New International Student Coordinator

Heather Dellinger joined MC on February 19 as the International Student Coordinator. Prior to joining the college, she worked as an international student counselor at the Community College of Baltimore County and as the international enrollment manager for an English language program at Howard Community College. She will split her time between the Germantown and Rockville campuses with office hours on the following days and times:

 

Monday (walk-ins) & Thursday (appointments), 12pm-2pm, Rockville campus, SV 307

Tuesday (walk-ins) & Wednesday (appointments), 10:30am-12:30pm, Germantown campus, SA 257

 

She can be reached at heather.dellinger@montgomerycollege.edu or 240-567-1975.

 

UM English Proficiency Policy Change for Students Whose Native Language is not English

In previous years, students who indicated on a UM Transfer Application that their first language was not English were able to ask MC counselors to send UM a brief statement to confirm that they were in the process of graduating from MC during the semester that they were applying for Transfer Admission and UM granted those students a Waiver to the English Proficiency Test requirement.  This informal policy between MC and UM is no longer in effect.

 

Students whose native language is not English, regardless of citizenship, now need to review the UM English Language Proficiency Page https://admissions.umd.edu/apply/english-language-proficiency to determine whether they qualify for a Potential Waiver (shown below but you should also refer students directly to the Proficiency Page for the most accurate information):

 

UM Potential Waivers for English Proficiency Requirement

While a passing English proficiency test score is the only absolute way a student can meet the English language proficiency requirement, we may consider waiving the English proficiency test requirement, if a student has completed one of the following:

• Four years at a U.S. high school without English as a Second Language (ESL),

• Associate, bachelor’s or master’s degree earned from a regionally accredited U.S. institution,  [MC note:  by “earned”, this means that the degree must be stamped as completed on the institution’s transcript at the time of application]

• 55+ credits [showing as completed, not in progress] from a regionally accredited U.S. institution with coursework equivalent to English Compositions 1 and 2, or

• English is your primary language and you have a completed high school or university degree earned from one of the following countries or territories¹:

English-speaking countries
Antigua Australia Bahamas Barbados Belize Bermuda British Virgin Islands Cameroon2 Canada3 Cayman Islands Dominica	The Gambia Ghana Grenada Guyana Ireland Jamaica Kenya Lesotho Liberia Montserrat Namibia New Zealand Nigeria	Sierra Leone South Africa St. Lucia St. Vincent Swaziland Tanzania Trinidad and Tobago Turks and Caicos Islands U.S. Virgin Islands Uganda United Kingdom Zambia Zimbabwe

1. Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens, but an official English proficiency score is required.
2. English proficiency test is required for the French system only.
3. English speaking provinces only.

---

For students who do not qualify for a Potential Waiver, they must take one English Language Proficiency Test:

 

UM’s Accepted English Proficiency Tests

1. Duolingo English Test (DET)   [MC note:  cost is $59; test results are given in 2 days; Duolingo offers unlimited free practice tests] 
   UMD accepts official scores from the Duolingo English Test, which can be taken online and on-demand. UMD passing score: 120
2. International English Language Testing System (IELTS) [MC note:   The cost to take IELTS in the USA ranges between $245–255 USD]
   UMD accepts official IELTS and IELTS Indicator scores.  UMD passing score: 7
3. Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)  [MC note:   The cost of the TOEFL iBT is $255]
   UMD accepts official TOEFL and TOEFL iBT (Home Edition) scores. At this time, we are not accepting TOEFL superscores known as MyBest Scores.  UMD passing score: 95

This is what UM’s Pre-Transfer Advisors Leslie Lindeman llindema@umd.edu and Yenti Sunarto yentigs@umd.edu say to students who ask about UM’s English Language Proficiency Requirement:

If English is not your native language, regardless of your citizenship, the Office of Undergraduate Admissions requires verification of your proficiency in English through one of the tests or potential waivers listed on this website: https://admissions.umd.edu/apply/english-language-proficiency. 

