Last update: 10/23/96

OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS

 The Office of International Programs (OIP) is the primary office on campus meeting the many needs of prospective international students interested in applying for admission to SFSU; degree-seeking international students; visiting international students, faculty, and scholars; and SFSU students and faculty wishing to work or study abroad.

OIP has a professional, multi-lingual staff who are sensitive to the needs and concerns of international students and scholars and U.S. students seeking an overseas experience. The staff are well informed about community programs, services, and cross-cultural issues and are dedicated to assisting international students and scholars in any way likely to make their stay at SFSU as enjoyable and rewarding as possible. They are equally committed to helping SFSU students to identify and participate in appropriate overseas study and travel experiences. OIP is open throughout the year for advising and administrative services.

INTERNATIONAL OUTREACH SERVICES

OIP oversees the university's international student recruitment and outreach efforts and activities, provides pre-admission counseling to prospective (F-1 visa) applicants; provides transfer advising to transferring international students; and serves as a liaison with U.S. advising centers, Fulbright Commission offices, and similar overseas organizations concerned with international education.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENT SERVICES

OIP also assists the university's many F-1 and J-1 visa international students and scholars in adjusting to life at SFSU, the San Francisco Bay Area, and the United States. At the beginning of each semester, OIP conducts a one-week orientation program for new international students and scholars. In addition, the office provides advice concerning immigration and visa matters, cultural adjustment, academic matters, personal and financial counseling, and employment regulations. Furthermore, OIP conducts various workshops during the academic year on topics of special interest to international students and scholars and organizes a variety of social, cultural, educational, and recreational activities designed to help familiarize international students and scholars with life in the U.S.

Study Abroad and International Exchange Programs

OIP provides information and advisement on the two officially sanctioned study abroad programs: The California State University International Programs (IP) and the bilateral exchange programs between San Francisco State University and selected foreign universities. The IP program is affiliated with institutions from sixteen (16) countries around the world: Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, and Zimbabwe (see California State University International Programs section of this Bulletin). SFSU has established bilateral exchange agreements with universities in Argentina, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Japan, Korea, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom (see San Francisco State University Bilateral Programs section of this Bulletin). These programs allow students from any academic major to make progress towards their SFSU degree while enhancing their academic program with an overseas experience. Financial aid applies, and, since participating students in either program are still enrolled at SFSU, they only pay their regular SFSU tuition and fees. Information workshops are offered at the beginning of each semester. In addition, OIP maintains a Study Abroad Resource Library which contains information on other independent, non-CSU administered study abroad programs, and materials covering a variety of study, travel, and work abroad related topics such as financial resources, teaching and internships, gay and lesbian resources, resources for students with disabilities, women's concerns, students of color issues, volunteer programs, safety and health issues, transportation, and homestays and housing information, to name a few. OIP also sponsors an annual Study/Work/Travel Abroad Fair every Fall semester, and serves as the advisory office for U.S. Student Fulbright Grants and the U.S. National Security Education Program.

Dedicated to supporting international exchange, OIP jointly facilitates the international scholarly movement of faculty to and from SFSU. OIP assists in bringing visiting scholars to the campus through a variety of services, including orientation and advising on immigration and personal matters after their arrival. OIP is the only office authorized to issue immigration documentation to enable these scholars to come to SFSU on J-1 visas. OIP also assists SFSU faculty members who seek to engage in scholarly activities overseas. The Fulbright Scholar program is now housed at OIP, and in this regard, help with application preparation and advising is provided.

For more information, contact OIP at (415) 338-1293; fax: (415) 338-6234; e-mail (general information): oip@sfsu.edu, e-mail (study abroad information): studyabr@sfsu.edu.