WEEKLY UPDATE – Aug. 25

ISSS staff is excited to welcome our new students to the USF community and welcome our continuing students back to campus. We hope you all had an amazing first week of classes! 

Students can access ISSS services in person and online. Our front desk, located at the University Center (fifth floor), is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Please note that most requests should be submitted via our online portal, MyISSS, and once processed, documents can be downloaded from MyISSS. For help navigating MyISSS, check out the MyISSS Student Handbook. Our processing time for all requests is 10 business days. 

Remember that you can connect with us via email, reach us by phone at (415) 422-2654, chat with a team member on our website, or schedule an appointment with your ISSS adviser. Check out the calendar on our ISSS homepage listing ISSS events and programs!

The last day for students to add a course is Monday, Aug. 25. The last day for students to drop a course with a full refund is Friday, Sept. 5.

View the registration calendar »

Health Insurance Waiver: For any students who want to waive the USF health insurance plan, the waiver criteria can be found here. The waiver site is currently open and will close on Monday, Sept. 1. Follow this link if you would like to waive the USF health insurance plan.

If you were unable to attend the Working and Driving Workshop last week, which covered how to find jobs on campus, apply for a social security number, and get a driver's license, you can find the recording on our Workshops web page. Please note that this presentation is designed for students who are currently residing in the U.S.

Monday, Aug. 25 | 5–6:30 p.m. 
University Center, 411/412

The Cultural Centers include the Gender & Sexuality Center and the Intercultural Center. The centers serve as both physical spaces on campus where students build community, as well as outlets for student-run programs that explore social issues and identity. This event is open to all USF community members.

Learn More » 

Tuesday, Aug. 26 | 4–6 p.m.
Gleeson Library Thacher Gallery

Join the Thacher Gallery in celebrating the exhibition, What the world needs now is…Brian Singer at the Thacher Gallery. Brian Singer, also known as someguy, is a San Francisco-based fine artist whose projects have received international attention. This event is open to all USF community members.

The Academic English for Multilingual Students Program matches international students (for whom English is not the primary language) at USF with members of the USF community who are highly proficient English speakers and have deep knowledge of American culture. Conversation partners meet regularly throughout the semester, approximately once a week for at least an hour, and talk about anything they want. The priority deadline is Friday, Sept. 5.

Register Now »

USF offers academic assistance to all students through the Learning, Writing, and Speaking Centers. Services are available at no additional cost to USF students and include subject-specific tutoring, writing assistance, and communications-related support. The Learning Center also provides opportunities for academic skill development through one-on-one academic skills coaching, group workshops, and online resources.

ISSS is monitoring and communicating immigration updates that may affect our international students. Visit our International Student Support web page for updates and resources.

If you are requesting an immigration document or letter from our office, remember that we request ten business days to process requests. Make sure you plan accordingly so you have enough time to receive your document before you need it. All ISSS requests should be submitted through the MyISSS student portal (log in to your MyISSS account, go to Requests & Documents, and select the appropriate icon on the right side of the page). You can view our MyISSS Student Handbook for assistance with your submission.

Click the Chat with ISSS button in the bottom, right corner of any ISSS web page, and the ISSS team can assist you with your inquiry.

Appointments can be made online. Appointments are booked in 20-minute increments. Find upcoming workshops on the ISSS Events and Workshops calendar.

Our podcast focuses on mindfulness, diversity, and inclusion, featuring episodes that cover diverse topics. Subscribe for engaging narratives, consistent audio quality, and a cohesive visual identity, and join us in building a mindful and inclusive USF community.

Want to submit content for future newsletters? For a student feature, fill out this form, and for all other contributions, email our office at isss@usfca.edu for more information.