Events of Interest, 9/12-18

Tuesday
- Conversation Partners Meal, PSF House, 6pm

Thursday
- Rep Your Roots, Tom Jackson Building, 5-7pm

Sunday
- Women's Soccer vs UAB, Dean Hayes Stadium, 5pm

Upcoming
Saturday, 9/24 - Parade of Flags, Floyd Stadium (Pre-Game), 5pm
Friday, 9/30 - Parade of Flags, Dean Hayes Stadium (Halftime), 7pm

Rep Your Roots is an annual celebration of cultural history. Join the Intercultural and Diversity Affairs office in this celebration, fun, food, games, etc.

We still need a LOT of help with the two Parade of Flags events. If you would be willing to carry a flag, please contact the ISSS office by email.

Events of Interest, 9/6-11

Tuesday
- Conversation Partners Meal, PSF House, 6-8pm
- Trivia Night, Student Union Food Court, 6-7pm

Wednesday
- Open Mic Night, Library Starbuck's, 6-8pm

Friday
- Soccer vs Tennessee Tech, Dean Hayes Stadium, 7pm
- Volleyball vs Illinois State, AMG, 7pm

Saturday
- 'Boro International Festival, Cannonsburgh (Murfreesboro), 10am-3pm
- Volleyball vs Seton Hall, AMG, 12pm
- Football vs Vanderbilt, Vanderbilt Stadium (Nashville), 3pm
- Volleyball vs Tennessee Tech, AMG, 5pm

Upcoming:
Friday, 9/16 - Community Theater, "Oklahoma!", Springhouse Theater, Smyrna, 6:30pm (Register)
Saturday, 9/24 - Parade of Flags, Floyd Stadium, Pre-game (Football), 5pm
Friday, 9/30 - Parade of Flags, Dean Hayes Stadium, Soccer Game Halftime, 7pm

* Note, I have the football game this weekend versus Vanderbilt listed, even though it is an away game, as some of you may wish to make the short trip to Nashville to cheer on the Blue Raiders.

Links above are to maps of the locations.

Events of Interest, 8/29-9/4

Tuesday
- Conversation Partners Meal, 6pm, PSF House

Wednesday
- Student Organization Fair, 10am-3pm, Student Union Commons

Thursday
- Crash The Commons, 7-11pm, Student Union Commons

Saturday
- Football vs Alabama A&M, 6pm, Floyd Stadium

Sunday
- Women's Soccer vs Belmont, 4pm, Dean Hayes Stadium

Upcoming
Saturday, 9/10 - 'Boro International, 10am-3pm, Cannonsburgh
Friday, 9/16 - Community Theater, "Oklahoma!", 6:30-10:30pm, Springhouse Theater, (FREE)

Events of Interest, 8/22-8/28

Welcome Back!!!

Tuesday
- Conversation Partners Meal, PSF House, 6pm
- Meet Murfreesboro Fair, Student Union Commons, All Day

Wednesday
- Meet Murfreesboro Fair, Student Union Commons, All Day

Friday
- Rec Center Tour, Rec Center, 5pm

Saturday
- International's Rec Center Event, Rec Center, 10am
- Fight Song, Murphy Center, 8pm

Sunday
- Women's Soccer vs #1 Florida State, Dean Hayes Stadium, 2pm

Upcoming
Thursday, September 8 - New International Welcome Reception, JUB Hazelwood, 4pm

See you soon!

Summer 2016 Events

Click to enlarge

Here is the flyer of summer events. Feel free to contact the ISSS office if you have any questions.

See you soon!

Tentative Fall 2016 Events

At left is the tentative fall events flyer. You can view it larger by clicking on it. It will change over the course of the summer, as we finalize event details. You can also see a copy of it on the ISSS page, or the ISSS calendar. These will both be updated throughout the summer, as well.

We hope you will use these avenues to plan for your fall as the new semester approaches. You can always email us if you have any questions about specific events, or if you would like to sign up for those events that require it.

See you in the Fall!

Events of Interest, 4/25-5/1

Final Event Update For The Semester

Tuesday
- Softball vs Belmont, 6pm, Softball Stadium

Thursday
- International Undergraduate Graduation Reception, 10am, Student Union Ballroom

Friday
- Baseball vs Marshall, 6pm, Reese Smith Field

Saturday
- Softball vs Charlotte, 2pm, Softball Stadium
- Softball vs Charlotte, 4pm, Softball Stadium
- Baseball vs Marshall, 4pm, Reese Smith Field

Sunday
- Softball vs Charlotte, 12pm, Softball Stadium
- Baseball vs Marshall, 1pm, Reese Smith Field

This is the final weekly update of events for the semester for this blog. Don't worry, though! We will be posting during the summer. We'll post about summer events, information and photos, and will resume our weekly posts at the beginning of the Fall Semester. If we find anything that we feel might be of interest to you, we'll also post that. So, keep checking for posts throughout the summer. That way, you'll be fully informed when you return in August.

