International Student's Guidebook 61

International Student’s Guidebook ２０１４ Meiji University Founding principles Rights and Liberty, Independence and Self - government Meiji University was established in 1881. This was the fourteenth year of the Meiji era, when Japan was in the midst of transitioning from a feudal society to the modern nation it is today. At that time, the Meiji Law School was established to teach French law to Japanese students with the idea of building a free society founded on individual rights. Even today, as the number of undergraduate schools has grown and we have become a full-fledged university, we have carried on the tradition of our founding spirit, offering an education that fosters our original principles of freedom and civil rights. Promoting freedom and civil rights for all individuals gives us a unique academic foundation that seeks to spread these principles through the cultivation of an independent spirit. We seek to support modernization by educating modern citizens in a way that encourages their individual development, and as a result Meiji University has turned out scores of capable and talented professionals. Individual development is the cornerstone of our educational policy, and we will continue to carry it into the twenty-first century as a university dedicated to strengthening individual people. Our mission To the world, Empower the Individual, Link to the World, and the Future Building a free, peaceful, and abundant society by fostering intellectual achievement and professional development In our increasingly global world, Japan is undergoing a deep transformation. These sweeping changes are tantamount to a third phase of reinvention on par with the Meiji Restoration and post-war reforms. At Meiji University, we are returning to our founding spirit of freedom, civil rights, and the individual and rediscovering their relevance for the twenty-first century. Both in specific organizations and society as a whole, this is an era where we must work to find a personal sense of mission in a global context, discover our own roles and responsibilities, and commit to collaboration and peaceful coexistence with others. At the same time, the world needs individuals who can shine and make their personal and professional mark. Our goal is foster these outstanding professional individuals who can identify value in the new era, take on the future with a keen anticipation of upcoming changes and social needs, and communicate their insights to the world at large. In order to achieve this goal, Meiji University demands that students go beyond history and tradition and strive towards innovation. With this approach, we aim to be a university open to the world and one that holds fast to its commitment to moving forward. It is with this in mind that Meiji University has added to its foundational principles the idea of strengthening individuals and connecting them to the wider world for a brighter future. This idea is based on our founding principles and arises naturally from our 130-year history and tradition while at the same time addressing the needs of our twenty-first century world. Armed with a mission to build a free, peaceful, and abundant society by fostering intellectual achievement and professional development, Meiji University is working tirelessly to make a positive contribution to education, research, and society as a whole. International Student's Guidebook 61 Message for Incoming Students at Meiji University Congratulations on taking your first steps on a new path at Meiji University! Meiji University has been certified as a key university for internationalization in Japan, and I hope that this strong environment can help make your time studying in Japan fulfilling. There are probably many things that you are yet unsure of. Some of you are already accustomed to life in Japan, while others are living in Japan for the first time. The university environment is also new to all of you. When you are in a different culture and environment, it is natural to be anxious. This is nothing to be ashamed of. We grow as human beings by overcoming these challenges. In this sense, you can look at lack of understanding as an opportunity to learn. What is important is to take the initiative to resolve things that you do not understand. This does not mean that you should solve everything by yourself; asking for help is also a key way to solve problems on your own. The Meiji University International Student Center is committed to supporting you to ensure that your study abroad is safe, fun, and fulfilling. Feel free to come to us with any questions you may have. Do not be embarrassed about asking a question, or worry about whether it is appropriate to ask something. This International Student Guidebook provides basic information to assist you in your life as an international student at Meiji University. It contains necessary information for incoming students, as well as procedures for scholarship and residence in Japan, and information about managing your health and other information that is important for international students. I sincerely hope that your life at Meiji University will be healthy and fulfilling, and that you will