To determine if you are eligible for a waiver based on your situation, please contact the Office of Undergraduate Admissions directly: ApplyMaryland@umd.edu.  Use the subject line "Transfer Student from Montgomery College English Proficiency".  Otherwise, plan to take one of the tests, such as Duolingo, before applying for transfer admission.

UM Pre-Transfer Advising Page specifically for MC Students:  https://sites.google.com/umd.edu/mc2umd/home

---

Thank you to Jan Shapiro who alerted us to this permanent change in policy –

Anne Schleicher, Part-Time Counselor
Montgomery College Online Advising Services

F-1/international Online/Remote Requirements

Hello colleagues,

Thank you for working with our international students.  As you may have heard, with the official end of the COVID Public Health Emergency, government regulations and operations are returning to ‘normal’.  We have had confirmation that the regulations for international students who must maintain full time enrollment to keep their status (F-1 and M-1 students who have a form I-20 from Montgomery College, and some other international students with parameters established by their own governments for funding or to be considered “dependents” of carriers of some other visa types once they are over the age of 21) have returned to the pre-COVID requirements: a maximum of one class or 3 credits of online study as part of the usual full time load.  Since we have several classes that are more or less than 3 credits, and we use Billing Hours to determine full time, we have previously used clarification from our government partners that the pertinent information was to be certain the preponderance of courses have a face-to-face component.  That preponderance being “9 credits”.

We sent the below [ ] to all F-1 students on April 24^th.   The final decision to return to the Pre-COVID requirements was issued last Friday so another email will go to students this week (with hope they will read it now that finals are over 😊 ):

[ During COVID, F-1 students have had “flexibilities” to enroll in more than the usual number of Distance or Online courses.  Since the United States’ government declared an end to the COVID National Emergency this month, those flexibilities may expire.

Plan your Fall Registration based on the original regulations; you should register for at least 9 credits of “face to face” classes (remember your 12 Billing Hour minimum for full time).  Under the regulations: Montgomery College classes listed as “Blended” are “face to face”.  Montgomery College “Remote” classes are not “face to face”.  In 2022 an extension of the COVID “flexibilities” was only implemented at the end of May so we might not have updates before you register for Fall.  We will post any updates on our Current F-1 Students webpage as soon as we receive them (see Current Students | Montgomery College, Maryland)

Please contact a Counselor or Program Adviser to help you select the best courses for you, contact your International Coordinators office at I20questions@montgomerycollege.edu with other questions. ]

Thank you all!!

Heidi Russell-Kalkofen, MEd

International Student Coordinator, Rockville and Germantown Campuses (pronouns: she/her/hers)

Please contact our Main Office Email I20questions@montgomerycollege.edu for additional information and to request appointments
Please see current schedule for Walk In and Appointments at https://www.montgomerycollege.edu/international-students/resources-and-support/international-student-office.html

Office webpage: www.montgomerycollege.edu/InternationalStudents

Montgomery College is ranked the 7^th best Community College in the United States with the 6^th greatest international population!

 

F1 Extensions and Below Full Time Guidance - Fall 2020

Last year we created a form to help the Counselors in working with F-1 students on Below Full Time and Extension of time to graduate issues.

We have now created this as a fillable form that you can all email to our main office email.

The form itself is on our webpage as part of the instructions for students who need to extend the graduation date on their I-20.  (also saved to the Counseling One Drive - Counseling (CW) Discpline - Documents\Advising Docs\F1)

We are piloting a program to focus “Extension” mostly on students who are not just finishing ESL or ELAP and moving on normally.  We will want those students to work with a counselor, but not to feel as time pressured.  A true “Extension” is for a students who will not get finished in the time we originally estimated (or, perhaps, that their financial sponsor originally promised support for).

The first “Your I-20 is ending this semester, begin planning” email went out over the weekend.  At the end of each of the next 3 months, emails will become increasingly urgent as we approach the deadline (early December).

Thank you for all of your help and support for our international students!

