All international students on F-1 or J-1 visa must be enrolled as full-time students during the fall and spring terms, which are known as mandatory terms of enrollment. For undergraduates, full-time enrollment is 12 credit hours. For graduate students, full-time enrollment is 9 credit hours unless the student has a verified assistantship (GA/TA/RA) making them eligible to be enrolled for a minimum of 6 on-campus credit hours. Audited courses do not count towards full-time enrollment.

Summer enrollment is only required if the summer is the first or last period of enrollment.

If a student withdraws from a course and falls below the minimum number of credits, they will be considered under-enrolled and out of status. Students should not be advised to drop a course to save their GPA if it puts the student below full-time status.

If you believe there are exceptional circumstances that would require a student to drop below full-time enrollment (such as health concerns), you and/or your student can contact IPC at ipc_iss@uncg.edu to inquire about filing for a Reduced Course Load (RCL).

International students are required to enroll for a certain number of on-campus, face-to-face courses during each mandatory term of enrollment. According to Study in the States, an F-1 student may only count one online course towards their full-time enrollment minimum per academic term. For example, undergraduates who are taking 12 credit hours may take 3 of those hours online. Hybrid courses will count as on-campus, but both WEB and WEB with on-campus tests and quizzes do not.

F-1 students are permitted to work on campus for up to 20 hours during each semester. They are not permitted to work off campus without prior written employment authorization from the U.S. government. For types of off-campus employment and more information about how to obtain an employment authorization, please visit this webpage.

F-1 students can apply for Curricular Practical Training (CPT), an off-campus internship authorization, after completing one academic year in F-1 status. CPT authorization is required for both paid and unpaid positions for any amount of time. Students can only request CPT if they have an advisor's recommendation and a credit-bearing course whose term coincides with the internship OR if there is a specific requirement listed in the UNCG University Catalog. If your student is ready to apply for CPT, they can do so via the ISSS Portal. For more information, please contact us at ipc_iss@uncg.edu.

Boston University’s International Students and Scholars Office created a useful and concise resource for communicating effectively with international students. These Tips for Successful Communication with International Students can be adapted to use at UNCG as well. We hope you find it and their other resources useful!

1. Listen: Second language students often develop a “script” in their mind of what they want to say to you before they enter your office. Allow them to get through the script, so they feel certain that you have heard what they have to say. This can be difficult if the script is long and you can easily anticipate their question or issue.
2. Limit: Limit the use of acronyms, abbreviations, jargon, colloquialisms, and idioms when speaking (or writing) to international students, even if English is their first language. Terms like “ASAP” or “on target” or “home run” or “all set” are U.S. culture-based and may have little meaning to an international student.
3. Possible cultural difference indicators: Certain feelings and behaviors (both yours and/or the person with whom you are communicating) can be indicators that cultural differences are at play when interacting with someone from another country: frustration, taking offense, repetition, no response, inappropriate responses for the situation (i.e., nodding continuously when clearly the individual does not understand, awkward laughter, ending the conversation abruptly, seeming distracted, etc.). Allow these indicators to remind you to take a deep breath and find a different way to approach the issue or explanation.
4. Check for understanding: After you have discussed an issue with a student or explained a procedure, ask for an explanation in his or her own words. Don’t just ask the student if he or she understood everything you said. This question may not confirm his or her level of understanding, since the culture of some international students dictates that saying they don’t understand shows that either you failed in your explanation or they have failed in understanding. “Do you understand what I told you?” will often be answered with a polite “Yes, thank you” as the student walks away without the vital information he or she needs.
5. Navigating bureaucracy: This process is not the same in every country or culture, because strategies for getting a favorable response vary. Some approaches include working up to the most senior person in the office or organization, only accepting the answer of someone “in charge,” asking repeatedly until a favorable response is received, or only accepting the answer from a male staff member. Be clear in your message and be certain the student has understood what you said. Be patient because you may have to repeat yourself to emphasize that there are no exceptions to the policy/procedure/answer and that the answer will be the same no matter how many times the question is asked. Talk with your colleagues and supervisor about how you will deal with requests to talk to a “higher up.”
6. Help: You should assist international students as they work to understand U.S. customs and how “things are done here,” but do not pressure them to change their behavior or viewpoints unless the change is absolutely necessary for academic or social success or to avoid serious conflict. Consider whether the situation could be better resolved if you changed your own behavior or viewpoint.
7. Names: Learn to say the names of international students correctly. Do not expect the student to select a U.S.-based nickname or shortened version of his or her name. This effort will go a long way toward making the student feel welcomed and respected.
8. Be curious: Take the time to learn at least a little about your students’ countries of origin, customs, languages, and the larger issues of concern in their home countries (i.e., current events).
9. Don’t generalize: Don’t assume that all students from a particular country or culture will behave or respond the same way. Likewise, do not expect a student to know what everyone in his or her country thinks about a particular topic. Like in the U.S., perspectives vary from region to region and group to group in any country.

Many students are faced with crises during their university years – academic struggles, economic pressure, family stress, relationships that turn violent, or health concerns. Fortunately, UNCG can assist with many offices dedicated to protecting student well-being and assisting with crisis management. You can notify one of these offices about a student you may be concerned about at UNCG Cares.

For an international student, an academic crisis, economic problems, or health concerns may be further complicated by immigration restrictions on their legal options, and by cultural adjustment. If you identify an international student in crisis, please be sure to alert an International Student Advisor at ipc_iss@uncg.edu so that we can advise and assist with immigration related steps that may be needed.

A few tips to keep in mind:

• Even in a crisis, students on F-1 or J-1 visas must maintain a full-time course load to remain lawful in the U.S. unless pre-approved by IPC. Any drop below full-time academic status requires prior approval by IPC based on initial academic or English-language difficulties, medical reasons, or if the student is in their final term.
• F-1/J-1 students have limited U.S. work or aid options. An international student facing financial difficulty may have limited options for work authorization or financial assistance.
• Cultural adjustment is often difficult and may aggravate other stresses. Understanding the stages of cultural adjustment may help a student manage their stress level.
• Students from other cultures may view behavioral health or sexual health services differently. Encourage international students to utilize Student Health Services, the Campus Violence Response Center, and Counseling Services when appropriate.
• A criminal or misdemeanor conviction or disciplinary action can have long-term immigration repercussions. Criminal charges and disciplinary action can have both immediate and long-term effect on a student’s legal options for remaining in the U.S. Students facing criminal charges should contact a reputable immigration attorney immediately, and should alert IPC staff.