International Dateline
Spring 1997
Faculty
President Hasselmo Raises Awareness
Student
Announcements for all Students
Announcements for International Students
Faculty
President Hasselmo Raised Awareness of U's International Stature and Role
From Lublin to Tokyo, during his years as president Nils Hasselmo has represented the University of Minnesota to the world, and the world to Minnesota.
His name first appeared in International Dateline soon after he became president in 1989. The event that April was the signing of a formal exchange agreement with the rector of Marie Curie Sklodowska University in Poland after years of institutional cooperation.
President Hasselmo spoke during a ceremony conferring an honorary doctor of laws degree on Kim Young-Sam, president of the Republic of Korea (right), at the Blue House in Seoul in November 1996.
His name has appeared many times since, responding to events in Tiananmen Square that same year, traveling to his native Sweden and other European countries for meetings and installations of rectors, hosting delegations from Canada and Mexico, traveling to Southeast Asia on behalf of the Midwest Universities Consortium for International Activities (MUCIA), helping to shape MUCIA's strategies for responding to rapid changes in the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, collecting information about University activities from Singapore to Morocco to Chile, and weaving his global vision into University planning.
"Excellence in undergraduate education," he wrote in 1990, "should include foreign languages across the curriculum, scholarship about underrepresented people and cultures of the world, internationalizing the curriculum, and more opportunities for inquiry and learning, including study abroad."
No one who reads the U2000 plan could miss its emphasis on the University's "world class" position and role in higher education, or its opportunity to build on decades of international work and involvement.
But no initiative embodies President Hasselmo's vision more vividly than his commitment to renewing ties with international alumni and friends.
When he and Charles Casey, then chair of the Board of Regents, stepped off planes in Thailand and Indonesia on a trip for MUCIA in 1990, it was University of Minnesota alumni who met them. Soon afterward President Hasselmo appointed a task force to lay the groundwork for a "global network of Minnesotans."
The resulting plan recognizes international alumni as key to continuing and furthering development of the University's student body, research, teaching, and ranking in the world. The initiative was launched with visits to key alumni groups in East Asia in 1995 and 1996.
Nils Hasselmo first came to Minnesota while continuing his research on the language of Swedish immigrants begun in his 1961 Harvard dissertation. He joined the University of Minnesota faculty in 1965 and will return to teaching in his field upon leaving the presidency in June.
More Information:
Midwest Universities Consortium for International Activities (MUCIA)
Alumna Sworn In As Ambassador to Pacific Nations
University alumna Arma Jane Karaer was sworn in as the next ambassador to three South Pacific nations -- Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu — at the Federal Courthouse in St. Paul on Feb. 28.
Karaer met with citizens of Papua New Guinea at ISP on Feb. 28. Left to right: Fulbright scholar Stephen Winduo, Ambassador Nagora Y. Bogan, Ambassador and HEP doctoral students Paul Ngabung and Lawrence Torres.
Among the audience of family and friends were the Hon. Nagora Y. Bogan, MBE, ambassador of Papua New Guinea to the United States, and three Papua New Guineans currently attending the University of Minnesota.
All three countries are democracies whose cultures support systems of governance by consensus, according to Karaer. The challenges of the twenty-first century will require guarding democracies with good management, accounting, budgeting, and government planning.
"Papua New Guinea has one of the few last pristine rain forests in the world," Karaer said, "and all three of these countries have important coral reef formations that the people who live near those reefs depend on for their livelihood. The United States is engaged in an international effort to protect those coral reefs."
Karaer received her bachelor's in journalism from the University in 1962. She received a University of Minnesota reciprocal exchange scholarship to Osmania University in Hyderabad, India, as well as a Fulbright scholarship.
Karaer was an editor for the U's student magazine, Ivory Tower, when a group of students from India recruited her to apply for the exchange scholarship to their country.
During her thirty-year career with the Department of State, Karaer has served in Turkey, Australia, Zaire, Pakistan, the Kingdom of Swaziland, and Finland, with intermittant assignments in Washington, D.C. Her husband is originally from Istanbul and her daughters were born in Melbourne, Australia, and Ankara, Turkey.
Karaer chose St. Paul as the site for her swearing in to be with family members. She took advantage of the trip to seek out Papua New Guineans in Minnesota after learning that the University of Minnesota is headquarters for the PNG Higher Education Project (HEP).