Heidi Russell-Kalkofen,  MEd

International Student Coordinator, Rockville and Germantown Campuses

Working Remotely at this time – please contact I20questions@montgomerycollege.edu for additional information and appointment schedules

 

F-1 students - Fall 2020 registration

See email below from Heidi:

We have received clarification, emailed current F-1s, posted at https://www.montgomerycollege.edu/international-and-esl-students/international/information-during-covid-19.html, and will tell new transfer students the following:

Montgomery College F-1 students have options to register for Fall semester:

• If you are currently inside of the US for the Fall semester, you must:

1. register Full Time (12 or more billing hours), or have written permission from your Coordinator if you must be below full time, and
2. continue to make normal progress toward your degree - just like always.

You DO have the option to register for as many classes as you need that are officially 'on-line' (called Distance Learning at MC).

The classes you register for that are listed with a physical campus location (G=Germantown, R=Rockville, T=Takoma Park/Silver Spring) are called 'on-site' and will probably start the Fall semester in Structured Remote (meeting at the regularly listed class days and times but online via Blackboard or Zoom). You are welcome to take those classes and see Resilient MC’s page (PDF, ) to understand what will happen when we come back onto campus. **********

See below

• If you are, or will be outside of the US during the Fall semester, you have a few choices:

1. you may register full time for all Distance Learning classes and not plan to return until Spring semester of 2021.
2. you may register full time for 'on-site' classes (with or without any Distance classes) but, you need to be ready to return to the US if your classes go back onto the College campus.
3. you may register less than full time and not maintain your F-1 status. If you are out of the US that may not matter during the Fall term, but you may not be able to return for the Spring semester if you are not full time in Fall.

 ******* [JUST updated after Dr. Pollard's announcement to say "Most classes will meet remotely for the full semester" and including the link to the list of classes meeting on site.]

 Thanks!  Students are trying to decide if they will stay or travel or even take some courses at other institutions offering (especially labs) on site.   I'd like to encourage them to stay with MC and help them be successful.

 Thanks!

 Heidi Russell-Kalkofen, MEd

International Coordinator, Montgomery College

Currently Working Remotely

Also see our website at www.montgomerycollege.edu/InternationalStudents

Email general questions to I20questions@montgomerycollege.edu

Expanded International Credit Evaluation Companies

On August 30, Seth Kamen send the message below to MC Counselors and Advisors.  It bears repeating for counselors and advisors meeting with new students who have international credits to be evaluated and hopefully accepted at Montgomery College.

Unfortunately, there is not one specific international credit evaluation company that is best to recommend for students who want to transfer later.  As you can see from the list of transfer schools in the message below, students who eventually want to transfer to UM College Park should select a course-by-course evaluation from ECE rather than from WES.  While it is impossible to cover all possible transfer schools with one evaluation, it is still worth asking a prospective student if they have a transfer school in mind when they arrive at MC.

Subject: Expanded International Credit Evaluation Companies

All,

Effective Fall 2018, Montgomery College is expanding its approved international credit evaluations companies to include:

• World Education Services (WES)
• Josef Silny & Associates (JSA)
• Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE)

This expansion will align our requirements with the requirements at many of our four-year partner institutions. We recommend that students try to use a company that will be accepted by both MC and their intended transfer institution. This will allow them to use the same evaluation for both admission processes, saving both the time and money of a new evaluation.  

To aid you, here is a list of companies accepted by some of our partner institutions:

• University of Maryland, College Park: ECE or JSA
• UMBC - UMBC only accepts evaluations from Ed Perspectives or FCSA. Students will need to have their transcript re-evaluated by one of those organizations.
• UMUC – WES [note that UMUC does not issue F-1 visas for international students]
• University of Baltimore – WES
• UMES – WES, ECE
• Salisbury University – WES, ECE or JSA
• Towson University – WES, ECE
• George Washington University – WES, ECE or JSA
• Howard University – WES
• UM School of Nursing – WES, ECE or JSA
• Trinity Washington University – WES, ECE or JSA
• Hood College – WES
• McDaniel College – WES
• Bowie State University – WES, ECE
• St. Mary’s College of Maryland – WES
• Coppin State University – WES, JSA
• Goucher College – WES, JSA
• Morgan State University – WES, ECE

Our Credit for Prior Learning website has been updated to reflect this information. Please let me know if you have any questions.

