letters from your advisors or professors.
Please note that you will need to view each individual scholarship to see if you are eligible to apply. If California residency or U.S. citizenship is not indicated as selection criteria, international students may apply.
The application process will be online. Paper applications are no longer accepted.
You can also e-mail the Financial Aid Office at fhfinancialaidoffice@foothill.edu or call them at (650) 949-7245 if you have any questions or concerns.
Friday, February 26, 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm, Campus Center
Following the International Transfer Day on February 25, two of the major universities outside of California will offer a joint presentation exclusively to international students. Come to find out more about their programs, famous majors, scholarships for international students, admissions procedures, and more.
Representatives from Rhode Island and Montana will be in attendance.
Free pizza lunch will be provided to students who RSVP in advance. Please RSVP to Viktoria Kolesnikova at kolesnikovaviktoria@fhda.edu by February 23.
The University of California, Merced is offering international students a $5,000 global grant starting in Fall 2010 to encourage the enrollment of highly qualified students from all parts of the world. This award is available to new or transfer undergraduate students who hold an F-1 visa from any country.
To be eligible, new freshman or transfer students must meet university admission requirements. The award is $2,500 per academic semester (Fall and/or Spring) and is renewable if students maintain a good academic standing at UC Merced, complete 30 credits per academic year, and maintain continuous enrollment.
For more information, please contact Maureen Chenoweth, the Transfer Center Coordinator, at ChenowethMaureen@fhda.edu or (650)949-7235, or visit her in the Transfer Center (Room 8329). You can also contact UC Merced directly at ucmgg@ucmerced.edu or visit the Global Grant website.
Are you considering transfer to an Ivy League university? Get more information about prestigious university admissions when Cornell visits Foothill on February 4 at 1:30 pm in Room 8330.
Learn about Cornell's programs, admission requirements, and Foothill's guaranteed admission agreement to the School of Environmental and Civil Engineering. With a list of alumni that includes 14 Nobel laureates, four heads of state (Cuba, Taiwan, Thailand and Iran), dozens of U.S. senators, judges and members of congress, you'd be joining an excellent institution. If that doesn't impress you, consider that the inventors of UnderArmour and Coors beer, as well as Bill Maher and Bill Nye (the science guy) also attended Cornell.
The Career Center on campus (Room 8329) hosts many different workshops each quarter focusing on topics such as how to choose a major, exploring careers in your field, how to write your resume, and much more! The Career Center is also offering a Speakers Series. For more information, please visit the Career Center website or come by Room 8329.
Are you a member of Foothill College Honors Institute? Do you have a topic of interest you’d like to share with fellow honors students and professors across California?
The 3rd Annual Community College Honors Symposium is just around the corner. The deadline to submit your proposal is on Sunday, February 14, 2010. In honor of the recently retired Honors counselor and research symposium creator MaryLou Heslet, the student with the most well-written proposal will receive a $100 scholarship sponsored by the Bay Honors Consortium.
The Honors Research Symposium is an excellent opportunity for you to gain experience speaking in front of peers and professors, tour the UC Berkeley campus, learn about transfer opportunities, and learn from other high-achieving students. Experience presenting at the Community College Honors Research Symposium will also be an impressive addition to your resume.
This year’s Honors Research Symposium will be held at the University of California, Berkeley on Saturday, May 1, 2010. If you attended previous events, you are aware that more than two hundred students, faculty and staff attend the conference annually, which features student presenters from many colleges, including Foothill.
For more information, contact Teresa De La Cruz at (650) 949-7638 or e-mail her at honors@foothill.edu. Visit the symposium website for details on how to write your abstract proposals and for registration details.
Over 1,000 H1-N1 flu shots were given by the Foothill Health Center to students, faculty and staff who met the first priority group requirements specified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) last November 16 and 17.
Mainly students under 25 years of age received the vaccination. “We also gave the vaccines to pregnant women, caregivers of infants younger than 6 months, people with chronic illnesses and police and emergency personnel,” Naomi Kitajima said. The vaccination was offered at no charge to currently enrolled students and at $10 to FHDA employees. Stop by the Health Center and get your seasonal flu and H1-N1 flu shots! For more information, visit the Foothill Health Services website or call (650) 949-7243.
Now that it's getting colder, Muslim students may be looking for a warmer prayer space. The Fine Arts and Communication Division has always welcomed students to pray in their private piano practice rooms. Access is through a key that is issued for one quarter at a time and requires a refundable $10 deposit in the form of a check. The key is changed each quarter, but the deposit check will never be cashed as long as the key is returned at the end of each quarter. If you would like access, you can ask Sindy Olsen, the Fine Arts and Communication Division Assistant in the Fine Arts Division Office, Room 1701.
The Loop Magazine is currently working on its Fall 2010 issue with the theme of “multiculturalism”. If you are a writer, an artist, a photographer, an editor or a graphic designer, and would like a resume-enhancing experience while studying at Foothill, this is your chance! The magazine is now looking for new dedicated staff members who will be responsible for the production of the third issue.
If you have what it takes, and if you have the time and enthusiasm, then drop a line with samples of your work in the Loop’s inbox: fhmagstaff@gmail.com, or contact Akul Aggarwal at (510) 676-9467.
From January to June each year, Foothill College hosts a variety of events including performances, workshops, lectures and more to honor a specific culture and heritage. February is Black History Month!
January – Jewish Heritage Month (JHM)
February – Black History Month (BHM)
March – Women’s History Month (WHM)
April – Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (API)
May – Latino Heritage Month (LHM)
June – Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Heritage Month (LGBT)
Volunteers are always needed to help plan and coordinate each month. To get involved or for more information regarding the events, please contact the Student Activities Office in Room 2009 or call (650) 949-7282.
Come to the new Dohatsuten Restaurant & Bar in Palo Alto, serving Japanese tapas and ramen, and receive a special for Foothill students - 1 cent house-made sangria or soda! Bring this coupon with you to redeem your drink.
Don’t miss the annual Chinese New Year Parade in San Francisco, sponsored by Southwest Airlines! This year the parade will take place on Saturday, February 27 from 5:15 pm - 8:00 pm and will run from Market and Second Street to Kearny and Jackson Street.
A San Francisco tradition since just after the Gold Rush and a winner of one of the top ten parades in the world by IFEA, this night-illuminated parade features beautiful floats, elaborate costumes, ferocious lions, firecrackers, and the newly crowned Miss Chinatown U.S.A.! Click for more information.
If you can’t make it in person, watch in on TV: KTVU Fox 2 and KTSF Channel 6 from 6:00-8:00pm.
Missed ice-skating during your winter break? There are a few opportunities in Silicon Valley to skate year-round! Winter Lodge in Palo Alto is an outdoor ice rink located west of the Sierras and a popular Palo Alto tradition since 1956. You can enjoy skating under the stars and then warm up your toes by one of the fireplaces in the clubhouse or outdoors. The ice-skating rink is open from September to April.
The HP Pavilion in San Jose also offers indoor ice-skating year-round. Enjoy skating at the home of the San Jose Sharks!
In the Spotlight...