achieve your study and research goals. Director International Student Center 62 International Student's Guidebook Celebrating a New Start I would like to extend my congratulations and a warm welcome to all of you who have come from other countries to study at Meiji University. The Meiji University Japanese Language Education Center was established for the purpose of conditioning the environment for Japanese-language education so that students from other countries could learn Japanese both enjoyably and with freedom from worry. For example, we examine your level of proficiency in Japanese in advance and make arrangements to see that all students in a given class have approximately the same level of ability. Japanese is said to be a difficult language to master. For this reason, significant gaps open up among students in respect of proficiency in it. In response, we conduct placement tests before the term and use the results to place students in one of three levels of class (introductory, elementary, and intermediate). Students therefore get instruction in classes matching their level of proficiency. And viewed from the teacher's perspective, the instruction of students with approximately the same level of ability enables the class contents to be aligned with that level and so yields a higher efficiency. Every year, the Center hosts the Meiji University President's Cup Japanese Speech Contest for International Students. Participation in this contest requires a lot of hard work on tasks such as choosing a subject, writing the text, and practicing pronunciation. In cooperation with the International Student Exchange Center, we look for Japanese students who will volunteer to help international students prepare for the contest. Each year, there are excellent speeches that deeply move the audience at the contest, but the improvement in the Japanese of all the students who deliver speeches is even more moving. The Japanese culture which blossomed in the Far East is closely intertwined with the Japanese language. As elements of Japan's distinctive culture spread across the globe, "sushi," "teriyaki," "manga," "kanban (system)," and various other Japanese terms have become "kotoba" familiar to people around the world. We at the Center are engaged in all sorts of activities to support desires to study Japanese among international students. We hope you will decide to learn Japanese together with us! Director Japanese Language Education Center International Student's Guidebook 63 64 International Student's Guidebook 2014 International Student’s Guidebook 1 CONTENTS * 2014–2015 Calendar p.66 2 1. Academic Calendar & International Exchange Events p.67 2. Courses and Credits p.68 3 ■ Undergraduate School ■ Graduate School 3. Meiji University Offices and Facilities p.73 ■ Undergraduate and Graduate School Offices ■ Student Support Division ■ Student Consulting Office 4 ■ Campus Harassment Counseling Office ■ Employment and Career Development Support Center ■ L braries ■ Media L braries ■ Museum ■ Gyms 5 4. International Student Office p.81 ■ Student Affairs ■ International Lounges ■ Teaching Assistants (TAs) ■ Items to Submit to International Student Office ■ Campus Mates 6 5. Immigration Procedures p.85 ■ Tokyo Immigration Bureau, District Offices, and Branch Offices ■ New Residency Management System ■ Resident Card ■ Visa Renewal ■ Temporary Absence/Re-entry Permits ■ Permission to Engage in Extra-status Activity ■ Leave of Absence from the University 7 ■ Withdrawal / Removal from the University ■ After Graduation or Completion of Studies 6. Scholarships for International Students p.96 8 ■ Types of Scholarships ■ Applying/Getting Recommendations for University Scholarships 7. Tuition & Fees Payment Methods and Deadlines p.99 ■ Payment Methods ■ Payment Deadlines 9 8. Tuition Assistance (Reduction) Program p.100 ■ Elig bility ■ How to Apply ■ Assistance Method 10 9. Managing Your Health p.103 ■ Subscribing to Health Insurance ■ Me ji University Student Health Insurance ■ Student Education and Research Accident Insurance 11 10. Housing p.104 ■ Apartment and Other Rental Housing Referrals ■ General Cautions for Housing Searches ■ Housing Mediiated by International Student Office ■ Other Housing ■ Guarantors 12 11. Meiji University Campus Maps p.111 ■ Surugadai Campus ■ Izumi Campus ■ Ikuta Campus ■ Nakano Campus 12. Off-Campus Facilities p.114 ■ Maps to Tokyo Immigration Bureau, District Offices, and Branch Offices ■ Counseling Organizations * Meiji University Telephone Directory p.120 International Student's Guidebook 65 2014～2015 Calender 2014 4 SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT 5 SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT 6 SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT ・・ 1 2 3 4 5 ・・・・ 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Greenery Day Substitute ho iday Constitu ion Day 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Children s Day 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 27 28 29 30 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 29 30 Showa Day The period around April 29th to May 5th （is called the“Golden Week”holidays.

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