Events and Programs

Collage of 4 photos: 1) 3 students displaying their tote-bags at DYI Tote-Bag Workshop during Orientation; 2) a big group of students singing at Karaoke night in Beckham Hall; 3) a group of students sitting in a circle on Foss Hill; 4) three students playing Twister

OISA hosts events and programs throughout the year to help students make the most of their time at Wesleyan and prepare for life after university. Mark your calendars with important dates of sessions focused on choosing the right majors, employment (CPT, OPT, STEM OPT Extension, career planning), and other topics that will help you take advantage of the opportunities available to you and plan for the future.

Consider opportunities to get involved in campus-wide internationalization programming, such as International Education Week (IEW) in the fall and Power of Language Week in the spring, and participate in OISA programs such as International Student Orientation (ISO)International Buddy Program (IBP), Wesleyan Africans Thriving Together (WATT) peer mentorship program, and the Wesleyan International Speakers Program (WISP) that offer unique student leadership opportunities!   

Events and Programs - Spring 2024

 

  • Power of Language Week

    2024 Power of Language Week at Wesleyan: Friday, February 16 - Friday February 23

    This February, Wesleyan is holding its second annual Power of Language (POL) Week! POL Week will be February 16-23 and coincide with International Mother Language Day, which takes place each year on February 21st. Learn about the Bengali Language Movement and the history behind International Mother Language Day.

    Themes for this year's POL Week include "self-determination to preserve one’s mother tongue and one’s individual and collective multilingual identity" and "celebrate and foster equity, belonging, and diversity in language practice at Wesleyan."

    We encourage all members of the Wesleyan community to consider getting involved in this year's POL Week and submit an event by Monday, February 5th. For questions about POL Week, please contact Global Language & Outreach Fellow Thais García Bagué via email at tgarcia@wesleyan.edu.      

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  • Post-Completion Options for F-1 Students

    Tuesday, February 6: 12:00pm-1:00 p.m. EST in Boger 112

    Intended Audience: F-1 students completing their degree program in Spring, Summer or Fall of 2024

    Session Description: In this virtual session, OISA professional staff members will provide an overview of post-completion options for international students studying at Wes in F-1 visa status. The focus will be on options in addition to post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT). At the end of the session, there will be time for Questions & Answers (Q&A). This workshop will be recorded and later posted on this page and our Preparing for Your End of Program webpage as a video resource.     

  • Optional Practical Training (OPT) Workshop: Overview of Eligibility, Applying & Maintaining F-1 Status during Your Post-Completion Employment

    Thursday, February 8: 12:00pm-1:00pm EST in Boger 112 

    Intended Audience: F-1 international students graduating in Spring, Summer or Fall of 2024 who wish to work in the United States after graduation

    Session Description: In this workshop, OISA staff will provide an overview of OPT eligibility, the application process and timeline, and requirements for maintaining your F-1 visa status during your post-completion employment. Please carefully read through OISA’s Post-Completion OPT guidance prior to attending this workshop. There will be time for Q&A at the end of the session. This workshop will be recorded and later posted on this page and our Post-Completion OPT webpage as a video resource.  

  • Sprintax Webinar: Everything A Non-Resident Should Know About U.S. Tax Filing Requirements

    Friday, February 9: 12:00pm EST  

    During this virtual session, a Sprintax representative will provide an in-depth overview of everything non-residents need to know about their tax requirements for the 2023 calendar year. Topics will include, who must file, tax residency, FICA, tax treaties, state tax, implications of misfiling, as well as how to use Sprintax Returns to prepare a compliant tax return. International students are strongly encouraged to attend this webinar, especially if 2023 was your first year in F-1 status. Register Here

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  • 24-Month STEM OPT Extension Workshop: Overview of Eligibility, Applying & Maintaining F-1 Status during Your Post-Completion Employment (virtual session)

    Wednesday, February 28: 4:00pm-5:00pm EST on Zoom: https://wesleyan.zoom.us/j/93380263875

    Intended Audience: F-1 international alumni who are on post-completion OPT and qualify for the 24-Month STEM OPT Extension 

    Session Description: In this virtual workshop, OISA staff will provide an overview of STEM OPT Extension eligibility, the application process, and requirements for maintaining your F-1 visa status while engaging in this type of post-completion employment in the U.S. Please carefully read through OISA’s STEM OPT Extension guidance prior to attending this workshop. There will be time for Q&A at the end of the session. This workshop will be recorded and later posted on this page and our STEM OPT Extension webpage as a video resource. 