The government of Papua New Guinea has contracted with the Midwest Universities Consortium for International Activities (MUCIA), of which the University of Minnesota is a member, to develop its higher education faculty and curriculum. The project is in the third of five years, with over sixty PNG nationals enrolled in advanced degrees abroad and five foreign faculty currently in residence at PNG campuses.
More Information:
PNG Higher Education Project(HEP)
Midwest Universities Consortium for International Activities (MUCIA)
Changes in Immigration Law Raise Consequences of Overstay
The Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996, passed by Congress and signed by President Clinton in September, has resulted in changes of the laws pertaining to nonimmigrants in the U.S., which include international students and scholars holding F-1 and J-1 visas.
The Act represents the most sweeping changes in U.S. immigration law since 1983.
Meanwhile, the Immigration & Naturalization Service (INS) is in the process of changing many regulations pertaining to F-1 and J-1 visa holders. Some changes have already taken effect as a result of the 1996 act. The primary change already in effect focuses on the issue of "overstay."
Overstay (effective 9/30/96).
F-1 and J-1 students and scholars who graduate, interrupt, cancel, or terminate their program of study and do nothing to maintain their legal status within the prescribed visa grace period become overstayers (F-1 grace period, 60 days; J-1 grace period, 30 days). F-1 and J-1 students and scholars who allow their legal status document (I-20 or IAP-66) to expire and do not reinstate or apply for an extension within the prescribed grace period are overstayers. Dependents of F-1 or J-1 visa holders will automatically be considered overstayers if the F-1 or J-1 becomes an overstayer.
Consequence of Overstay.
The U.S. entry visa stamp is automatically cancelled. Any future U.S. entry visa stamp must be applied for at the U.S. embassy or consulate in the student's home country; application in a third country is no longer possible. There is no guarantee the U.S. will issue a new entry visa stamp to a person who has become an overstayer. Also, an overstayer who remains in the U.S. for 180 days from 4/1/97 will be inadmissible to the U.S. for three years; an overstayer who remains in the U.S. for 12 months or longer (or an aggregate of 12 months) from 4/1/97 will be inadmissible for ten years.
Other than overstay, there is no change in what constitutes a violation of legal status, and reinstatement through the INS is still available to F-1 students. However, if the INS denies the reinstatement application, the student will be issued Voluntary Departure and required to depart the U.S. within 30 days; failure to leave within that period could result in deportation.
Help International Students Maintain Their Legal Status
It has never been more important that international students and scholars receive accurate advice about their stay in the U.S. — the consequence of error has become too great and could have lifelong effects.
International students and scholars in the U.S. who violate their legal status could be issued Voluntary Departure by the INS, which would require that the student return to his or her home country with no guarantee of being allowed to reenter the U.S. to complete his or her education.
Please do not hesitate to contact International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) at 626-7100 with questions.
Please keep the following points in mind when advising international students:
- F-1 and J-1 visa holders are required by law to maintain a full course of study during the academic year (7 credits per quarter for graduate students and adult specials; 12 credits per quarter for undergrads). The Exception From A Full Course of Study form designed for University of Minnesota international students by ISSS lists reasons acceptable under INS law for students to be registered for less than a full course. A student who fails to register for a full course and does not have an acceptable reason violates thier legal status. Undergraduates, adult specials, and first-year grad students must submit the exception form to an ISSS adviser.
- Grad students admitted for Summer Session I or II are required by law to register as a full-time student in the Summer Session. Failure to do this is considered violation of legal status and cannot be covered by completing an Exception From A Full Course of Study form.
- F-1 students are not able to receive a salary from any source other than the University without specific authorization from ISSS or the INS. On-campus employment may not exceed 20 hours per week while school is in session (full-time during quarter breaks and vacation period) unless the student has authorization from ISSS or the INS to work full-time.
- J-1 student's who are on the University of Minnesota J-1 program may not be employed outside the University campus without prior permission through ISSS. J-1 sponsored students who are on other J-1 programs need written permission from their J-1 sponsor to be employed either on or off the campus. Student employment may not exceed 20 hours per week while school is in session — whether on or off-campus or both. Departments and students should check with ISSS to determine a student's eligibility to work at the University.
- F-1 and J-1 students have authorization to attend only the University of Minnesota; they cannot register for a portion of their coursework at another institution. Immigration law does allow for a few exceptions to this rule but prior approval through ISSS is required.
- International students are expected to complete their program of study within the time frame allowed by the University and the INS: BA/BS 6 years; MA/MS 3 years; DVM 4 years; PharmD 4 to 5 years; DDS 5 years; JD 4 years; PhD 7 years.
