New rule permits US schools to increase number of designated school officials / Dependents of international students can also enroll in classes

The final rule adjusting the DSO limit and allowing part-time F-2/M-2 study was published in today's Federal Register

https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2015/04/29/2015-09959/adjustments-to-limitations-on-designated-school-official-assignment-and-study-by-f-2-and-m-2 You can read more about the rule on the SEVP Study in the States website at http://studyinthestates.dhs.gov/2015/04/new-rules-permit-more-designated-school-officials-and-offer-study-for-dependents. This is excellent news for schools with large student populations to add additional DSO’s. Schools can add their additional DSO’s with the new SEVIS release scheduled for some time in June. The rule allowing less than full time F-2 or M-2 study gives dependents the opportunity to engage in the academic community. According to the Student in the States website, F-2 and M-2 dependents can still participate up to full-time in vocational or recreational studies, such as hobbies. If an F-2 or M-2 wants to enroll in a full course of academic study, however, they must apply for and obtain approval to change their nonimmigrant classification to F-1, J-1 or M-1. 

PIER Newsletter : April 28, 2015

Welcome PIER members. Going forward PIER will mail out information in the form of a bi-monthly newsletter to all PIER members. In the future, this letter will be posted to the PIER website.
If you would like to announce a job or submit a resource or event for the PIER Newsletter, please email to piergroupsd@gmail.com for consideration. The PIER Board will take all submissions under consideration for posting in the PIER Newsletter.

Thank you,

The PIER Board

In This Issue:
Announcements
PIER Chair Announcement
PIER Announcement

PIER Chair Announcement

Dear PIER Members,

We had a very informative and interactive PIER meeting at Grossmont College on April 15. Thank you to Yumiko Hudson and Grossmont College for hosting our meeting. We will post the PIER Meeting minutes and presentation to current PIER Members by May 15, 2015. Recently SEVP sent out “Broadcast Message 1504-04.” SEVP will be mailing notices to active F and M students who do not have a valid SEVIS I-901 Fee payment in their record. To comment on this Broadcast Message, please email SEVP@ice.dhs.gov with “Broadcast Message 1504-04 Comment” entered in the subject line. To ask questions about the SEVIS I-901 fee email fmjfee.sevis@ice.dhs.gov. PIER advises members to contact SEVP at sevp@ice.dhs.gov for the most up to date information concerning any questions they may have concerning SEVP policy and practices. There are several questions from PIER members to SEVP and their answers. Please email PIER at piergroupsd@gmail.com for a copy of these questions if you did not receive PIER Newsletter via email.

PIER Announcement
PIER 2014 - 2015 Meeting Dates
All Meeting Times are at 2:00 pm with the exception of the PIER Workshop
June 17 – Location: USD

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PIER Board
Chair - Kasey McCarthy, Gemological Institute of America Kasey.McCarthy@gia.edu
Vice - Chair - Yasue O'Neill, Palomar College Yoneill@palomar.edu
Treasurer - Martha Delgadillo, EC San Diego MarthaDelgadillo@ecenglish.com
Membership Coordinator - LyKai Johnson, EC San Diego lykaijohnson@ecenglish.com
Secretary - Eric Abutin, National University eabutin@nu.edu
Web Coordinator - Cadence Ellis, National University cellis@nu.edu

PIER Newsletter : April 14, 2015

Welcome PIER members. Going forward PIER will mail out information in the form of a bi-monthly newsletter to all PIER members. In the future, this letter will be posted to the PIER website.
If you would like to announce a job or submit a resource or event for the PIER Newsletter, please email to piergroupsd@gmail.com for consideration. The PIER Board will take all submissions under consideration for posting in the PIER Newsletter.

Thank you,

The PIER Board

In This Issue:
Announcements
PIER Chair Announcements
PIER Announcement

PIER Chair Announcement

Dear PIER Members,

Our next PIER Meeting is tomorrow, April 15th at Grossmont College. Attached to this email are the agenda, directions and your parking permit. Full instructions are in the PIER meeting agenda. If you did not receive your parking permit, please email me, the PIER Chair at piergroupsd@gmail.com and I will send as an attachment.

