Region II and III are pleased to offer many professional practice and local workshops from which to choose at this year’s bi-regional pre-conference. These are quality-learning sessions designed to bring attendees the best and most up-to-date information possible to help educational professionals as they face difficult questions and situations. All sessions are full day sessions scheduled to be presented on November 8th. You may only register for one workshop. If you desire you may select a second choice in case your first choice of workshop is filled.

Please see the Conference Schedule for times the workshops were offered.

• Foundations of International Education Foreign Educational Credentials Analysis
  This workshop is for admissions professionals who are new (1-3 years of experience) to foreign academic credential evaluation and placement. Develop conceptual tools for the evaluation of credentials for admission, placement, and transfer credit determination which enable you to make and justify independent decisions. Learn how to manage the process in a manner consistent with your institution’s culture. Group work and discussion will be supplemented by short presentations on each topic. Note: Participants should bring a calculator.
• Beyond Advising-Tools for Strengthening Your International Office
  This workshop is intended to build on the foundations of International Education: International Student Advising workshop, but goes beyond the realm of day-to-day advising. It is designed for international student advisers employed at U.S. institutions for at least 15 months. It will provide conceptual frameworks and intermediate level skills and knowledge. Explore office mission; goal setting; professional ethics; decision-making; inter-cultural training; advocacy; and increasing your influence by networking, professional development and playing politics. This workshop will not address the substance of immigration law or procedures. The format of the workshop allows for considerable discussion and participation.
• F-1 Regulations for Beginners
  This introductory workshop offers participants the basic theoretical and practical knowledge and skills needed to advise foreign students on F-1 visa matters. The Workshop begins with an overview of terminology and the visa process. It focuses on the responsibilities of BCIS approved school and the Designated School Official (DSO), the definition of F-1 Status and maintenance of status, creating a SEVIS record and issuing an I-20, dependent visa matters, updating SEVIS records (reports, change of level, program extension), school transfer, reinstatement, change of status, employment, and practical training. The format will include lecture, exercises, and discussion.
• F-1 Regulations- The Second Step
  The “Second Step” workshop is designed for U.S. Designated School Officials (DSOs) with more than 18 months of experience in the field of international student advising. Discover the subtleties of the most current F-1 regulations and procedures. In addition, the sensitive and complex issues involving DSO discretion and institutional policy will be explored in tandem with INS regulatory compliance. This workshop specifically addresses advanced topics. Participants wishing more basic training should attend the “Professional Practice Workshop: F-1 Beginners.”
• Filing Academic H-1B Petitions
  This workshop is designed for participants who handle the process of H-1B, TN, and O Petitions in an academic setting. This workshop addresses non-immigrant status options, institutional policy considerations, case management, new H-1B legislation, and some collateral immigration issues. It does not include information on issues of employment in a medical setting, since the laws governing the practice of medicine in the United States by foreign medical graduates are separate from those governing other employment. While this intermediate workshop is primarily for those involved in employment based immigration work on a regular basis, it is also of benefit to those involved only occasionally. Note: This workshop requires you to have basic knowledge and understanding of immigration and visa procedures.
• J-Regulations For Beginners
  This workshop is designed for beginners (up to 15 months). It provides basic information related to the administration of J-1 (exchange visitor) programs and advising J-1 students and scholars. It will provide an overview of U.S. Department of State regulations and cover J-1 eligibility, maintenance of status, extension, transfer, reinstatement, employment. We will NOT provide advanced training or cover requirements specific to trainee, high school, or graduate medical study categories. We also will NOT cover the procedure for obtaining an exchange visitor program designation. Participants should be prepared to take active part in discussions.
• J-Regulations For Advanced
  This eight-hour workshop will provide responsible and alternate responsible Officers with a conceptual foundation, practical knowledge, and skills for advising on J visa regulations. Topics include the roles and responsibilities of the A/RO, ethical considerations, the use of resources in problem-solving, and decision-making. This workshop specifically addresses advanced topics that lie in the grey zone for which there are no clear answers. It requires the participant to have an intermediate knowledge and understanding of immigration and visa procedures. This workshop will not include basic procedural training, the trainee category, or foreign medical graduates.
• Pathways to Permanent Residency
  This workshop will focus on the processing of employment-based permanent residency applications filed by colleges and universities for international faculty and research personnel. Participants will work in both large group and small group settings on overall permanent residency issues and case studies. We expect participants to have a working knowledge of nonimmigrant processing of (H-1, J-1). Small groups will be organized by experience level.
• Toolbox for Experiential Learning
  Designed for international educators who provide training for staff, students, university employees or external groups, this workshop will explore a variety of techniques for incorporating subject content into interactive learning experiences. The first half will focus on several “framegames,” templates a trainer can use to get participants thinking about and reacting to information which has been presented. The second half will explore the use of other interactive techniques for intercultural training, including role plays, critical incidents, case studies and the culture assimilator. Workshop participants will leave with the tools to enrich and deepen training sessions, including the opportunity to practice techniques so that they can immediately put these activities to use.