- Students new to the University who have transferred from another school in the U.S. must have their legal status transferred to the University of Minnesota within the period specified by federal law. Students are not eligible to be on University payroll until this transfer process has been completed.
Help on campus
Staff at the University's International Student and Scholar Services are on hand to answer questions from individual students and scholars as well as from department faculty and staff. Call 612-626-7100 or come in to 20 Nicholson Hall.
Web sites to watch
- At the U of M
- In Washington
Funding News
Fulbright Applications Now Available at ISP
The Fulbright Scholar Program for 1998-99 includes some 1000 grants for research, combined research and lecturing, or university lecturing in nearly 130 countries. Opportunities range from two months to a full academic year and may be flexible. Multicountry research is available. Virtually all disciplines and subfields participate.
Deadline: August 1 for research or lecturing grants to all world areas. Other deadlines for special programs.
Contact: Rita Snider, campus representative, (612) 626-7144.
ISP Funding Database Updated
An update of ISP's database of funding opportunities for international research and study is now complete.
Faculty and advanced graduate students are invited to browse the deadlines posted on ISP's web site and to request individual searches. The database includes almost 500 entries from 218 agencies around the world that support research outside the United States for U.S. faculty and advanced graduate students. Some opportunities in the database are also open to citizens of countries other than the United States.
Contact: Rita Snider, faculty services, (612) 626-9585
Students
International Student & Scholar Services and China Center Move to Mayo on May 3
International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS) and the China Center moved from Nicholson Hall to the Mayo Building, sixth floor, on May 3.
Telephone numbers and office hours remain the same.
Campus mail for both offices should be sent to Box 263 Mayo. The U.S. mail address is 420 Delaware Street S.E., Minneapolis, MN 55455-0392.
To get to the new offices, enter the Mayo building in one of these ways and take the main elevators to the sixth floor:
- the main entrance on Delaware Street, at the roundabout from the Oak Street parking ramp near Moos Tower (this enters on the third floor)
- the Church Street entrance directly across from Boynton Health Service (this enters on the second floor)
The move is a result of deteriorating air quality in Nicholson 20 and 50A. Built in 1890, Nicholson Hall is one of the University's oldest buildings and has suffered repeated water damage in recent years.
Staff of ISSS and the China Center invite students and staff to stop by after the move to see the new offices.
First floor offices in Nicholson are still safe and will not be affected. The following offices will stay in Nicholson:
- Kleffman International Study Lounge, Room 111
- The Global Campus, Rooms 102 and 106
- Institute of International Studies and Programs (ISP) director's office, Room 149
- Refugee Studies Center, Room 104
- SPAN (Student Project for Amity among Nations), Room 107
Map to Mayo
Changes in Immigration Law Raise Consequences of Overstay
The Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996, passed by Congress and signed by President Clinton in September, has resulted in changes of the laws pertaining to nonimmigrants in the U.S., which include international students and scholars holding F-1 and J-1 visas.
The Act represents the most sweeping changes in U.S. immigration law since 1983.
Meanwhile, the Immigration & Naturalization Service (INS) is in the process of changing many regulations pertaining to F-1 and J-1 visa holders. Some changes have already taken effect as a result of the 1996 act. The primary change already in effect focuses on the issue of "overstay."
Overstay (effective 9/30/96).
F-1 and J-1 students and scholars who graduate, interrupt, cancel, or terminate their program of study and do nothing to maintain their legal status within the prescribed visa grace period become overstayers (F-1 grace period, 60 days; J-1 grace period, 30 days). F-1 and J-1 students and scholars who allow their legal statusdocument (I-20 or IAP-66) to expire and do not reinstate or apply for an extension within the prescribed grace period are overstayers. Dependents of F-1 or J-1 visa holders will automatically be considered overstayers if the F-1 or J-1 becomes an overstayer.
Consequence of Overstay.
The U.S.entry visa stamp is automatically cancelled. Any future U.S. entry visa stamp must be applied for at the U.S. embassy or consulate in the student's home country; application in a third country is no longer possible. There is no guarantee the U.S. will issue a new entry visa stamp to a person who has become an overstayer. Also, an overstayer who remains in the U.S. for 180 days from 4/1/97 will be inadmissible to the U.S. for three years; an overstayer who remains in the U.S. for 12 months or longer (or an aggregate of 12 months) from 4/1/97 will be inadmissible for ten years.
Other than overstay, there is no change in what constitutes a violation of legal status, and reinstatement through the INS is still available to F-1 students. However, if the INS denies the reinstatement application, the student will be issued Voluntary Departure and required to depart the U.S. within 30 days; failure to leave within that period could result in deportation.
