shaking the money tree - region xii
DESCRIPTION
Shaking the money tree - making the most of financial resources for international students. Presented at NAFSA Region XIITRANSCRIPT
SHAKING THE MONEY TREE: MAKING THE MOST OF FINANCIAL RESOURCES FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
NAFSA Region XII – San Diego, California
Presenters
Raeann Nunez, M. Ed.Coordinator Student Services
Gateway Community College
Keith ClausenPresident
Envisage International
Agenda
Case Study Current Funding Climate Budgeting Appropriately On Campus Assistance External Aid Interactive Forum
Case Study Instructions
Each group gets a case study to analyze and discuss with fellow group members.
As a group, discuss the issues and how you would address the problem.
Each group will give an overview of the case study along with the approach your group would take.
Case Study 1
Pallavi Patel is a student from Ahmedabad, India. She is planning to attend Midwest Technical University in Fall of 2014. She has already been accepted as an F-1 student and has received her I-20 from the school. What school- related expenses does Pallavi need to budget for between now and the first day of school in August?
Case Study 2
An international student from Saudi Arabia comes to your office saying that he doesn’t have enough money to cover his books and other classroom supplies. You remember speaking to him two weeks prior and he had purchased a new BMW. How do you guide this student and get him back on the road to financial success?
Case Study 3
Flavia Vilela, a volleyball player from Brazil and a recipient of a full-ride athletic scholarship, just suffered her second torn ACL within less than a year. Her second surgery is scheduled for tomorrow. Flavia still has an outstanding balance from her first surgery for $5,000 which her insurance won’t cover. Flavia comes from a poor family and does not have the money to pay for her outstanding bills. What help/advice can you give this student to help
her with her outstanding bills and preventing them from being rolled over to collections?
Personal and Family Funds (63%)
U.S. College or University (23%)
Home Government/University (6%)
Current Employment (5%)
U.S. Government (1%)
U.S. Private Sponsor (1%)
Foreign Private Sponsor (1%)
Other Sources (1%)
International Organization (0%)
Primary Sources of Funding 2011-2012
Open Doors Report 2012
Tuition On The Rise
BLS: Tuition increases outpace all other areas
Choosing a School
Critical decision point for every studentBe realistic about budget and goalsFactors:
Rural v. Urban Public v. Private Community College v. Four-Year Institution
Be transparent!
Budgets: I-20 Costs
UNDERGRADUATE 2013-14Standard (Non-resident tuition rate)Tuition $26,248Living Expenses $13,920Insurance $1,432Total $41,600
How do you evaluate the cost of living for the I-20? Is a complete summary of costs outlined to prospective students? Weighing recruitment versus advising
Transparency on costs is key.
Budgeting – Be Complete
Educational costs (tuition & fees, registration, orientation, books, supplies, etc.)
Room & board Health insurance Transportation Other necessities Personal spending money
www.internationalstudentloan.com/resources/how-to-budget-for-school.php www.nafsa.org/_/File/_/appendix_e.xls
Pre-Arrival and Early Arrival!
Airfare / transportation Potential interviews Visa / SEVIS fees Deposits (housing, apartment, etc.) Getting settled (purchasing items
such as bedding, pillows, etc.) Lodging & food Athletes/others arrival before semester begins
Cafeteria & meals Dormitories Transportation
Post-Arrival: Orientation
Remind students of all costs and expenses. Inform students of all payment deadlines Talk to students about payment options and/or
payment plans Offer budgeting workshops Warn students about possible budget risk factors Inform students where to go for help
Budget Risk Factors
Exchange rate fluctuations Interruption of funds (life changing event,
political factors, natural disasters, etc. ) Inability to stick to a budget Withdrawal of funds from sponsor Loss of scholarship Unexpected costs (injuries & accidents, illness,
sudden need to go home, etc.)
Post Arrival: Additional Resources
Clothing Coat sales, shoe drives, thrift stores, second hand stores, garage
sales, donations, seasonal sales, friendship and/or host families Furniture
Garage sales, donations, Recycle, second hand stores, thrift stores, friendship families and/or host families, international student associations (i.e. ASU Taiwanese Student Association – TSA)
https://m.facebook.com/groups/102111379833953 Food
Churches, community lunches/dinners, volunteer work, food drives, friendship families and/or host families
Supplies Faculty and staff, classrooms, classmates, bookstores, libraries
Bicycles & other gear Campus co-op, student activities office, second hand stores,
thrift stores, donations, garage sales
Student Employment
Let your students know of the employment possibilities such as:
On campus student jobs/ work study positions Separate from federal work study program/FAFSA 20 hours/week
Curricular Practical Training (CPT) Full-time Part-time
Optional Practical Training (OPT) One year of work
Student Employment at GWCC Student employment – annual budget line $23,000 -
$26,000 Restricted to international F-1 students Employs 3-5 students per Fall & Spring Semesters for10 –
20 hours, & 1-3 students for summer semester 20 – 40 hours.