  • Curricular Practical Training (CPT) Workshop: Overview of Eligibility, Applying & Maintaining F-1 Status during Your Off-Campus Employment

    Thursday, March 7: 12:00pm-1:00pm EST in Boger 112

    Intended Audience: F-1 international students who will have completed two semesters of full-time study and declared a major by the end of the Spring 2024 Semester and who are considering an off-campus practical training opportunity 

    Session Description: In this workshop, OISA staff will provide an overview of CPT eligibility, the application process, and requirements for maintaining your F-1 visa status while engaging in this type of off-campus employment during your degree program. Please carefully read through OISA’s Curricular Practical Training (CPT) guidance prior to attending this workshop. There will be time for Q&A at the end of the session. Both workshops will cover the same content. There will be time for Q&A at the end of the session. This workshop will be recorded and later posted on this page and our CPT webpage as a video resource. 

  • Travel Signature Clinics in Usdan

    OISA is offering in-person Travel Signature Clinics on the first floor of Usdan University Center at the base of the stairs leading up to Marketplace on the following dates and times during the Spring 2024 Semester: 

    • Tuesday, March 5: 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
    • Tuesday, April 9: 3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
    • Friday, April 26: 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. 
    • Wednesday, May 8: 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
    • Thursday, May 16: 2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
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    Please bring a printed paper copy of all three pages of your current I-20 and a photo ID to receive a travel signature from an OISA staff member.

    If you are not able to come to one of these clinics, please see the guidance on our Visa & Travel page for instructions on how to submit a Travel Signature Request in the ISS Portal.  

  • Wesleyan Africans Thriving Together (WATT)

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    Wesleyan Africans Thriving Together (WATT) is a peer mentorship program that was launched in the Summer of 2023. The program has matched the 13 members of the inaugural cohort of the Wesleyan African Scholars Program in one-to-one pairings with returning students from Africa. The WATT Launch & African Scholars Welcome Dinner was held at Wesleyan on September 7th. In addition to the chance to participate in various WATT events and opportunities throughout the year, mentors and mentees are also part of IBP as Senior Buddies and Junior Buddies and invited to engage in the program. WATT is coordinated by the African Scholars Student Coordinator, Marouan El-Asery.     

    WATT Mentors for the 2024 cohort of the African Scholars Program will be recruited in the Spring 2024 Semester. Look for emails from OISA and read the Wesleyan International Student E-newsletter (WISE) in the Spring 2024 Semester for updates about applying to be a WATT Mentor for the next African Scholars cohort. For questions about WATT, please send an email to oisa@wesleyan.edu with "WATT inquiry" in the subject line.     

  • Wesleyan International Speakers Program (WISP)

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    The Wesleyan International Speakers Program (WISP) was formed in the Fall 2023 Semester and announced at the start of the Spring 2024 Semester. It is a year-long volunteer program for current Wesleyan students who are passionate about promoting intercultural awareness, bridging cultural gaps, and fostering global connections within our campus and beyond. The program offers a unique opportunity for students who identify as coming from an international background to serve as speakers and share short presentations and talks about their home country(ies), culture(s), and/or language(s) with various audiences within the Wesleyan and Middletown communities. 

    The WISP application for the second cohort of Speakers (2024-2025 academic year) will be opened and shared with current international students via email and the Wesleyan International Student E-newsletter (WISE) at the start of the Fall 2024 Semester. For questions about WISP, please send an email to oisa@wesleyan.edu with "WISP inquiry" in the subject line.