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  Study Abroad Home

Welcome to WKU

We pride ourselves on providing a rewarding experience for our incoming exchange students. Beyond your academic life, this includes making your transition to WKU as easy as possible.

Since you have decided to become part of WKU, it is now time to get working on all the forms and applications. Please don't be daunted by the forms and know that we are here to help you at every step.

First, and this is very important, send all your materials to my attention at WKU's Study Abroad & Global Learning office, and not directly to the offices involved, such as housing and admissions. My office will serve as your primary contact in all matters, so send it all to me and I will make sure it gets to the appropriate office. I will do the same with your home institution in order to keep things as smooth as possible.

Second, please follow the links below to find the things you will need to do now. If you cannot find what you're looking for, send an email right away to Jerry Barnaby.

Third, you will find SAGL many times in this process and this means Study Abroad & Global Learning office. Our mailing address and email are listed at the bottom of every page.

Fourth, you may want to learn more about WKU's international programs, which is found here.

Fifth and final, see the links to the left for more about international students at WKU.

Again, Welcome to WKU!

Jerry Barnaby, WKU's Study Abroad & Global Learning

> Special Program for our Partner Institutions

Step 1: Admissions

Step 2: Housing

Step 3: Meals

Step 4: Orientation

Step 5: MASTER Plan - FALL TERM ONLY

Step 6: Visa - J-1 visa

Step 7: Travel & Transportation

Step 7: Health Insurance

Step 8: TOPNET & Email

Step 9: Courses

Step 10: Visit Study Abroad & Global Learning Office

IMPORTANT: Send all forms directly to Study Abroad & Global Learning and we will deliver to the appropriate office to ensure your application is processed correctly. The mailing and email addresses are listed below.

Step 1: Admissions

If you're reading this, then your home institution has nominated you to attend WKU as an exchange student. Congratulations! Now the fun begins.

Here is the specific list of forms to submit to SAGL:

• International Student Application package

  UNDERGRADUDATE STUDENT: On the WKU Undergraduate Admission page you will find the application, checklist, questionnaire and financial certificate. Print all these, complete, sign, and scan/email to SAGL.

  GRADUATE STUDENT: On the WKU Graduate Admission page you will find the forms. Print all these, complete, sign, and scan/email to SAGL.

• To be admitted as an exchange student, complete the appropriate admissions application form (graduate or undergraduate) and scan/email the application to the SAGL office. For Exchange Students, the application fee is waived. Always indicate that you are an Exchange student.

• ** It is essential that your application form matches exactly your name in your passport, so we will need a scan of your passport and your city of birth for WKU to provide the form you will need to apply for your visa. **

• Current bank statement - The US State Department requires the financial statement show at least US$5,000 per semester in your bank account and a statement must be included in your application package.

• WKU housing application (see below) or Off-campus housing options

• Most current transcripts

• Copy of passport (page with photo and name)

• J-1 Insurance statement - You need to complete and return this form so we can get the visa process started:

You will find the application links on the International Student & Scholar Services site. ISSS handles visa and other needs for incoming students. Below, you will find links to all the things you will need to do BEFORE you arrive.

Although the ISSS web site refers to the F-1 visa, you will apply for a J-1 visa since you will be a "visiting scholar." However, you should follow the same process as F-1 students for your housing, meals, etc, so the ISSS link will be of great importance to you.

IMPORTANT: Send all forms directly to Study Abroad & Global Learning and we will deliver to the appropriate office to ensure your application is processed correctly. The mailing and email addresses are listed below.

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Step 2: Housing

There are many housing options. However, we encourage you to consider on-campus housing first. WKU offers an international Living Learning Community that pairs US students with international students. Your housing application will be routed to this option unless you indicate you'd rather choose otter off-campus options.

Of course, you may choose to live off-campus and some options are listed on the ISSS web site.

If choosing the on-campus option, please complete the application at this link and return to SAGL. For exchange students, the application fee is waived, so be sure to indicate this on the application form.

> International Student & Scholar Services (more information)

IMPORTANT: Send all forms directly to Study Abroad & Global Learning and we will deliver to the appropriate office to ensure your application is processed correctly. The mailing and email addresses are listed below.

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Step 3: Meals

There are several meal plan options from WKU Dining. If you live on campus, and meet certain qualifications, you may be required to have a meal plan. If you do not want a meal plan, please contact Study Abroad & global Learning.

You may choose to maintain money through Big Red Dollars or Meal Plan Dollars. This is done through WKU's ID Center. You will get your WKU ID during the Orientation as listed below.

This is completed on-line or when you arrive, so plan to have funds to pay for this at the time of application.

> International Student & Scholar Services (more information)

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Step 4: Orientation

The ISSS will host orientation on January 12-13, 2010. All incoming international students should attend this orientation. We will have break out sessions for J-1 visa holders who are exchange students, so you will have a chance to meet the Study Abroad & Global Learning staff.

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Step 5: M.A.S.T.E.R. Plan -FALL ONLY

MASTER Plan takes place the week before classes start and gives you chance to learn about WKU and meet US students. Meals are provided and you will move into your fall residence. If you are living off campus, you are highly encourage to participate in MASTER Plan as well.

IMPORTANT: Send all forms directly to Study Abroad & Global Learning and we will deliver to the appropriate office to ensure your application is processed correctly. The mailing and email addresses are listed below.

