Slater International Center - International Students and Scholars
International Student Handbook
Slater International Center
Slater International Center was named in honor of Mr. Ellis D. Slater and his wife Priscilla Slater '16, whose generosity made the Center possible. It was established in the hope of encouraging greater understanding among cultures through personal association and cooperative endeavor. Slater International Center is dedicated to keeping this dream alive.
Today, Slater International Center, or Slater, as it is fondly called by students and staff alike, is a focal point for international activities, for departments or organizations on campus which have an interest in international affairs, and for members of the College community who want to share and learn about other countries and cultures. Slater's comfortable and elegant ambiance lends itself to casual teas and dinners. Many students enjoy informal discussions with their friends as well as faculty members, hopefully fulfilling the vision with which Slater was created: to foster understanding among cultures.
Academic Life
Academic Support Services
Advising
Banking
Campus Employment
Contact Information
Counseling Services
Cross-registration
Culture Shock
Extra-curricular Activities
Financial Aid
Health Service
Holidays
Honor Code
Other Important Information
Religious Life
Residential Life
Slater International Association
Social Life
Taxes
Telephone
Transportation
Slater Center offers various services for individuals:
Slater sponsors and provides a comfortable meeting place to hold events such as:
Advising
Sylvia Hiestand is the advisor to international student sand groups on campus. She acts as an advocate for their special needs and interests. She also works closely with other departments to provide the variety of student services offered by the College for international students, such as personal and academic advising, health services, financial aid, student aid and career and internship opportunities.
Financial Aid
If you are on financial aid, you must renew your financial aid package every year. Applications are usually available in November, and are due by April for the following academic year. Please contact Student Financial Services if you have questions. Contact information for this and other departments on campus is provided at the back of this pamphlet. If campus employment is part of your financial aid package, you will get priorityover students applying for casual wage.
Taxes
All international students are required to file federal taxes even if they have no taxable income. Tax forms are due in mid-April, landforms can be obtained at Slater, the Clapp library, or online at www.irs.gov.Please visit the Controller's Office in Green Hall to fill out the proper paperwork. Be sure to attend all information sessions that concern federal and state regulations.
Holidays
International students are allowed to stay on campus during holidays and breaks. During the 10-day break between the end of the fall semester and the beginning of wintersession, students living in the United States are not allowed to stay on campus. However, students from abroad are allowed to stay. You should let Slater know that you want to stay during the break. However, the dining halls are closed during breaks, so you have to arrange for your own food.
If you want to stay on campus during the summer, you can stay in summer housing, but you have to pay a weekly rent. Last year, for instance, the summer housing rent was $90 per week.
Other Important Information
The following is a brief overview of topics on which there will be further information given out during orientation.
Transportation
In addition to public transport (commuter rail) there are different buses that service Wellesley. During the week, the Exchange bus runs between Wellesley and MIT, and is especially convenient for cross-registered students. On weekends, the bus makes stops in Cambridge and Boston, and on Saturdays there's a shuttle that goes to a nearby shopping Mall and General Cinema.
Telephone
Each residence hall room is equipped with telephone a jack for each of its occupants, so each person can have her own phone. The phone service is provided by AT&T, and there will be further information about setting up your voicemail and other features during orientation.
Banking
During orientation, representatives from various banks are present to talk to you about the options they provide for students. Most students choose to open an account with Bank of America since they have an ATM conveniently located in the student center. You are not obligated to bank with Bank of America, and there are other banks in town that you can also investigate.
Campus Employment
If you plan to work on campus, you will need to obtain a social security number. You must apply for it during the first week of classes going to one of the offices in Framingham or Boston. Students with anF-1 visa are not allowed to work off campus, but you can work on campus. If you are seeking employment, you can visit the Student Employment Office in Green Hall.
Slater International Association
Slater International Association is a student organization that organizes various events for international students and the wider College community. It also helps in the orientation for incoming students from abroad, and advocates for international students and their concerns. All international students are automatically members, and everyone is encouraged to get further involved in the Association's activities and running for positions in its executive board.
