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.

 

Guide for International Credentials

This document provides some basic guidelines that you may find useful when helping students with international educational credentials.

https://www.collegetransition.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Advising-Students-with-Foreign-Credentials-5-21.pdf

 

 

Linda Robinson

International Students - F-1 Enrollment Requirements / Spring 2023

I reached out to our international coordinators about a student and Heidi sent me this helpful information. 

• Any “blended” class (one that is part DL or Remote and part in-person) always counts as ‘on-site’ for F-1 students.

• This academic year (22/23) we continue to have ‘flexibilities’.  We reported our institution as ‘hybrid’ so almost all students can have more than the usual limit of one DL (or Remote) class.  

However, all students must have an in-person class (best if it is not a blended one).  

• Students who started in a school in F-1 status before March 2020, when the pandemic hit, can have all online classes if needed.

• I recommend to students that they document, document, document any need to be outside of the usual limits so they can also explain it in the future if needed.

Brenda M. Crist M.Ed./ NCC

Update Remote/Online Classes Guidance for International Students

The NEW remote/online classes guidance applies to continuing F1 students who were actively enrolled at Montgomery College or any other U.S. school on March 9, 2020, and have continuously complied with the terms of their nonimmigrant status. 

F1 students who enrolled AFTER March 9, 2020, must adhere to F1 regulation of limiting to maximum 3 credits remote/online toward the required full-time enrollment.

https://www.montgomerycollege.edu/international-and-esl-students/international/current-students/index.html

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

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

·         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

Update on AACRAO Transcript Evaluation Service

As you have heard, AACRAO has stopped providing individual transcript evaluation service beginning August 15, 2016.  We will continue to accept AACRAO evaluations completed before August 15, but students cannot send their transcript(s) to AACRAO for evaluation now.  Ernest has agreed we are sticking with only WES for now.  I’ll let you know if/when we’ve found a replacement for AACRAO.  Please share this update with your staff.

Attached is the updated information sheet for students.  Please replace the one you currently have on your rack with this updated one.  Thank you.

The Transfer Credits to MC Web page is also updated: http://cms.montgomerycollege.edu/edu/department2.aspx?id=15602 to reflect this update.

Phuoc Dang, M.Ed.

Transcript Evaluation Program Manager

Admissions and Enrollment Services

Montgomery College

51 Mannakee Street

Student Services Building, Room 114

Rockville, MD 20850

Phone: 240-567-5107

transcriptevaluation@montgomerycollege.edu

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

International Students and English Proficiency at UMD

Below is a follow up to inquiries regarding international students and English proficiency at UMD. Please share with students who are receiving the associates degree prior to transferring to UMD. Students who do not meet the conditions below will need to take the TOEFL (even if they completed EN101/EN102).

Best,

Andrea

From: Colleen M Tomlinson [mailto:ctomlin1@umd.edu]
Sent: Tuesday, April 08, 2014 12:53 PM
To: Milo, Andrea
Cc: LaChelle Louise Stamps; Michael Anthony Robinson
Subject: TOEFL Question

Hello Andrea,

Regarding the requirements for proof of English proficiency, there are few factors that are considered to determine if applicants have met the requirements. But before I list the requirements, I want to address your specific question.  

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 schools 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.

GPA without AELP Courses

Reminder:

If you get a student who is transferring and applying to a competitive program, internship, or scholarship, who has done well in all their courses, except for the AELP, please be aware that Kim McGettigan from the VP/Provost Office has offered to write letters for the students explaining what the cumulative GPA is when the AELP classes are not included. It is recommended to verify/calculate the GPA without the AELP prior to referring students to Kim.

McGettigan, Kim
Administrative Manager
Office of the VP/Provost
Takoma Park/Silver Spring, ST/306
240-567-1311
Kim.McGettigan@montgomerycollege.edu

International Transcript Evaluations

As of January 1, 2013, our office only accepts foreign transcript evaluations from WES and ACCRAO.  These two agencies have been very reliable in providing valid evaluations. Please send any questions to the College Registrar.

New Student Orientation- Spring 2013

New International Students who have (or will have) a Montgomery College form I-20 MUST attend a New International Student Orientation session AND
"NSO" (New Student Orientation) for all students new to that campus - presented by the Office of Student Life on each campus

For SPRING 2013 - Mark your calendars:
New International Student Orientations will be:
Germantown campus: January 23, 2013, 2:30 to 5:30pm
Rockville campus: January 24, 2013, 9:30am to 12:30pm
Takoma Park/Silver Spring campus: January 10, 2013, 10:00am to 12:00noon
http://cms.montgomerycollege.edu/EDU/Department2.aspx?id=43174

Regular Student Orientation for TP/SS will be
January 15 @9
January 16 @12
January 17 @5
All New Student Orientation sessions will be held in the Cultural Arts Center, Theatre 1 student should call to reserve a spot: 240-567-1482