Top 5 Places to Visit in St. Cloud this Summer

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St. Cloud is a beautiful college town situated in the Midwestern state Minnesota, along the Mississippi River. Although you may have come to St. Cloud for the university, there are plenty of other hidden gems in the city to explore. Minnesota is known for it’s outdoor attractions and adventures. College can be stressful, so take a break and check out some of our favorite spots. Here are our top 5 places to visit in St. Cloud this summer:

 

Munsinger/Clemens Gardens

Munsinger and Clemens gardens are situated on the banks of the Mississippi River, opposite from campus. This is a beautiful area to take a walk. Enjoy a unique botanical experience along the gardens’ wonderful walkways. It’s a great spot for photos!

 

Lake George

Lake George is one of the main attractions in St. Cloud. Lake George is busy with outdoor activities year-round, whether it’s jogging on the paths, fishing, ice skating, or paddle boats on the lake. Lake George is also a great spot to have a picnic. Continue reading

Campus Safety Updates

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Wearing Masks

Masking will not be required for those who are fully vaccinated while on campus, with the exception of posted facilities such as the Medical Clinic, effective May 28. The definition of fully vaccinated is two weeks following the second Pfizer or Moderna dose or two weeks after the single Johnson & Johnson dose.

We know that wearing masks is an effective way to mitigate the transmission of COVID-19 and therefore it is strongly encouraged that those who are not fully vaccinated wear a mask indoors. The Governor’s Order, the CDC, and other public health experts continue to highlight the associated risk of contracting and spreading COVID-19, and we ask our campus community to continue to do their part to protect the pack.

While the mandate has ended, anyone who chooses to wear a mask should be supported for their decision to mask up. There are many reasons for an individual to choose to wear a mask.  Masks are likely to be a part of our routine for some time as we manage the stages of the pandemic and make choices to protect ourselves and others against the virus and contagions like the flu or common cold.

Space Capacity Limits and Physical Distancing  

Space capacity limits and physical distancing requirements will remain in effect until May 28 based on the Governor’s recent announcements and MDH guidelines. This will include residence halls, recreation facilities, classrooms, meeting rooms, research laboratories and all other spaces. SCSU will provide an update to the campus community on changing capacity and physical distancing requirements and asks that we all continue to be mindful of how to keep ourselves and others safe while on campus.

Self-Assessment Tool  

As of May 23, the Self-Assessment tool is no longer required for students, faculty, staff, and visitors to access campus facilities. Signs will be in place with reminders to stay home when symptomatic or feeling ill.

Student Spotlight: Max Yong

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Say hello to Max Yong!
Max’s home country is Malaysia. He is studying Psychology at St. Cloud State University. In addition to his studies, Max is an International Peer Advisor Coordinator at the Center for International Studies.
Max’s favorite on-campus event was the snow-tubing trip organized by CIS for international students. Max enjoys watching the movie, The Kingsman, as he finds the scenes interesting. One piece of advice that Max would offer to international students is to get a portable heater for the cold Minnesota winters. Fun fact: Max also survived winter without winter shoes! (Not recommended.)

Student Spotlight – Rachid Ouedraogo

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Meet Rachid Ouedraogo! Rachid recently joined the CIS Front Desk team this summer. We are excited to have him.

Here’s a little about Rachid:

  • His favorite spot to study on-campus is the basement of the library as it is quiet there.
  • He has worked at SCSU’s Intensive English Center for more than 2 years now and has volunteered for many cultural nights.
  • One piece of advice Rachid would offer to international students is to ask for help when you feel stressed or homesick. You are not alone!

CIS Points of Contact

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We are looking forward to advising you! The following professional staff members will be able to support you according to your needs:

Jacob Mercer

jmercer@stcloudstate.edu

(320)308-4274

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Student Spotlight – Milan Raj Paswan

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This week we are proud to present our new Student Government President-Elect, Milan Raj Paswan! Milan is a Marketing Major from Nepal. He is also a student worker at our CIS Front Desk!

He would like to extend his gratitude for his recent success:

“It feels great to be elected as the President of the Student Government Association. With all of your support, we will for sure be able to initiate changes to support every student on campus.”

Milan’s favorite spot on campus is Atwood because there are many places that can help one relax. You can sit by the fireplace or grab some Chick-Fil-A and hangout in the main lounge!

One thing Milan would like to tell international students is that it can get pretty overwhelming when you are applying to or are here in another country. But don’t panic! Reach out to seniors, student organizations and CIS to ask questions! Once you are here, SCSU offers tons of resources to help you ease your transition. You will eventually find your home away from home.

Congratulations Milan!

USCIS: Delayed Receipt Notices

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USCIS is experiencing delays in issuing receipt notices for some applications and petitions (OPT, STEM Extension, Severe Economic Hardship) filed to USCIS lockbox facilities. This is due to the COVID-19 pandemic and other factors that are out of CIS’s control.

According to USCIS: “If you have already filed your application and are waiting for your receipt notice, we appreciate your patience. We are working as quickly as possible to complete the intake of all filings. You can take steps to decrease the time it takes us to process and send your receipt notice or find out the status of your case:

Finally, visit our Form Filing Tips webpage for more information on filing with USCIS and our online tools for help in managing your application.”

USCIS: Flexibilities for OPT Applicants

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On February 26, 2021, USCIS announced flexibilities for certain international students affected by delayed receipt notices for Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization. These flexibilities apply only to applications received on or after Oct. 1, 2020, through May 1, 2021, inclusive.

USCIS has experienced delays at certain lockboxes in issuing receipt notices for Form I-765 for Optional Practical Training (OPT) for F-1 students. These delays are a result of COVID-19 restrictions, a dramatic increase in filings of certain benefit requests, postal service volume and delays, and other external factors. While they have made progress in addressing the problem, they are extending the following flexibilities to assist certain applicants for OPT impacted by the delays.

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I-20 End Dates

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If the program end date on your I-20 or DS-2019 falls in May 2021, please review the following options for maintaining your status in the U.S.:

1. Apply for an extension of your I-20

If you have not yet completed your program of study, please follow the application procedures for a Program Extension for F-1 Students and submit a completed Program Extension form to CIS at least 2 weeks before your I-20 end date. Due to the pandemic, CIS is waiving the requirement for proof of financial support. Please note: the extension absolutely must be made by your I-20 end date. SEVIS will not allow us to extend your program after that.

2. Apply for OPT

If you are completing your program of study this semester, you may be eligible to apply for OPT. The latest USCIS can receive your OPT application is July 5, 2021. More information can be found on our webpage: OPT Application Procedures.

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CIS Staff Spotlight – Stephanie Trottier

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It’s Spotlight Thursday time!

This week we are highlighting our new Office Manager – Stephanie Trottier! She recently joined our CIS team and is excited to meet all of you!

Her favorite part about being with CIS is the opportunity to work with international students. She really enjoys getting to know students and learning about their culture! She’s also a new DSO. She’ll be working on travel signatures and I-20 reprints.

Stephanie is also a proud SCSU Husky! She graduated with her Bachelor’s in Global Studies and will complete her Masters of Public Administration degree in Spring 2022!

Stephanie’s favorite hobby is to make handmade earrings out of clay. One piece of advice she would provide for international students is to be active on campus and seek out new experiences. It’s the best way to learn about American culture and meet new friends.

Stop by our office to say Hi to Stephanie!