Culture Shock
This is a phenomenon that very few international students will escape. Beginning to live in a new culture is not an easy task.Each day you will discover something new about Americans' lifestyles and values,which might be very different from what you have grown accustomed to. For instance, some students might find students too competitive in America. This might be apparent in the concern students have about grades, and the apprehension about job placement. Another example is the emphasis on individualism, and the incessant need for one's own 'space'. You might find that Americans have an emphatic reliance on the self rather than others. The stress on time is something that can seem strange at first. Finally, you might find that your concept of friendship is very different from that of the people around you.
Negotiating all these challenges can seem daunting at first, but you will be surprised at how much you learn about yourself in the process - your own values,how you relate to others, etc. Of course, there are resources on campus,including Slater, available to help along the way.
One of the factors that make life in America rather difficult to grasp at first is the tremendous diversity within its population: diversity in culture,language, religion, viewpoints and orientation. This richness in the makeup of the American population will hopefully make it possible for you to adapt to life in the United States more easily.
Religious Life
The Office of Religious and Spiritual Life has adopted a multi-faith model of religious life at Wellesley. The religious life team consists of chaplains representing the major faiths in the student body. Multi-faith services are held a few times a year at the chapel. If your religion is not represented in the chaplaincy, feel free to talk to DeanKazanjian, and he can connect you to resources in the greater Boston area. For information about the religious groups on campus: http://www.wellesley.edu/RelLife/main/index.html
Health Service
The Health Service provides inpatient and outpatient medical care, and emphasizes education and outreach programs on various health topics that are relevant to women. It is open during working hours, and has a physician on call during evenings and weekends. In more serious cases, they offer referrals to physicians and hospitals off campus.
Counseling Services
Stone Center Counseling Services provide outpatient mental health care and have a counselor on duty for emergencies during nights and weekends.
Academic Life
Wellesley is a liberal arts college, and students are encouraged to choose courses in a variety of disciplines. You are not required to choose a major until the end of sophomore year, and it is a good idea to experiment and find out what areas you like best. It is not unusual for students to come in thinking they will major in one subject and then end up majoring in another subject, simply because trying out new things often reveals new interests or talents that you wouldn't have otherwise known you had.
The academic year is divided into two semesters. Throughout the semester, be prepared to receive an abundance of homework assignments, varying by course. There are two very tough weeks, close to the breaks during the semester, and the last week of final exams and papers can be particularly grueling. Meeting deadlines is crucial; otherwise, you might fall behind. Professors are usually strict about getting work turned in on time, unless there are extenuating circumstances.
During orientation week, there is an event called "Meet the Departments"where one or two professors from all the academic departments are present to talk to you, along with handouts and pamphlets with information about the department's offerings. This is a good time to find out more about the departments and the courses and programs they offer. The first-year dean can also advise you on courses, academic requirements, etc.
Finally, upperclasswomen are a great resource. Talk to them about what courses they've taken that they enjoyed, or ask them about courses in the department they are majoring in. They can give you useful advice and inside information that you won't find in a printed course catalog.
Cross-registration
Wellesley has cross-registration programs with MIT, Brandeis University and Babson College. This means that you can take any course you want at MIT, Brandeis and Babson, and they will automatically transfer into your Wellesley transcript. A lot of math and science majors take courses at MIT as do students interested in architecture, urban studies,management, media arts and sciences, etc. Babson is fairly popular with people interested in business-related fields (e.g., finance, accounting, and management), while Brandeis has good humanities and foreign language programs.If there is something you want to take that is not offered at Wellesley, the above are some places you could look into.
Academic Support Services
Wellesley can be very demanding academically, and as a first-year and an international student, it may time sometime to acclimatize to the academic environment at Wellesley. Juggling various academic and co-curricular commitments and still having time to have fun (or sleep!) can be quite a challenge at times. If you do find yourself having difficulty in a course, please talk to your professor about it. Professors are usually quite friendly and eager to help.
The Pforzheimer Learning and Teaching Center, located in Clapp Library,provides various tutoring services - for specific course material as well as for academic skills such as writing, public speaking, study skills, time management,etc. The tutors are students themselves, and have been trained by the PLTC. If you are having trouble with a course, you can request a tutor who will meet with you one-on-one to go over material. The International Community has a special peer tutor. You will meet her during orientation.
