SHAKING THE MONEY TREE: MAKING THE MOST OF FINANCIAL RESOURCES FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

NAFSA Region XII – San Diego, California

Presenters

Raeann Nunez, M. Ed.Coordinator Student Services

Gateway Community College

Keith ClausenPresident

Envisage International

Agenda

Case Study Current Funding Climate Budgeting Appropriately On Campus Assistance External Aid Interactive Forum

Case Study Instructions

Each group gets a case study to analyze and discuss with fellow group members.

As a group, discuss the issues and how you would address the problem.

Each group will give an overview of the case study along with the approach your group would take.

Case Study 1

Pallavi Patel is a student from Ahmedabad, India.  She is planning to attend Midwest Technical University in Fall of 2014. She has already been accepted as an F-1 student and has received her I-20 from the school.  What school- related expenses does Pallavi need to budget for between now and the first day of school in August?

Case Study 2

An international student from Saudi Arabia comes to your office saying that he doesn’t have enough money to cover his books and other classroom supplies. You remember speaking to him two weeks prior and he had purchased a new BMW. How do you guide this student and get him back on the road to financial success?

Case Study 3

Flavia Vilela, a volleyball player from Brazil and a recipient of a full-ride athletic scholarship, just suffered her second torn ACL within less than a year. Her second surgery is scheduled for tomorrow. Flavia still has an outstanding balance from her first surgery for $5,000 which her insurance won’t cover. Flavia comes from a poor family and does not have the money to pay for her outstanding bills. What help/advice can you give this student to help

her with her outstanding bills and preventing them from being rolled over to collections?  

Personal and Family Funds (63%)

U.S. College or University (23%)

Home Government/University (6%)

Current Employment (5%)

U.S. Government (1%)

U.S. Private Sponsor (1%)

Foreign Private Sponsor (1%)

Other Sources (1%)

International Organization (0%)

Primary Sources of Funding 2011-2012

Open Doors Report 2012

Tuition On The Rise

BLS: Tuition increases outpace all other areas

Choosing a School

Critical decision point for every studentBe realistic about budget and goalsFactors:

Rural v. Urban Public v. Private Community College v. Four-Year Institution

Be transparent!

Budgets: I-20 Costs

UNDERGRADUATE 2013-14Standard (Non-resident tuition rate)Tuition $26,248Living Expenses $13,920Insurance $1,432Total $41,600

How do you evaluate the cost of living for the I-20? Is a complete summary of costs outlined to prospective students? Weighing recruitment versus advising

Transparency on costs is key.

Budgeting – Be Complete

Educational costs (tuition & fees, registration, orientation, books, supplies, etc.)

Room & board Health insurance Transportation Other necessities Personal spending money

www.internationalstudentloan.com/resources/how-to-budget-for-school.php www.nafsa.org/_/File/_/appendix_e.xls

Pre-Arrival and Early Arrival!

Airfare / transportation Potential interviews Visa / SEVIS fees Deposits (housing, apartment, etc.) Getting settled (purchasing items

such as bedding, pillows, etc.) Lodging & food Athletes/others arrival before semester begins

Cafeteria & meals Dormitories Transportation

Post-Arrival: Orientation

Remind students of all costs and expenses. Inform students of all payment deadlines Talk to students about payment options and/or

payment plans Offer budgeting workshops Warn students about possible budget risk factors Inform students where to go for help

Budget Risk Factors

Exchange rate fluctuations Interruption of funds (life changing event,

political factors, natural disasters, etc. ) Inability to stick to a budget Withdrawal of funds from sponsor Loss of scholarship Unexpected costs (injuries & accidents, illness,

sudden need to go home, etc.)

Post Arrival: Additional Resources

Clothing Coat sales, shoe drives, thrift stores, second hand stores, garage

sales, donations, seasonal sales, friendship and/or host families Furniture

Garage sales, donations, Recycle, second hand stores, thrift stores, friendship families and/or host families, international student associations (i.e. ASU Taiwanese Student Association – TSA)

https://m.facebook.com/groups/102111379833953 Food

Churches, community lunches/dinners, volunteer work, food drives, friendship families and/or host families

Supplies Faculty and staff, classrooms, classmates, bookstores, libraries

Bicycles & other gear Campus co-op, student activities office, second hand stores,

thrift stores, donations, garage sales

Student Employment

Let your students know of the employment possibilities such as:

On campus student jobs/ work study positions Separate from federal work study program/FAFSA 20 hours/week

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) Full-time Part-time

Optional Practical Training (OPT) One year of work

Student Employment at GWCC Student employment – annual budget line $23,000 -

$26,000 Restricted to international F-1 students Employs 3-5 students per Fall & Spring Semesters for10 –

20 hours, & 1-3 students for summer semester 20 – 40 hours.