Provides supplemental income Assist in the acculturation process Exposes student to additional resources on campus
Scholarships Student leadership opportunities Outreach events
Increases F-1 student retention
Student Employment at GWCC International Student Peer Mentor Program
Significant component of student employment program Supports International Student Club Promotes student engagement in extracurricular activates on
campus Promotes student success
Student Employment at GWCC International Student Peer Mentor Program
Supports student leadership development Supports international student services Promotes international student visibility on campus
Student Commencement Speaker, May 2013Peer Mentors
Student Employment at GWCC
Who Benefits – Stakeholders Students Workers (F-1) College Community
International Students Employees Strengths Value the opportunity to earn income & gain work experience Strong work ethics Multi lingual & multi cultural, valuable skills needed to provide
services to a diverse student population
Supports Internationalization of Campus Their input/voices are heard
Student Employee of the Year
2012-2013For Excellence Job
Performance
On Campus Financial Aid: Scholarships, Grants & Fellowships
Notify and explain to students the scholarship qualifications/deadlines How should they apply?
Are there any grants available? Are there possible sponsors? What fellowships can students apply for?
Scholarships & State Laws Challenges in Meeting Eligibility Requirements Arizona Immigration Law Facts HB2008 (See generally Arizona Revised Statutes §§1-501 and 1-502) Under this law passed in 2009, MCCCD, in administering any "federal public benefit" or "state or
local public benefit," must require each natural person who applies for the benefit to submit one of 12 specific types of documents to demonstrate lawful presence in the United States (see Acceptable Documents to Establish Lawful Presence). That person must also sign a sworn affidavit stating that the documents are true. Failure of an MCCCD employee who administers that MCCCD benefit to report "discovered violations of federal immigration law" is a class 2 misdemeanor. The employee's supervisor is also guilty of a class 2 misdemeanor if he or she knew of the failure to report, and failed to direct the employee to do so.
Only those with a lawful presence in the U.S. may qualify for MCCCD scholarships or federal financial aid. Any information you provide about your legal status when you apply for financial aid or scholarships may be subject to mandatory reporting to federal immigration authorities under Arizona law. This does not apply to applications for the private scholarship funds held in and distributed by the Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation.
SB1070 Proposition 300 (Citizenship/Legal Status )
Residency and Citizenship Information, Maricopa Community College, 2013, http://www.maricopa.edu/residency/
Who Can You Turn To: Institutional Support
Alumni Association(s) Can your alumni associations help you develop a
scholarship fund? International Clubs
Involvement on campus can include mobilizing clubs to raise funds for scholarships.
Student Organizations Many schools have international organizations (like a
Chinese student association) – can they help? Non-Profit Organizations Religious Groups Immigration Community
Connecting With Students
How do you get the message out for scholarships, workshops, drives, etc.?
Social media Listserves Website Other (boards, office)
External “Free” Money
Scholarships Grants Fellowships Assistantships
IEFA.org FundingUSStudy.org
External Resources for International Students
Additional Scholarship Resources
InternationalScholarships.com AbroadPlanet.com Edu.fastweb.com Bigfuture.collegeboard.org Other scholarship resources? Does anyone track successful
scholarship applicants?
Bridge the Gap: International Student Loans
• Stafford Loan• Perkins Loan• PLUS Loan
Which of these are available to an international student?
Bridge the Gap: International Student Loans
Private International Student Loans• Same as US students• Online application• Reasonable interest rates• Repayment and deferral options
• US co-signer required!
Compare Lenders for International Students
Interactive Forum
What award programs do you offer international students at your school and how do they work?
Interactive Forum
Does your school work with organizations in the community to support your international student population? Who? And how did you develop those relationships or programs?
Interactive Forum
What are some challenges that your international students face when it comes to financing their education?
Thank you!
Keith [email protected]
Envisage International
224 First Street
Neptune Beach, FL 32266
(904) 247-1387 ext 101
Raeann [email protected]
108 N. 40th Street
Phoenix, AZ 85034
602-286-8063