“PACK YOUR BAGS” FOR ARRIVAL AT NAU CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION DECEMBER 2, 2020 HOW TO USE ZOOM?! • You should be able to see and hear us speaking throughout the presentation – Notify us if you have any trouble – Please mute yourself if you are not speaking to avoid background noise • Name – Please use your preferred name. – Click on the 3 dots in the corner of your video and choose “rename” to make any changes • Video – Video is a great way to feel connected, even when apart and is encouraged! – If you don’t have a strong internet connection and need to disable video, no problem! – Switch to Gallery View to see everyone at once • Questions? – Option 1: Raise your hand (see participant list) to speak – Option 2: Use the chat box – Option 3: Unmute yourself during Q+A breaks 3 TODAY’S PRESENTATION • Introduction to NAU • Important Federal Visa Regulations for Enrollment • Health Insurance & Campus Health Resources • Pre-Arrival Checklist • Travel to USA & Arrival at NAU • International Student Orientation • Mandatory Quarantine for NAU Campus Housing 4 ABOUT US CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION BLOME BUILDING - 523 KNOLES DR. INTERNATIONAL STUDENT & SCHOLAR SERVICES WHERE WE ARE LOCATED • NAU is located in Flagstaff, Arizona in the southwestern portion of the United States • Flagstaff is located approximately 230 kilometers north of Phoenix • The Grand Canyon is about 2 hours drive away • Flagstaff sits at the base of the San Francisco Peaks at more than 2,000 meters in elevation FLAGSTAFF WEATHER • Winter Weather Advisory – December-February is the winter season for Flagstaff – There is the possibility of snow and you should expect cold temperatures, especially at night – Make sure to bring a hat, gloves, jacket, etc. – It is often helpful to dress in layers so that you can remove or add clothing depending on changes in temperature or location over the day • Living at Elevation – Drink plenty of water. It’s easier to get dehydrated at elevation and you might experience a mild headache, nose bleed, or dry skin. – Sunshine Galore! Flagstaff is a very sunny city, even in the winter. The sun’s rays are more impactful at elevation. • Sunglasses • Hat • Sunscreen AVAILABLE TECHNOLOGY • Install NAU apps on your phone/device – NAUGo • NAU bus schedules • Campus map • Campus dining menus – StarShip • Robot Delivery from On-Campus Dining – COVIDWatch • COVID-19 exposure notification app – FLGRide • Mountain Line bus system for travel around Flagstaff ENROLLING IN NAU CLASSES STUDENT VISAS • Use your admission letter & I-20 or DS-2019 to request a visa appointment. • U.S. Embassies & Consulates have different schedules around the world – Poll • Who has a visa already? • Who has an upcoming visa appointment? • If you are unable to obtain a student visa that will allow for you to arrive at NAU for the start of the Spring 2021 semester, reach out to us at the emails below to discuss deferral of your admission to Fall 2021 – Undergraduate Students – [email protected] – Graduate Students – [email protected] – Exchange Students – [email protected] CLASS FORMATS AT NAU • In Person – This is a traditional class with in-person instruction and student attendance. • NAUFlex – NAUFlex is a hybrid course format and designed for synchronous class attendance online as well as in-person attendance rotations. This class meets IN-PERSON requirements only if you attend in-person meetings. On scheduled days, you will attend your class in-person, on campus. Classrooms will be optimized for low student density and safe physical distancing. Before the semester begins, your professors will let you know which days you will be expected in the classroom. Class attendance rotations and policies will be established by the class professor. • NAUFlex Fully Remote – This class is considered ONLINE for immigration purposes and delivered synchronously and remotely. Students and faculty simultaneously participate in class sessions remotely at specific times. • NAU Online – NAU online classes are traditional online courses that were developed for asynchronous attendance. This means that class attendance and exam times are generally not set. Availability is limited for online classes, and classes are not available for every Flagstaff Mountain major of study. FEDERAL REGULATIONS • Student Visa Regulations – You are required by the federal regulations associated with your student visa to attend in- person classes. – You cannot attend classes fully remotely. – You cannot live in another city or state while attending NAU. – ISSS will be scheduling mid-semester mandatory in-person meetings for all new students – Violating any of these federal regulations will result in termination of your student status. MINIMUM CREDIT HOURS FOR FULL TIME ENROLLMENT • F1 