• The OIE staff members are here to support you. We have a broad range of experiences living in different parts of the world. Excited that everything is new? Feeling homesick? We can empathize because we’ve had similar experiences. Learn more about who we are and the experiences we’ve had in Meet the OIE Staff.
• What kind of support does the OIE offer? We offer orientation, immigration advising, personal advising and support, social programs and educational programs. Contact us talk to an advisor about immigration or personal issues or check out our web calendar to see upcoming programs.
• While you are at UVM, you are part of a community. The community includes different types of international students (undergraduate, exchange, and graduate) and American students. The UVM community values respect, responsibility, justice, integrity, openness and innovation. Learn more by reading UVM’s values statement, called Our Common Ground.

• Classes and course expectations at UVM might be different from what you are used to in your home country.  Generally, students are expected to attend class and participate in class discussions. Attendance and class participation are often part of your grade.
• Academic integrity is important. If you are caught cheating, you may be given a failing grade in the course. Not sure what cheating means in a US classroom? Ask your professor about specific course expectations or talk to an OIE advisor about general expectations in the US.
• UVM has lots of resources to help you succeed. Professors and teaching assistants have office hours, a time just for students to ask their questions. UVM has Writing Centers and a Tutoring Center that provide support for many classes. Undergraduate and exchange students may also visit the Advising Center to meet with a peer mentor who can help with general advising questions. Student Accessibility Services can help if you have a documented disability.

• Classes and course expectations at UVM might be different from what you are used to in your home country.  Generally, students are expected to attend class and participate in class discussions. Attendance and class participation are often part of your grade.
• The graduate student experience is different from the undergraduate experience. Success as an undergraduate does not guarantee success in graduate school. This is true even if you did your undergraduate work in the US. To build a foundation for success in graduate school, get to know your advisor, make sure that you know your departmental requirements and understand the citation expectations for your discipline.
• Know the resources that are available to help you succeed. Professors have office hours, a time just for students to ask their questions. UVM has a Writing Center just for graduate students. The library can also help you with finding materials, doing research and citation questions. The Graduate College can help if you are unable to work through an issue with your advisor/department and its website has great resources for thesis and dissertation questions. The Graduate Student Senate offers social events, funding for conferences and can help with issues that affect the larger graduate student population.

• When you live in UVM’s residence halls, you are part of a community. UVM and its Department of Residential Life (ResLife) have rules to help make sure that the community is a safe and welcoming place for all residents. Important rules include no smoking anywhere on campus and no alcohol in the residence halls, even if you are old enough (21 years old) to legally drink alcohol in the US. Ask your Resident Advisor (RA) or an OIE advisor for more details.
• You are expected to help keep your room and residence hall clean and in good repair. Brooms and vacuums are available from the front desk of your residence hall. If something is broken, let ResLife know by submitting a Fix-It Request in your MyResLife account. Let your Residence Hall main office know immediately if there is emergency situation such as broken glass or a leak.
• Living with a roommate may be a new experience for you. You don’t need to be friends but you do need to be patient and respectful. Your Resident Advisor can help with concerns about your room or roommate(s). ResLife also has tips on getting along with your roommate and instructions on how to change rooms, if you feel that changing rooms is the only option.
• UVM has a wide variety of dining options. Some dining locations are all-you-can-eat. Others use your “points.” For more information about dining locations and daily meus, check out UVM Dining’s website. Residence halls also have kitchens that you can use. If you cook in the kitchen, remember that the space is used by other people and make sure to clean up after you are done cooking.

• Read your lease and make sure that you understand what it says. If you do not follow the rules in your lease, you might lose your security deposit, be fined, or have to move out. If you don’t understand your lease, visit the Office for Student and Community Relations.
• When you move into your apartment, inspect everything and take pictures. If something is broken, take a picture and ask the landlord to have it fixed. If the apartment is dirtier than you expected, ask if it can be cleaned.
• Talk to your roommates about how you will share responsibilities like cleaning.
• Be a good tenant and neighbor. Pay your rent on time, keep the property reasonably clean, keep noise to a reasonable level and NEVER sublease without your landlord’s approval.