Provides supplemental income Assist in the acculturation process Exposes student to additional resources on campus

Scholarships Student leadership opportunities Outreach events

Increases F-1 student retention

Student Employment at GWCC International Student Peer Mentor Program

Significant component of student employment program Supports International Student Club Promotes student engagement in extracurricular activates on

campus Promotes student success

Student Employment at GWCC International Student Peer Mentor Program

Supports student leadership development Supports international student services Promotes international student visibility on campus

Student Commencement Speaker, May 2013Peer Mentors

Student Employment at GWCC

Who Benefits – Stakeholders Students Workers (F-1) College Community

International Students Employees Strengths Value the opportunity to earn income & gain work experience Strong work ethics Multi lingual & multi cultural, valuable skills needed to provide

services to a diverse student population

Supports Internationalization of Campus Their input/voices are heard

Student Employee of the Year

2012-2013For Excellence Job

Performance

On Campus Financial Aid: Scholarships, Grants & Fellowships

Notify and explain to students the scholarship qualifications/deadlines How should they apply?

Are there any grants available? Are there possible sponsors? What fellowships can students apply for?

Scholarships & State Laws Challenges in Meeting Eligibility Requirements Arizona Immigration Law Facts HB2008 (See generally Arizona Revised Statutes §§1-501 and 1-502) Under this law passed in 2009, MCCCD, in administering any "federal public benefit" or "state or

local public benefit," must require each natural person who applies for the benefit to submit one of 12 specific types of documents to demonstrate lawful presence in the United States (see Acceptable Documents to Establish Lawful Presence). That person must also sign a sworn affidavit stating that the documents are true. Failure of an MCCCD employee who administers that MCCCD benefit to report "discovered violations of federal immigration law" is a class 2 misdemeanor. The employee's supervisor is also guilty of a class 2 misdemeanor if he or she knew of the failure to report, and failed to direct the employee to do so.

Only those with a lawful presence in the U.S. may qualify for MCCCD scholarships or federal financial aid. Any information you provide about your legal status when you apply for financial aid or scholarships may be subject to mandatory reporting to federal immigration authorities under Arizona law. This does not apply to applications for the private scholarship funds held in and distributed by the Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation.

SB1070 Proposition 300 (Citizenship/Legal Status )

Residency and Citizenship Information, Maricopa Community College, 2013, http://www.maricopa.edu/residency/

Who Can You Turn To: Institutional Support

Alumni Association(s) Can your alumni associations help you develop a

scholarship fund? International Clubs

Involvement on campus can include mobilizing clubs to raise funds for scholarships.

Student Organizations Many schools have international organizations (like a

Chinese student association) – can they help? Non-Profit Organizations Religious Groups Immigration Community

Connecting With Students

How do you get the message out for scholarships, workshops, drives, etc.?

Social media Listserves Website Other (boards, office)

External “Free” Money

Scholarships Grants Fellowships Assistantships

IEFA.org FundingUSStudy.org

External Resources for International Students

Additional Scholarship Resources

InternationalScholarships.com AbroadPlanet.com Edu.fastweb.com Bigfuture.collegeboard.org Other scholarship resources? Does anyone track successful

scholarship applicants?

Bridge the Gap: International Student Loans

• Stafford Loan• Perkins Loan• PLUS Loan

Which of these are available to an international student?

Bridge the Gap: International Student Loans

Private International Student Loans• Same as US students• Online application• Reasonable interest rates• Repayment and deferral options

• US co-signer required!

Compare Lenders for International Students

Interactive Forum

What award programs do you offer international students at your school and how do they work?

Interactive Forum

Does your school work with organizations in the community to support your international student population? Who? And how did you develop those relationships or programs?

Interactive Forum

What are some challenges that your international students face when it comes to financing their education?

Thank you!

Keith Clausenkclausen@envisageinternational.com

Envisage International

224 First Street

Neptune Beach, FL 32266

(904) 247-1387 ext 101

Raeann Nuneznunez@gatewaycc.edu

108 N. 40th Street

Phoenix, AZ 85034

602-286-8063