PIER is always looking for best ways to serve our members, please email the PIER Chair and Vice Chair at piergroupsd@gmail.com with your suggestions to make PIER meetings and the group to meet your needs as an international educator.

Would you like to receive the newsletters from NAFSA Region XII and NAFSA Region XII Southern District? You can sign up for the NAFSA Region XII Southern District and NAFSA Region XII newsletters to receive news about regional meetings, resources, job postings, travel grants and more. (You do not need to be a NAFSA member to join this mailing list). 

Follow the links below to sign up NAFSA Region XII Southern District Newsletter 

PIER Announcement

PIER 2014 - 2015 Meeting Dates
All Meeting Times are at 2:00 pm with the exception of the PIER Workshop
April 15 – Location: Grossmont College (see attached agenda, directions, and parking permit)
June 17 – Location: USD
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PIER Board
Chair - Kasey McCarthy, Gemological Institute of America Kasey.McCarthy@gia.edu
Vice - Chair - Yasue O'Neill, Palomar College Yoneill@palomar.edu
Treasurer - Martha Delgadillo, EC San Diego MarthaDelgadillo@ecenglish.com
Membership Coordinator - LyKai Johnson, EC San Diego lykaijohnson@ecenglish.com
Secretary - Eric Abutin, National University eabutin@nu.edu
Web Coordinator - Cadence Ellis, National University cellis@nu.edu

PIER Newsletter: April 1, 2015

Welcome PIER members. Going forward PIER will mail out information in the form of a bi-monthly newsletter to all PIER members. In the future, this letter will be posted to the PIER website.

If you would like to announce a job or submit a resource or event for the PIER Newsletter, please email to piergroupsd@gmail.com for consideration. The PIER Board will take all submissions under consideration for posting in the PIER Newsletter.

Thank you,

The PIER Board


In This Issue:
Announcements
PIER Chair Announcements
PIER Announcement
PIER Chair Announcements

Dear PIER Members,

I know many of you are preparing for the end of the Spring semester and quarter while the IEP’s are preparing for their busy Summer ahead. For those of you returning from your Spring break, welcome back and for those of you about to go on Spring break, enjoy your time off. There are two more PIER meetings and then we complete our 2014-2015 meetings until September when our meetings resume.

Our next PIER Meeting is April 15 at Grossmont College. Agenda, directions and your parking permit have been sent out via emails. Full instructions are in the PIER meeting agenda. If you did not receive your parking permit, please email me, the PIER Chair at piergroupsd@gmail.com and I will send as an attachment.

PIER is always looking for best ways to serve our members, please email the PIER Chair and Vice Chair at piergroupsd@gmail.com with your suggestions to make PIER meetings and the group to meet your needs as an international educator.

Brazil Scientific Mobility Program (BSMP) NAFSA Discussion NAFSA will have a one-hour Collegial Conversation discussing the Brazil Scientific Mobility Program (BSMP) to learn
how several institutions are supporting BSMP students, administering the program, and enjoying its positive impact within the campus community. Join the NAFSA discussion on April 22, at 3:00 p.m. (EDT). The BSMP program provides Brazil’s top students with the life-changing opportunity to study in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields at colleges and universities in the United States. Set-up an email reminder to join this online chat by clicking on the link below: http://www.nafsa.org/Connect_and_Network/Join_a_Conversation/Supporting_Students_on_the_Brazil_Scientific_Mobility_Program/

PIER Announcement
PIER 2014 - 2015 Meeting Dates
All Meeting Times are at 2:00 pm with the exception of the PIER Workshop
April 15 – Location: Grossmont College (see attached agenda, directions, and parking permit)
June 17 – Location: USD
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PIER Board
Chair - Kasey McCarthy, Gemological Institute of America Kasey.McCarthy@gia.edu
Vice - Chair - Yasue O'Neill, Palomar College Yoneill@palomar.edu
Treasurer - Martha Delgadillo, EC San Diego MarthaDelgadillo@ecenglish.com
Membership Coordinator - LyKai Johnson, EC San Diego lykaijohnson@ecenglish.com
Secretary - Eric Abutin, National University eabutin@nu.edu
Web Coordinator - Cadence Ellis, National University cellis@nu.edu