The Honor Code
One of our core values is having a community based on mutual trust and respect. As a member of the Wellesley community, you are bound by the honor code to conduct yourself with honesty and integrity at all times, and in all spheres of your life - i.e., academic, residential, and personal. Please refer to the Honor Code section of the student handbook, which you will receive when you arrive on campus. The honor code makes it possible for us to take in-class tests without a proctor, self-schedule exams, etc. Honor code offenses are taken very seriously. The General Judiciary is a body consisting of students, faculty, and staff, who hear cases of brought to them,mediate conflicts, and educate the community about the honor code.
Residential Life
Most Wellesley students live on campus in the residence halls. The residence hall is governed by a student-run House Counciland a professional Residence Director. There are resident advisors on every floor, and a student House President who chairs House Council. The residence staff and house council takes care of administrative issues concerning the dorm and also program events for the residents.
During the first two years of college you will have a roommate. Living with a roommate can be a great experience, but two students may not always be a good match. If you and your roommate find yourselves incompatible, do not despair.You can speak to your Residence Director, who can help mediate roommate conflicts. The residence halls have rules and policies in place that all residents must abide by. These have been instituted so that the dorm can be a comfortable living space for everyone.
Most of the dorms have a dining hall, but you can eat in any of the dining halls, not necessarily only in the dorm you live in. The meal plan offers unlimited dining, and includes the food service in Schneider in addition to dining halls.
Social Life
The Boston area is a vibrant community with many colleges and universities. Wellesley's proximity to Boston means that there are many options of activities for students to participate in, social events toattend, and many historic and cultural sites worth visiting. There are movies,concerts, dance clubs, museums, shops and cafes. Wellesley has buses, which go to Boston both during the week and on weekends. There is also a commuter rail station in town that connects to the subway system. For more information on social events on and off campus: Student Activities
Extra-curricular Activities
Co-curricular activities, including service, leadership and sports, are an important part of learning at Wellesley. There are a number of other activities that you may wish to participate in,theatre productions, choir, a drumming group, and dance. etc. You can be active in numerous student organizations on campus, or volunteer on or off campus, or play recreational or varsity sports. The Keohane Sports Center is well-equipped and includes a pool, field house, outdoor tennis courts, basketball courts, a weight room, squash and badminton courts, dance studios, etc.
During the first day of classes a Student Activities Fair is held in Schneider Center, the student union building. All organizations have booths where you can obtain information and sign up for membership.
Offices you may need to contact:
Slater International Center
Sylvia S. Hiestand, Director and Advisor to International Students and Scholars
E-mail: (shiestan@wellesley.edu)
Telephone: 781-283-2082
Susan Coburn, Assistant to the Director
E-mail: (scoburn @wellesley.edu)
Telephone: 781-283-2082
Counseling Services
Robin Cook-Nobles, Director
Email: (rcooknob@wellesley.edu)
Telephone: 781-283-2839
Financial Aid Office
Kathryn Osmond, Director
E-mail: (kosmond@wellesley.edu)
Telephone: 781-283-2360
First-Year Office
Lori Tenser, First Year Dean
Ruth Samia, Coordinator of First Year Students
E-mail: (rsamia@wellesley.edu)
Telephone: 781-283-2327
Health Service
Vanessa Britto, Director
E-mail: (vbritto@wellesley.edu)
Telephone: 781-283-2810
Housing Office
Diane O'Leary, Assistant Director
E-mail: (doleary@wellesley.edu)
Telephone: 781-283-2681
Learning & Teaching Center
Barb Burck
E-mail: (bburck@wellesley.edu)
Telephone: 781-283-2641
Post Office
Frances Adams, Manager
E-mail: (regoffice@wellesley.edu)
Telephone: 781-283-2307
Residential Computing Consultant
Telephone: 781-283-3355
Telecommunications
Sandra Roberts, Director
E-mail: (sroberts@wellesley.edu)
Telephone: 781-283-3233
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