Category: Important!

We’re Hiring New International Peer Mentors for 2019-20!!!

Posted on by sharece

Position Description

International Peer Mentors for International Student & Scholar Services

International Student and Scholar Services, a unit of the Office of International Affairs, is seeking mentors to help transition new international students into the University of Oregon through a series of activities that support academic and cultural integration. Serving as an International Peer Mentor is an opportunity to develop and enhance leadership cultural competency skills. The commitment is June-December 2019. Some mentors may continue with the program from January-June 2020 depending on program needs.

Throughout the International Peer Mentor Program (IPMP), mentors will serve in the following capacity:

  • Serve as orientation leaders at International Student Orientation for fall term
  • Serve as a resource by introducing students to campus services

Compensation:

Peer Mentor positions are valuable leadership opportunities that allow them to grow, learn, and engage with students from different countries and cultures. Time commitment for the program will vary based on individual mentors’ styles and interests. The peer mentor positions are not paid positions. However, should funding for the 2019-20 year provide, peer mentors will be given a modest stipend for their service.

Mentoring Requirements

(Must be able to participate in the following required interviews, trainings, or events)

May 2019

  • Monday, April 22 – April 26, 2019 – Individual Interviews
  • Weeknight in May – IPMP Group Interviews (details to come depending on student and program staff availability)

September 2019

  • Tuesday, September 17, 2019 – IPMP & ISO Training
  • Wednesday, September 18, 2019 – IPMP & ISO Training
  • Thursday, September 19, 2019 – Fall ISO
  • Friday, September 20, 2019 – Fall ISO
  • Saturday, September 21, 2019 – Fall ISO
  • Sunday, September 22, 2019 – Fall ISO
  • Monday, September 23, 2019 – Fall ISO
  • Tuesday, September 24, 2019 – Fall ISO

Peer Mentor Meetings – to be scheduled for fall term by lead mentors and program coordinator.

Applications are open from March 29- April 12, 2019. Applicants will be required to participate in a group interview during spring term. Interested students must fill out an application and send an updated resume to intlpeers@uoregon.edu. Questions, please contact Sharece Bunn, IPMP Director at sharece@uoregon.edu.

 

It’s Time for Taxes!

Posted on by sharece

Hi IPMs!

It’s tax season! Just so you know, your IPMP stipends are considered payment for services and thus can be taxed! For this reason, it’s time for some tax help!

First, off, all of you should plan to submit your taxes by the deadline of April 15, 2019. I’m not

going to give advice for domestic students on how to file taxes, but I would recommend you use VITA support if you’d like help. International students can use VITA support as well! 🙂

For those of you who are considered international students, you will be filing non-resident tax forms. ISSS has a blog to help with this: https://blogs.uoregon.edu/itax/. Please use it! It shows you how to fill out the 8843, the 1040NR-EZ, and even the Oregon Form 40N.

This page is incredibly helpful and walks you through EVERY step! 🙂

You’ll need either your social security number or ITIN to help with the form. If, for some reason, you never received your ITIN, please contact me as soon as possible!

If you really don’t want to try this on your own with the instructions and would rather pay for help, check out the info for professional tax preparation.

Good luck!

Best,

Sharece

 

Date with your High-Five Buddy

Posted on by sharece

At last, the instructions are here!!!

You should go on a date with your high-five buddy in the next seven days. The idea is that you’ll meet for at least an hour with that buddy to check in. Ask how they’re doing in classes. Find out how mentoring is going. Encourage them. Share about what’s new with you.

My suggestion is that you get together on campus for an event, go to coffee, or chill in the Mills for an hour. If you’re super adventurous and have time, definitely head off campus for an adventure.

You’ll need to do this BEFORE our meeting next Wednesday, November 7th. So message your high-five buddy today and make a plan.

Please, please, take a selfie of the two of you that we can post to social media! 🙂 You can send the pics to intlpeers@uoregon.edu or share them to the IPMP Work Folder.

There will be prizes for the Best Selfie, Most Creative Date, Most Chill Date, and Most Out There.

Have fun!!!

Best,

Sharece

IPMP Care Report

Posted on by sharece

If you’re concerned about a student’s health, well-being, academic success, etc, you will REPORT this issue of concern to the Office of International Affairs by completing the IPMP Care Report. Andrew (the Associate Director of ISSS) and I will have access to the form and will follow up with you or the student as we see fit. We appreciate all you’re doing to support your peers! 

Thanks! Please email me at sharece@uoregon.edu with any questions!

Best,

Sharece

Happy Week Ten! And, please fill out these forms!!! :)

Posted on by sharece
Hi Peer Mentors!
I hope you’re having a great week!
Before you leave for spring break, please fill out this Winter Term Assessment Form! It’s INCREDIBLY important to have this completed so I can continue to provide support to international students through our peer mentor program.
Additionally, please fill out this TWO QUESTION form to let me know if you can be at Sports Night Week One. If we need to reschedule it for a different time, I need to do that in the next two or three work days so PLEASE respond!
Best,
Sharece M. Bunn

Important Updates for Week SEVEN!