Thank you,

Seth

_______________________________________________________

Mr. Seth Marc Kamen, MBA

Director of Transfer and Prior Learning Design

Office of the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs

Montgomery College

Phone: 240.567.4255

Cell: 240.687.2262

Web: www.montgomerycollege.edu/transfer

Flywire Service - International Tuition Payments

Montgomery College has partnered with Flywire for international tuition payments.

This services provides students and their families a cost effective and convenient method of making payments to Montgomery College in foreign currencies.

Flywire allows you to:

·         Pay from any country and any bank

·         Save money on bank fees and ensure your payment is received in full

·         Obtain excellent foreign exchange rates with a best rate guarantee

·         Receive a piece of mind with 24x7 multilingual customer support

·         Track your payment from start to finish

Foreign Credit and Admissionand International Admissions Contact at UM

UM is still doing their own evaluation of foreign credit.  So students applying to UM would need to forward them an official academic transcript from the student’s sending international institution in addition to the English translation of the work at the time of application.

Mrs. Tamarie Tomaski,  is now the Assistant Director of International Admissions and can answer questions regarding international admissions.

Tamarie Natalie Tomaski

ttomaski@umd.edu      

0130A Clarence M. Mitchell, Jr. Building

University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742-5235

7999 REGENTS DR

phone: +1 301 314 8385

TOEFL and UMD

"One of my students wanted to know if he could bypass the TOEFL if he applies before he completes his AA. He told me he got a B in EN 101 and an A in EN 102."

 Regarding the requirements for proof of English proficiency, there are few factors that are considered to determine if applicants have met the requirements. The Office of Undergraduate Admissions reserves the right to also consider each applicant on a case-by-case basis regarding satisfying the English Proficiency.

Earning an associate degree is one way a student can be exempted from the proof of English requirement. Thus, a student who is completing courses to receive his/her degree (at the time of the application) and applying for admission to UMD can submit such a letter from MC. The letter indicates that the applicant is currently enrolled at MC and upon successful completion of the courses s/he will receive an associate degree. It also specifies the semester and the year of enrollment, in addition to the graduation date. Additionally, the letter is generated by the graduation coordinator at MC.

Other ways an applicant can be excused from showing TOEFL or IELTS test, is if s/he completed at least middle and high school in the U.S. or from one of the English speaking countries (list is provided on website); moreover, UMD reserves the right to waive the proof of English requirements after employing an holistic review of the applicant’s file; and of course this is done on a case-by-case basis. If there are any further questions, please contact Associate Director Mr. Michael Robinson directly.

Foreign-Trained Nurses

Link to State Board information for foreign trained nurses-they will  need TOELFor  IELTS and foreign credential evaluation from  CGFNS (an agency that evaluates only nursing education from other countries)

Here is link to Maryland Nursing Board info for foreign trained nurses:

http://www.mbon.org/main.php?v=norm&p=0&c=licensure/foreign_lic_process.html

Here is link to CGFNS:  (post secondary nursing education abroad may want to start with CGFNS)

http://www.cgfns.org/

 
Basically, there are two separate situations with foreign educated nurses.    The Board of Nursing has identified specific courses that they must complete for licensure (the instructions are for this group). The best resource really is that they contact:

Sonia E. Mora, MPH, Manager Latino Health Initiative

Administrator, Welcome Back Center of Suburban Maryland

8630 Fenton Street, 10th Fl, Silver Spring, MD 20910

Tel: 240-777-1779; Fax: 240-777-3501 

Sonia.Mora@montgomerycountymd.gov

   Nurses who the Board of Nursing does not accept their educational preparation. These nurses need to complete the entire nursing program.

I hope that this helps.

Barb

Foreign Credentials

I:\SHARED\CB215 Doc Masters\Counseling & Advising Resources\foreigneducationalcredentials.pptx

Foreign-Trained Nurses Info

Outlines all the steps for Foreign Nursing Graduates…

I:\SHARED\CB215 Doc Masters\Counseling & Advising Resources\FOREIGN NURSE GRADUATES including revised TEAS v5 per BN July2011.docx

F-1 Students - Online Courses

From Heidi: F-1 students must be enrolled in at least 9 credits ‘face to face’ and any additional can be distance (as long as you get to a minimum of 12 billing total). Lots of students take more than one DL class.