International Students: How to Maintain Your Legal Status
If you are an international student, it has never been more important that you get accurate advice about your stay in the U.S.-the consequence of error has become too great and could have lifelong effects.
If you violate your legal status (this is not the same as your visa stamp expiring!), you could be issued Voluntary Departure by the INS, which would require that you return to your home country with no guarantee of being allowed to reenter the U.S. to complete your education.
Please do not hesitate to contact International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) at 626-7100 with questions.
Here are the main points to keep in mind for maintaining your legal status:
- F-1 and J-1 visa holders are required by law to maintain a full course of study during the academic year (7 credits per quarter for graduate students and adult specials; 12 credits per quarter for undergrads). The Exception From A Full Course of Study form designed for University of Minnesota international students by ISSS lists reasons acceptable under INS law for students to be registered for less than a full course. A student who fails to register for a full course and does not have an acceptable reason violates his or her legal status. Undergraduates, adult specials, and first-year grad students must submit the exception form to an ISSS adviser.
- Grad students admitted for Summer Session I or II are required by law to register as a full-time student in the Summer Session. Failure to do this is considered violation of legal status and cannot be covered by completing an Exception From A Full Course of Study form.
- F-1 students are not able to receive a salary from any source other than the University without specific authorization from ISSS or the INS. On-campus employment may not exceed 20 hours per week while school is in session (full-time during quarter breaks and vacation period) unless the student has authorization from ISSS or the INS to work full-time.
- J-1 students who are on the University of Minnesota J-1 program may not be employed outside the University campus without prior permission through ISSS. J-1 sponsored students who are on other J-1 programs need written permission from their J-1 sponsor to be employed either on or off the campus. Student employment may not exceed 20 hours per week while school is in session — whether on or off-campus or both. Departments and students should check with ISSS to determine a student's eligibility to work at the University.
- F-1 and J-1 students have authorization to attend only the University of Minnesota; they cannot register for a portion of their coursework at another institution. Immigration law does allow for a few exceptions to this rule but prior approval through ISSS is required.
- International students are expected to complete their program of study within the time allowed by the University and the INS: BA/BS 6 years; MA/MS 3 years; DVM 4 years; PharmD 4-5 years; DDS 5 years; JD 4 years; PhD 7 years. Students new to the University who have transferred from another school in the U.S. must have their legal status transferred to the University of Minnesota within the period specified by federal law. Students are not eligible to be on University payroll until this transfer process has been completed.
Help on campus
Staff at the University's International Student and Scholar Services are on hand to answer questions from individual students and scholars as well as from department faculty and staff. Call 612-626-7100 or come to the B-wing of the 6th floor Mayo Building.
Websites to watch:
- At the U of M
- In Washington
Announcements for All Students
Last Small World Coffee Hour this year is May 30! The last coffee hour for this academic year will be held on Friday, May 30, from 4 to 6 p.m. in 111 Nicholson Hall. Take a break from your studies! Come drink some good coffee or tea, enjoy music from countries around the world, and meet some interesting people like yourself! Come alone or bring a friend. Campus travel services The International Study and Travel Center (ISTC) offers travel services to the U community from its offices in 48 Coffman Memorial Union. ISTC has a huge library of resources for travel, work, and study abroad and a staff that is experienced, knowledgeable, and friendly. Have your passport picture taken! Buy rail passes and other travel products! ISTC welcomes students, staff, and faculty from all countries. ISTC, 626-4782, www.istc.umn.edu Funding for Study Outside the U.S. The Institute of International Studies and Programs (ISP) has just updated its database of funding opportunities for study and research outside the United States. Advanced graduate students and faculty are invited to browse the deadlines posted on ISP's web site, and to request individual searches. The database includes almost 500 entries from 218 agencies around the world that support research outside the United States. Some opportunities are open to U.S. citizens, some to citizens of other countries, and some to both. Contact Rita Snider, ISP faculty services, 626-9585. SPAN in '98 to France, Ghana, Jordan, New Zealand The Student Project for Amity among Nations (SPAN) is open to undergraduates and graduate students from any country, in any major or field. As a SPAN student you will receive 12 credits for conducting an independent research project on the topic of your choice. Under the guidance of a faculty adviser, you will get one academic year of intense preparation, a minimum of eight weeks abroad during the summer months, and completion of a 50- to 100-page