International Student Services (ISS) provides a broad range of support services and programming for international students from the time they are admitted until they graduate and beyond. ISS collaborates with other departments on campus to best assist our international students in academic and cultural adjustments. ISS staff serve as Designated School Officials for the Student and Exchange Visitor Program and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Each class, freshman through seniors and beyond, have an international advisor to equip and support them through their complete international life cycle.
Immigration Services
ISS staff serve as Principal Designated School Officials (PDSO) and Designated School Officials (DSO) for the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). ISS staff members provide guidance and advising to F-1 nonimmigrant students on status and regulations, including but not limited to, Curriculum Practical Training, travel, Optional Practical Training and university policies. The DSO’s are responsible for all communication with government agencies involving the SEVP, CBP, USCIS, and Homeland Security and monitors each student’s status. Maintaining status is the student’s responsibility, but ISS assists with guidance on how to best support this for them.
International Student Programming
ISS offers a variety of programs to assist international students in feeling “at home” on campus, make American friends and experience American culture, at NCWU and in the Rocky Mount community. New international students receive extended first year experience programming that includes a “Worldwide Welcome” orientation program, as well as an international student peer mentor known as a “Worldwide Welcome Leader.” Through campus and community partnerships, new international students are connected in the first week to local services for banking needs and immunizations, if necessary. All incoming new international students arriving in the fall or spring semesters have communication with our Coordinator concerning flight information and next steps when they arrive to campus. ISS aids students with official documents, obtaining a North Carolina driver’s license and a social security card. ISS offers many opportunities for students to engage in cross cultural exchanges with local businesses and organizations, K – 12 schools, service projects, and campus volunteers through coordinated events and activities offered exclusively for international students in cooperation with the Office of Student Engagement. Area churches provide support and volunteers for many of the ISS events and activities. Students establish meaningful relationships with families in the Rocky Mount area through this connection. Our International Bishop Association (IBA) and the Breaking Bread program intentionally connect F-1 students with American Bishops and families. The department of ISS and the Bishop community provide our international students with a true home away from home, Bishop family experience.