F-1 Students - Extensions

From Heidi:

If a student is verifying information for an I-20, the major needs to match in Banner (it can be a double or second major – the student does not need to change majors).

What we need from our counselors is really two things on the letter:

1. Which semester we expect this student to complete the DEGREE program in the major they are asking about.
   
   If they need to add or change to have that major in Banner, please give them the form. If they wish to also complete a Certificate or Letter or Recognition those classes need to be incorporated into the degree program (they cannot be done afterward).
   
2. What is the reason they would not be done at the end of this current semester.
   
   Usually they started in AELP or they changed a major or the College sequencing or offering of the courses means they need an extra semester.
   
   If the reason is that the student had to repeat a course several times, has a gpa below 2.0 so cannot graduate, or avoided taking the Math placement test and now needs extra time just to do developmental Math, please be aware that will be a problem!
   
   In those cases the student may need additional counseling on transferring to a different educational environment, taking classes in summer or winter terms to ‘catch up’ or getting extra help or DSS testing.
   

F-1 Students in Pre-Health Sciences

From Heidi:
· We can only give them an extension to complete the courses they need to apply to the Health Science major.
· Once they have been accepted, they transfer to Takoma Park and get a whole new I-20.

F-1 Letters

With 700+ international students, approximately 250 F1 students will make appointments to discuss their individual circumstances, but only about 200 will need letters for their files. To ensure that this responsibility is equitably divided, we will follow the following guidelines.

1. Letters will only be written for students who have set up an appointment with a Counselor – not to be done during walk-in.
2. If a student approaches a Counselor, requesting a letter, the student must first go to 215. Either Nancy or Tonya will keep track; so no one is overwhelmed with this. Even if you’d like to set up the appointment yourself, first send the student to 215.

UMUC - Admission of F-1 Students

Effective December 14, 2009, University of Maryland University College (UMUC) stopped issuing I-20s to students who have or are seeking F-1 visas. This was adopted because the university’s online learning environment was not conducive to students on F-1 status, who must satisfy on-site registration and attendance requirements.

The International Student Advising (ISA) office will continue to fulfill all reporting requirements in SEVIS related to students who have gained full admission to UMUC and were issued I-20s prior to the effective date.

If you have any questions, please contact ISA at (240) 684-2116 or ISA@umuc.edu. .

Financial Aid Changes & Advising for SP10

AELP Students Receiving Financial Aid

For the SP10, AELP students with financial aid will be in the same bind as in the fall. For now, it is best to direct students taking AELP courses AND receiving financial aid to the Financial Aid Office to explore their options. This issue should be resolved once the proposed curriculum change is passed on February.

Financial Aid -- Credit versus Billing Hours

In the case of courses with more semester/contact hours than credits, the number of credits will be used to determine full-time status for financial aid.

For example: A student taking EN 101A, MA 180, and HS 201 will only be considered as having 10 hours.

CREDIT LEVEL EQUIVALENCY CHART

BOTTOMLINE: THE BEST POLICY IS TO DIRECT STUDENTS TO THE FINANCIAL AID OFFICE.

MTAP and F-1 Students

F-1 students must take a full time course load of 12 credits here at MC to maintain their F-1 status.

Since Montgomery College is issuing the I-20 for the F-1 students fsaATLAS monitors their compliance through Montgomery College. MTAP F-1 students are elibible to take a course at the University of Maryland at the 25% reduced rate but this must be in addition to at least 12 credits taken at Montgomery College.

If students have any questions regarding their I-20 or status please have them contact Montgomery College’s International Student Coordinators

UMCP - New International Admission Advisor

Colleen Tomlinson will be working with the review of international students, both freshmen and transfers.

She will also work closely with Theresa DiPaolo and the Transfer Credit Center on international transfer credits and will be glad to answer any question you might have about transfer credits from non-US post-secondary institutions.

She can be reached by email at ctomlin1@umd.edu.