thesis paper. Financial aid and scholarships are available. For more information stop at the SPAN office, 107 Nicholson, 626-1083, or e-mail. Join the International-Multicultural Literature Discussion Group Read and discuss translated short stories by authors from countries including Wales, China, Czechoslavakia, Korea, India, Brazil, Puerto Rico, Kenya, Thailand, South Africa, and Singapore. Come join us for stimulating discussions and a chance to get to know students from different cultures. Spring quarter meetings will be Thursdays beginning April 10, 4:30 to 6 p.m., in 111 Nicholson. This group is sponsored by International Student and Scholar Services and the Campus Involvement Center. For more information e-mail Pat Tollefson or Maggie Catambay. Sexual Violence Awareness on Campus by the University of Minnesota Program Against Sexual Violence What is acquaintance rape? It's forced sexual contact or intercourse between people who know each other. Acquaintance rape often occurs on dates or at parties. It can happen in an apartment, car, or anywhere. Acquaintance rape at parties may be perpetrated by more than one person. Acquaintance rape is very common. One out of seven women currently attending college has been raped. Sixty percent of all reported rapes occur on dates. Ninety percent of women who have been raped knew their attackers. One in 12 male college students commit acts that meet the legal definition of rape. A majority of campus rapes are alcohol related. Acquaintance rape is rarely reported, often because the victim or survivor may not know the definition of a rape or is afraid of being disbelieved or blamed. What can you do to avoid it? Think about what you want and communicate it to your partner; you can reject activity you do not like without rejecting the person. Listen to what your partner is saying: when your partner says no, it means no. Set limits for yourself and your partner. Drink responsibly. Be aware that you have the right and the ability to stop sexual activity at any time. Contact the Program Against Sexual Violence at 625-6512; 24-hour crisis line 626-1300. Culture, Conflict, and Community: Working With Differences When people from different cultures get together, conflict--or community--may result. What makes the difference? Students and staff from around the U put together a great schedule of sessions for the first Saturday in May that answer this question. Sessions include a student panel on language and identity; workshops on managing conflict across cultures, interrupting oppression, and learning the basics or improving your skills in culture and communication; a program about volunteering as a way to build community skills; and a Star Power simulation. The art gallery will be open with contributing artists on hand. The keynote will be a musical performance by the Signature á capella quintet, and the closing celebration will feature folk music from South America by Ingapirca. When: Saturday, May 3, 9:30-4:30 Where: St. Paul Student Center Cost: $5 including bagels and lunch! Children are welcome, childcare provided. Disability accommodations will be provided upon request. Call 625-2010. This Intercultural Encounters conference is sponsored by International Student and Scholar Services, the International Study and Travel Center, Chicano Latino Learning Resource Center, Diversity Institute, GLBT Programs, Minnesota International Center, New Student Programs, Office for Special Learning Opportunities (OSLO), St. Paul Student Center, and Worldspan
Announcements for International Students
Summer employment Reminder! F-1 and J-1 visa holders are required to have work authorization for any employment outside the University. If you intend to participate in a paid internship or find a job related to your field for practical experience, please see an ISSS adviser to determine your eligibility and to explain procedures for employment authorization. Traveling during the summer? Allow sufficient time for ISSS to prepare your reentry documents! Travel document requests should be made two to three weeks before departure. Contact Carol at 626-8643 with questions concerning F-1 travel, or Becky at 626-7452 with questions concerning J-1 travel. Be sure to bring both your I-20 and your passport when you come. Two new e-mail lists established ISSS has created two listservs to better inform international students, staff, and faculty. INTL-L. This list will automatically be sent to those international students, staff, and faculty with temporary nonimmigrant legal status. It will be used solely for official announcements, such as updates about ongoing changes in Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) regulations. You may not post to this list--it's for official announcements only. Respond by phone or in person to an ISSS adviser. If you do not use e-mail, please be sure to stay in contact with ISSS, now on the 6th floor of the Mayo building! It's your responsibility to keep informed of regulations that affect your legal status here in the United States. INTUMN-L. The purpose of this list is to keep you informed about upcoming opportunities such as the career workshops, the Intercultural Encounters conference, and financial aid. You may not post to it. You will not receive it automatically, so subscribe today! Here's how: • Send an e-mail message to LISTSERV@tc.umn.edu • Leave the Subject field blank. • In the message body, type: SUBSCRIBE INTUMN-L Example: SUBSCRIBE INTUMN-L smith000@tc.umn.edu John Smith • Be sure not to include a signature or signature file! Spring quarter hours and limited service dates at ISSS Many