• It’s important to follow immigration rules and regulations. If you don’t follow them, you might have to leave the US. Additionally, you might have problems visiting, studying, or working in the US in the future. If you have questions, ask an OIE advisor. OIE advisors are the only people who can help you with immigration questions. Don't ask your friends, professors, academic advisors, or Google!
• Know your immigration documents—your passport, visa, I-20 or DS-2019, and I-94. Remember to renew your passport in a timely manner. Your visa is for entry to the US. In most cases, you need a valid visa to enter the US but it’s okay if it expires while you are in the US. Your I-20 or DS-2019 is what allows you to stay in the US, not your visa. Let the OIE know if any of the information on your I-20 or DS-2019 changes and make sure to get your I-20 or DS-2019 signed at least once per year if you are traveling outside the US. Your I-94 is a record of your entry into the US and it changes when you re-enter the country. It shows what status you have and how long you are allowed to stay in the US. F-1 and J-1 students should be allowed to stay until “D/S,” which means “Duration of Status.”
• If you want to work in the US, talk to an OIE advisor. You may need special permission to work. Basic information about work authorizations for different visa statuses is available on our website if you want to know more now.

• Many students choose to travel and explore the US during their time at UVM. Bus and airplane are the most common ways to travel. There is limited train service to the Burlington area and cars can be expensive and inconvenient.
• Make sure that you understand the rules for your hotel, hostel or other accommodation. Sometimes there are special rules for people under 18 or under 21.
• Occasionally, you can travel with UVM groups or classes, like the Outing Club, Alternative Spring Break, and travel-study classes. The OIE also offers special trips off campus. Watch for email announcements about the trips!
• When you travel, always bring your passport and your I-20 or DS-2019. If you are planning to travel outside the US, talk to the OIE about your travel plans.

• Cultural adjustment is part of living abroad. Different people experience this in different ways but everyone will experience ups and downs. You can make the adjustment process easier by taking care of yourself. Talk to friends (American and international), stay in touch with your family, give yourself time, write, visit the OIE, know when to laugh at yourself or just let it go. Join clubs and activities, get off campus sometimes, be continually curious and share your culture.
• It’s hard to say that there is a true “American” culture. Generally, American culture values individualism, equality and directness but you will find exceptions. You will also find that UVM has its own culture, one that values concepts like social justice and environmental responsibility.
• As you live in the US, you will find that Americans have unspoken rules and assumptions around concepts like personal space, sense of time and tipping. You will make mistakes but hopefully you will learn from them and be able to laugh at them. Ask OIE advisors or other students for tips on learning these unspoken rules and assumptions.

•  In the US, there are different types of doctors and different places that you go to see them. If you need to see a doctor, always start at the Center for Health and Wellbeing’s Student Health Services. In most cases, it’s free to see a doctor there. In an emergency, you can go to the Emergency Room (ER) at the hospital. The hospital can be very expensive, so only go there in emergencies! If you aren’t sure where to go, call Student Health Services during the day at 802-656-3350 or FoneMed at night or on the weekends at 866-878-2485.
• In the US, mental health is seen as an important part of a person’s overall health. Counseling and Psychiatry Services (CAPS) offers free counseling appointments to students. The appointments are confidential. No one (including your parents, professors and OIE staff) knows that you have been to see a counselor. Common reasons that students talk to a counselor include relationship issues, family concerns, academic stress, and concerns about a friend’s wellbeing.
• Make smart decisions, especially if there is alcohol or extreme cold involved. If you have sex, make sure that everyone involved says “yes” and use protection (available for free from Living Well and Student Health Services).
•  If there is an emergency, call 911. When you call 911, you will get the police, the ambulance, and the fire fighters.  Here are other important numbers that you should put in your phone:

o   UVM Police Services: 802-656-3473

o   Burlington Police: 802-658-2700

o   Center for Health and Wellbeing: 802-656-3350

o   FoneMed (Night and weekend nurse): 866-878-2485

o   Counseling and Psychiatry Services: 802-656-3340

• Joining a club is a great way to make friends, learn more about US culture and share your culture, gain leadership skills and build your resume.
• There are many, many clubs on campus. You can see a list of clubs through the Student Government Association’s website. If you can’t find one that matches your interest and you have friends with a similar interest, you can start your own club.
• Looking for other ways to get involved on campus? Check out the Week of Welcome, ActivitiesFest, UVMbored and the OIE’s programs and events.