Student Visa – Undergraduate • 12 credit hour minimum total – 9 credit hour minimum of in-person or NAUFlex » MUST ATTEND IN PERSON LECTURES – 3/12 total credit hours can be NAU FLEX Remote or Online – Graduate • 9 credit hour minimum total – 6 credit hour minimum of in-person or NAU FLEX » MUST ATTEND IN PERSON LECTURES – 3/9 total credit hours can be NAU FLEX Remote or Online • J1 Student Visa – Undergraduate • 12 credit hour minimum total – MUST ATTEND IN PERSON LECTURES • Eligible for NAU FLEX Remote or Online after meeting 12 total credit hour minimum of in-person classes ACADEMIC CALENDAR • January 11 – NAU classes begin – All classes are online with virtual delivery via NAUFLEX for the 1st 2 weeks – Must be in Flagstaff despite virtual classes • January 25 – In-person classes begin – MUST remain in Flagstaff • April 29 – Spring 2021 semester ends LOUIE FINANCIAL ACCOUNT • Your financial account reflects your tuition costs and mandatory student fees • A tutorial on how to access your account and make payments is available here. • You can make payments on your account from abroad or after you arrive in the United States • If you don’t make payment in full by the due date, you will automatically be enrolled in a payment plan that will spread the cost out over the semester – It is less expensive to enroll yourself in the payment plan than be automatically enrolled • Payment due date January 4th – Flexibility with this deadline for new international students – International students will have their tuition automatically deferred to a payment plan if there is a tuition and fees balance of more than $500 on January 18, 2021 STUDYING & LIVING IN THE UNITED STATES STAYING SAFE & HEALTHY • NAU Campus Protocols – Plexiglass shields – Small class sizes – Extra cleaning & sanitization – Masks required – Temperature checks – No large group events or parties – Campus dorms limited to residents only – Campus recreation center closed • Virtual fitness classes available • City of Flagstaff Protocols – Mandatory masks in public spaces – Indoor dining at reduced capacity – Online ordering with contactless pick-up available at many businesses/restaurants COVID 19 TESTING • COVID 19 Testing – Free saliva testing at University Fieldhouse for asymptomatic individuals – Nasal swab testing covered by Student Health Insurance at Campus Health Services for symptomatic individuals – Randomized mitigation testing mandatory for students, faculty, and staff throughout the semester ACCESSING MEDICAL CARE • On-Campus Medical Care – Campus Medical Services – Mental Health Counseling – Book appointments online • Off-Campus Medical Care – Urgent Care Clinics – Flagstaff Medical Center STUDENT HEALTH INSURANCE Review NAU Mandatory Insurance Policy • Plan information on Campus Health Services website – SHIP • Requirements information on CIE – ISSS website • Insurance valid at on- and off-campus doctors and pharmacies • Valid in and out of Arizona • Download card – after enrollment at NAU at AETNA website • More information about using your health insurance will be provided at international student orientation • Coverage begins on January 1, 2021 • If you get sick or in an accident without medical coverage, you could be responsible for very high costs to seek care at a hospital or have unpaid bills, affecting future immigration. • Purchase short-term coverage if you plan to arrive in USA prior to January 1 COVID POLICIES ACROSS THE USA • COVID-19 policies regarding masks, testing, & quarantine are different across the USA. • 50 states = 50 policies. • Cities may have their own policies as well. • Policies are subject to change • Some states or cities may have mandatory isolation/quarantine policies and mandatory testing for travelers from other states or other countries • Generally applies to those who plan to stay, not for transit or through travel • https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/10/travel/state-travel-restrictions.html, New York Times, November 25,2020 • This is not the ideal time for sightseeing across America COVID 19 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION • NAU – Campus Updates • Coconino County – Flagstaff & Surrounding Communities • State of Arizona – Arizona Department of Health Services • USA – Centers for Disease Control PRE-ARRIVAL CHECKLIST INTERNATIONAL LUMBERJACK ORIENTATION • An online pre-arrival orientation for international students that provides helpful information about: – Introduction to NAU – Student Visas – Maintaining Your Student Visa Status – Campus Life – Living in Flagstaff – Pre-Arrival Checklist • Approximately 2 hours to complete entire orientation, but can be completed in multiple sessions at your own pace • Must be completed by December 15. A scholarship requirement for all International Excellence Award recipients