of the ISSS staff will be attending the NAFSA:AIE conference in Vancouver during May. On May 21 and 28, there will be no advisers available for general walk-ins or appointments. In addition, there will be no staff available to sign F and J visa documents during the week of May 19-23. If you intend to apply for practical training or reentry, please understand that you will not be able to receive assistance during these times. ISSS will also be closed for a short time over the days that we are moving--dates to be announced. Watch the Minnesota Daily and our web site! Spring quarter office hours at ISSS 8 AM to 12 noon, 1 to 4:15 PM Walk-in Hours Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays 1:30-4 PM Tuesdays 8:30-11:30 AM Wednesdays, F legal status only 8:30-11:30 AM Financial Aid Walk-in Hours Tuesdays and Wednesdays 1:30-4 PM Note that walk-in hours may be affected by our move! Funding opportunities The University of Minnesota International Student Financial Aid Program serves students with F-1 and J-1 non-immigrant visa status who have been attending the University of Minnesota for at least one academic year in that visa status. Graduate students must have completed 21 U of M credits and have a GPA of at least 3.0; undergraduates must have completed 36 U of M credits and have a GPA of at least 2.5. Additional criteria also apply. Applications can be picked up at ISSS. Application deadline is May 1. Anyone applying after May 1 runs the risk of not being funded due to lack of funds in the pool. Alumni connections The University of Minnesota's international alumni network is quickly growing! University of Minnesota alumni groups exist or are in the process of forming in the following countries: Finland, Hong Kong, Iceland, Japan, Singapore, Spain, and Taiwan. If you are from one of these countries, please be sure you get the name and address of the country contact from ISSS before you return home permanently. If you intend to return home and would like to be a contact in your country, please get in touch with Cheri Thompson in ISSS at 626-7100. Remember to ask ISSS to mail you our international alumni newsletter, Connections. Reception honoring graduating international students If you're an international student who has completed your degree program during this academic year, or if you will complete it this coming summer, you are invited to attend the 1997 graduation reception on May 16. The reception is cosponsored by International Studies and Programs and International Student and Scholar Services. It will be held from 3:30 to 6 p.m. in the Nolte Center Dining Room. Family members and advisers are welcome. Please call us at 624-5580 to let us know if you will be attending and how many guests you will bring. Important reminder! Health insurance International students are required to carry health insurance! You must take the responsiblity of ensuring that you are covered at all times. If you register for fewer than 6 credits, you will not automatically be assessed for health insurance on your university billing statement. This means you must pay for health insurance on your own. To get the University's student health insurance you will need an override permission form, which you can get by seeing an ISSS adviser and submitting your full-course-of-study exception form for the quarter. The Student Insurance Office is located in 323 Boynton Health Service. Summer and breaks. International students must have health insurance during the summer as well as during the academic year. If you had U of M student health insurance in spring quarter, you will be able to buy summer insurance by completing an application at the Student Insurance Office in 323 Boynton Health Service. If you receive medical care from a non-network provider in Minnesota or while traveling (see your insurance plan packet for details), you will have a $200 deductible, after which the U of M Student Health Insurance Plan will cover 70% of eligible expenses. Out-of-network emergency care, including ambulance service, is covered at 85% of eligible expenses and is not subject to the deductible. If you register and purchase University Student Health Insurance for the current quarter, then register and purchase insurance for the next quarter before the end of the current one, you will be covered during the break. Health insurance for your dependents. A student's spouse (who is not a student) may buy health insurance from the University only if the student is insured. The cost is $381 per quarter for the spouse. Coverage for any children costs an additional $321, regardless of the number of children. Prices and availability for next year's plan may change. If you have health insurance through your graduate assistantship and wish to include dependents on your policy, you must contact the health insurance company. Call the Grad Assistant Insurance office in Boynton Health Service, 625-6936, for assistance in doing this. Other insurance companies. If you want information about private insurance companies, see an ISSS adviser in 20 Nicholson. These companies may have higher deductibles and restrictions on the amount of coverage. Fall quarter Preregistration Program (PRP) dates Dates for the Fall 1997 Preregistration Programs are: September 3 and 4 Wednesday and Thursday two-day session September 9 and 10 Tuesday and Wednesday two-day session September 10 and 11 Wednesday and Thursday two-day session September 16 and 17 Tuesday and Wednesday two-day session September 17 and 18 Wednesday and Thursday two-day session September 23 Tuesday one-day session September 24 Wednesday one-day session