The International Center provides a required orientation to give new international students essential information regarding their stay at MU.
You must check in and attend orientation. If you do not, you will be in violation of your visa status.
During orientation, you can:
Optional events to aid in your transition to MU (shopping trips, social gatherings and informational workshops) are offered throughout the week of orientation.
If you are beginning your program in the spring 2012 semester, you can check in at the International Center (N52 Memorial Union) either during orientation or earlier (January 3-6, 10 a.m.-noon, Tuesday through Friday).
When you check in, you will need your:
* In order to help the check-in process move more quickly, please bring a photocopy of your passport ID page and visa.
In addition, you will be required to complete a check-in form. On that form, you will be asked to provide the name, address and phone number of someone in your home country and in the U.S. whom we may notify in case of emergency.
Transfer student note: It may take several days after you check in to receive your new I-20.
| Undergraduate and Graduate Student Schedule (print) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Monday, January 9 | ||
| 8:30 a.m.–noon | International Student Orientation Session | Wrench Auditorium, Memorial Union |
| noon | Lunch | Stotler Lounge, Memorial Union |
| 1-2 p.m. | Undergraduate Orientation Session | * Fine Arts Building |
| Graduate Orientation Session | Wrench Auditorium, Memorial Union | |
| 2-3 p.m. | Resource Fair Check-ins Bring: passport (copy), visa (copy), I-94, I-20/DS-2019, assistantship letter if applicable, and acceptance letter. |
Stotler Lounge, Memorial Union |
| 2-5 p.m. |
Health Screenings
|
N206, Memorial Union |
| 5 p.m. | Shopping Trip | Meet at International Center |
| Tuesday, January 10 | ||
| 8 a.m.–noon | ELSP Exam | * McReynolds Hall |
| 10 a.m.–noon | Check-ins for late arrivals | International Center |
| 1:30-2:30 p.m. | Campus Tour | Meet at International Center |
| 2:30-3:30 p.m. | Living in Columbia Workshop | N206, Memorial Union |
| 6 p.m. | Welcome Potluck | N201/202, Memorial Union |
| Wednesday, January 11 | ||
| 10 a.m.–noon | Check-ins for late arrivals | International Center |
| 4 p.m. | Shopping Trip | Meet at International Center |
| Thursday, January 12 | ||
| 5 p.m. | Dinner in the District | Meet at International Center |
All new degree-seeking international undergraduate students are required to take the MU English Language Exam before registering for classes. Students can sign up for the exam during orientation or in room 208 McReynolds Hall. The exam will be given in the morning on Tuesday, January 10. No other activities should be scheduled for that morning.
All new degree-seeking international undergraduate students who plan to take a math department course at the level of Math 1500 or below are required to take the ALEKS Exam before registering for classes. (Note that Statistics courses are not offered by the Math department.) The test is not given for a grade but will help determine which math class students should register for first. Before you arrive to the University of Missouri, take the ALEKS Exam online. Once you arrive to the University of Missouri, you can also take the Proctored ALEKS Exam if you would like to test out of College Algebra. (Students should not register for the Proctored ALEKS Exam until they have spoken with their Academic Adviser.) General information about the exam and who needs to take it can be found on the Math Placement website.
Any new international graduate student who has a teaching assistantship (TA) for the upcoming semester must attend the Orientation for New International Teaching Assistants. Most new international students, however, will not begin teaching in the first semester. For more information, visit the the International Teaching Assistant Program (ITAP) website.