Posted on by sharece
Hi Peer Mentors!
I hope you’re having a great day thus far!
I sent out an email to all first-year international students about the two events in the next two weeks (thanks for the reminder, Ray). The events are also on Facebook! PLEASE share them and indicate your interest or attendance!
Additionally, all mentors who wish to serve as peer mentors in 2018-19 MUST fill out the Peer Mentor application and send a current resume to intlpeers@uoregon.edu! Information about the changes to the position are available on the blog! 
Are you available to be an ISO leader for spring term? This is the single BEST way to connect to new students this year! ISO is March 29th and 30th. Please email me by TOMORROW, February 22nd, to let me know! 
Make sure to fill out this form as well regarding the end of winter term potluck. I need full responses from folks in order to move forward with it!
Thanks! Please feel free to email me if you have any questions!
Have a great day!
Sharece M. Bunn

Position Description for 2018-19 is up!

Posted on by sharece

International Student and Scholar Services, a unit of the Office of International Affairs, is seeking mentors to help transition new international students into the University of Oregon through a series of activities that support academic and cultural integration. Serving as an International Peer Mentor is an opportunity to develop and enhance leadership cultural competency skills. The commitment is June-December 2018. Some mentors may continue with the program from January-June 2019 depending on program needs.

Throughout the International Peer Mentor Program (IPMP), mentors will serve in the following capacity:

  • Serve as orientation leaders at International Student Orientation for fall term
  • Serve as a resource by introducing students to campus services

Compensation:

Peer Mentor positions are valuable leadership opportunities that allow them to grow, learn, and engage with students from different countries and cultures. Time commitment for the program will vary based on individual mentors’ styles and interests. The peer mentor positions are not hourly positions. However, peer mentors are offered a $300 stipend for their commitment from June-December 2018. Mentors will be asked to select one more term to serve as mentor during the year: either winter, spring, or summer term, for an additional $100 per term served.

Mentoring Requirements

(Must be able to participate in the following required trainings/events)

June 2018

  • Tuesday, June 19, 2018 – IPMP Welcome and Introduction Training
  • Wednesday, June 20, 2018 – IPMP Training

September 2018

  • Monday, September 10, 2018 – IPMP Training
  • Tuesday, September 11, 2018 – ISO Training
  • Wednesday, September 12, 2018 – ISO – Housing Move-In & Tours
  • Thursday, September 13, 2018 – ISO
  • Friday, September 14, 2018 – ISO
  • Saturday, September 15, 2018 – ISO
  • Sunday, September 16, 2018 – ISO FFIS Picnic
  • Monday, September 17, 2018 – ISO – Registration
  • Tuesday, September 18, 2018 – ISO

Peer Mentor Meetings – to be scheduled biweekly for fall term.

Applications are open from February 20 – April 6, 2018. Applicants will be required to participate in a group interview during spring term. Interested students must fill out an application and send an updated resume to intlpeers@uoregon.edu. Questions, please contact Sharece Bunn, IPMP Director at sharece@uoregon.edu.

Week Six Updates!!!

Posted on by sharece

Hey Peer Mentors!

I’m preparing for our next meeting on Monday! It’s incredibly important for ALL of you to attend on Monday, February 19th at 6 PM in Education 117! We’ll have ASUO Legal Services visiting us for about 30 minutes and then we’ll have the ISO team visiting our meeting to talk about what’s good and bad about ISO! This is YOUR CHANCE to give input! So please, make sure to come. Our full agenda is below.

In addition, PLEASE fill out the Early Spring Check-In for me! This is crucial to help me prepare for the meeting. Also, as usual, make sure to fill in your third check-in form about mentoring as well!

 

And now… here’s your agenda for Monday:

  • Guest Speakers:
    • Illona Givens, Director of the ASUO Student Legal Services Program
    • Hilary Berkman, Director of the Office of Student Advocacy
  • International Student Orientation Team
    • How to improve ISO with IPMP! 🙂
  • PM Debrief
  • Graduate Appreciations!
    • Sun Shin
  • Winter Term Event Check-In & Planning
    • Registration Event
      • What you will actually do: Meet and welcome the Peer Advisors. Make sure your mentees attend!
      • Thursday, February 22, 2018 from 6-8 PM in EMU 104
      • Jane – Take care of attendance sheets!
      • Jude – Pick up food wagon from OIA & store in the Mills kitchen area after event! 🙂 (Make sure to put the sign on it!)
      • Food in the Wagon: Capri Sun, chips, fruit snacks, trail mix, fruit roll-ups.
      • If wanted, go with ExplOregon to the basketball game.
    • Speed-friending event:
      • Date:
      • Location:
      • Photo book
      • Who does what?
      • Food wanted: Tea or cocoa & cookies!
  • Spring Term Event Planning
    • Welcome Party
      • Determine location, date, and time
      • Who will do what?!
  • March 5, 2018 Meeting
    • Who will be responsible for envelope and receipt for pizza?
      • Make sure you take that back to OIA on the 6th of March!!! 🙂

Thanks, all!

Sharece

Happy Finals Week! And, prepping for fall!

Posted on by sharece

Hi Peer Mentors!

I hope you’re having a great week with your finals! And, for those of you who are traveling, may you have a safe flight home!

Here are a few things for you to check.

First, if you’re going to be here for winter ISO, please let me know right away! From our last meeting, I have Shan, Cheng, Remi, Dai, and Jude as helping out at ISO.

Next, please check the AEIS class schedule here and let me know which days you can volunteer to visit the classes. The sign ups are at the top and the instructors are shown at the bottom (in case you were wondering).

Thanks so much for your great help this term. The winter term schedule is currently up! Please check it out and mark important dates in your calendars. Additionally, please make sure to bookmark this schedule as it is the first place I update all info for the IPMP!

Have a great break all and I’ll see you in 2018!

Best,

Sharece