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Step 6: Visa - J-1

Once you are admitted to WKU as a visiting scholar, WKU will issue a DS-2019. This is the form you will need to set an appointment with the U.S. Embassy or Consulate to apply for your J-1 visa. It is essential that your information be correct of the DS-2019, so we will need a scan of your passport and your city of birth (as stated above).

For the DS2019, you will need to provide other key information that should have been provided with your admission application. This includes the financial statement showing at least US$5,000 per semester in your bank account. This is a US Department of State requirement for visa applications.

The SAGL office will send your application to WKU Admissions office. An acceptance letter will be generated and sent to the ISSS office. ISSS will issue the DS-2019. All this will be returned to SAGL and we will mail the material to you or to our contact at your home institution. SAGL will send you an email about this as well.

Once you get the DS2019, it is time to set an appointment and get your visa. Please keep us informed on the status of your visa, especially once you get it!

Soon after, you will receive a series of emails from ISSS to make sure you are getting ready. These message are found on the ISSS site and you should read these carefully.

This is where things can get a bit confusing. The ISSS office will handle your visa process and orientation, but SAGL will be your primary contact. Please communicate to both offices about any VISA issues. And make sure to indicate that your an exchange students and state your home institution in all emails. We often get students from a country or even university that are NOT on an exchange program, while you will be an exchange student. Please make this clear in all communications.

> International Student & Scholar Services (See "What do Expect at Your Visa Interview")

IMPORTANT: Send all forms directly to Study Abroad & Global Learning and we will deliver to the appropriate office to ensure your application is processed correctly. The mailing and email addresses are listed below.

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Step 7: Travel & Transportation

Once you have your visa, it is time to make your flight arrangements. Please let us know your itinerary as soon as you have it. Again, you will need to arrive before August 18, but we will have the summer housing reserved as early at August 16 if that helps in your travel plans.

Before your travel, please review the information provided by ISSS about arriving in the United STates.

Your arrival airport should be Nashville, Tennessee (BNA), which is about 70 minutes away from Bowling Green.

WKU will make arrangements for picking you up at Nashville according to your flight plan, so if there are any changes, please contact SAGL immediately. The office number is 270-745-5334 with office open from 8 am to 4:30 pm CDT. The Director's mobile number is 270-535-0579, and this is answered at all time.

Once in Bowling Green, SAGL or your host college will assist in getting you around for the first few days. Often incoming students need to purchase needed items, and we recognize that you won't b able to get around completely on your own for a few days.

WKU offers a shuttle to key places around town. This will be very useful. However, you will also meet for US students as well as other international students who have cars and can help in getting you around. You will find information on WKU's Shuttle here.

And the ISSS will serve as a great place to meet other students who can help you get around.

IMPORTANT: Send all forms directly to Study Abroad & Global Learning and we will deliver to the appropriate office to ensure your application is processed correctly. The mailing and email addresses are listed below.

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Step 7: Health Insurance

You must have health insurance while in the United States. This may be new for you, so WKU has an excellent program to ensure you have the health insurance you need while in the US. Find the link for J-1 scholars on the ISSS site.

> International Student & Scholar Services (J-1)

> Academic Health Plans Application (required)

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Step 8: TOPNET & Email

TOPNET is your link to all your WKU information... transcripts, billing, meals, housing. Once you are admitted, you will be issued an 800-number as your student ID. Use this in all your WKU matters. Use it to log into TOPNET. The first time you log in, you will be asked to change your password. This is very important and you should make sure it is something difficult for someone else to use. Identity theft is a major concern on university campuses, so guard your password carefully and never let anyone else use it.

You will also use you 800# in the campus computer labs and for printing.

You will also be issued a WKU email address that will look like this... firstname.lastname@wku.edu. You may have your preferred email through some other provider, but you must go to TOPNET and update your information so all important messages sent to your WKU account will forward to your personal account. Often students forget this and an important message is send to the WKU account, never to be seen by the student, and you are dropped from all your classes. Don't let this happen, so check your TOPNET as soon as you get your 800#.

IMPORTANT: Send all forms directly to Study Abroad & Global Learning and we will deliver to the appropriate office to ensure your application is processed correctly. The mailing and email addresses are isted below.

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Step 9: Courses

As an exchange student, you are most likely able to take the full range of WKU courses in every area of study. However, many upper level classes require pre-requisites and you will need to show that you've complete such courses. The simplest way is to provide the syllabi (in English) of the relevant courses. The earlier you do this the better. During the Orientation, you will have chance to meet the department heads or advisors from the department in which you wish to study.

> TOPNET - search for courses and your status

IMPORTANT: Send all forms directly to Study Abroad & Global Learning and we will deliver to the appropriate office to ensure your application is processed correctly. The mailing and email addresses are listed below.

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Step 10: Visit Study Abroad & Global Learning Office

>> Meet the Staff

And don't forget about us. We're here to help in all ways possible, so don't hesitate to contact us or to come by and say hello. We want to know how you're doing and make sure that all your questions as answered and that if you are having problems, you are not left alone to solve them.

We also want to share your pictures with everyone via either your Facebook or the SAGL web site. So keep us up-to-date with your success at WKU.

And, watch for announcements on the SAGL web site and calendar for events. We hope you will help us teach the campus about your country and university so that we can make sure the exchange program stays healthy for both WKU and your home.

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