Have a great summer!

Events of Interest, 4/18-24

Tuesday
- Conversation Partners Meal, 6pm, PSF House (final meal of the semester)
- Baseball vs UT-Knoxville, 6pm, Reese Smith Field

Wednesday
-Baseball vs Tennessee Tech, 6pm, Reese Smith Field

Saturday
- June Anderson Center Family Day, 2-4pm, Rec Center

Upcoming
Thursday, 4/28 - International Undergraduate Graduation Reception, 10am, Student Union Ballroom

* Remember, this Tuesday is the final Conversation Partners Meal of the semester. Make sure you stop by and say farewell for the summer to the friends you have made over the past semester/year.

If you have children with you, they will have a great time at the June Anderson Center Family Fun Day outside the Student Union this Friday, beginning at 5pm. There will be games and other activities for them to enjoy.

We hope you'll attend the International Undergraduate Graduation Reception on April 28, and join us in celebrating the accomplishments of our graduating internationals. Light refreshments will be provided. The reception will begin promptly at 10am, and will take between 30 and 45 minutes. This is Study Day, so no one can claim to have classes!

Finally, if you will be around campus during the summer, and you would like to be notified of any activities we plan, email the ISSS office to let us know. We will add you to the list and plan activities accordingly.

Events of Interest, 4/11-17

The semester is coming to a close, so make sure you check out these events.

Tuesday
- Men's Tennis vs Austin Peay, 2pm, Buck Bouldin Tennis Complex
- Softball vs Austin Peay, 4pm, Softball Field
- Conversation Partners Meal, 6pm, PSF House

Friday
-Baseball vs Charlotte, 6pm, Reese Smith Field
- Community Theater, "Tom Sawyer", 6:30pm, Smyrna, TN (No Tickets Remaining)

Saturday
- Football Spring Game, 1pm, Floyd Stadium
- Women's Tennis vs WKU, 1pm, Buck Bouldin Tennis Complex
- Softball vs UTEP, 2pm, Softball Field
- Softball vs UTEP, 4pm, Softball Field
- Baseball vs Charlotte, 4pm, Reese Smith Field

Sunday
- Softball vs UTEP, 12pm, Softball Field
- Baseball vs Charlotte, 1pm, Reese Smith Field
- Soccer Spring Alumni Game, 1pm, Dean Hayes Stadium

Upcoming
- Friday, 4/22 - June Anderson Center Family Fun Day, 5pm, Student Union Commons
- Thursday, 4/28 - International Undergraduate Graduation Reception, 10am, STU Ballroom

Events of Interest, 4/4-10

Tuesday
- Conversation Partners Meal, 6pm, PSF House
- Baseball vs Austin Peay, 6pm, Reese Smith Field

Friday
- 'Boro International Festival Interest Meeting, 5pm, Reeves Rogers Elementary School

Saturday
- Women's Tennis vs Alabama A&M, 1pm, Buck Bouldin Tennis Complex

Upcoming Events:
Friday, April 22, June Anderson Center Family Fun Day, 5pm, Student Union Commons
Thursday, April 28, International Undergraduate Graduation Reception, 10am, STU Ballroom

I'd like to bring to your attention, the 'Boro International Festival Interest Meeting, mentioned above. In September of this year, we will be partnering with several departments on campus, and the Murfreesboro School District, to co-host a festival at Cannonsburgh, here in Murfreesboro. It will be a great way to showcase the many different cultures in Rutherford County, and at MTSU. If you are part of an organization that would like to take part in this festival, or would just like to know a little more about it, please attend the interest meeting this Friday, April 8, from 5 to 6pm. It will be held at Reeves Rogers Elementary School (map link above), which is located very near campus. If you know where the Ag parking lot is, it is located just across Greenland Drive from there. It is definitely within walking distance of the campus. Once you get there, go to the main doors and let them know you are there for the 'Boro International meeting. They'll guide you to the meeting room from there.

Make sure you are checking out the Student Programming Calendar, as well. They always have fun things happening.

Travel and Your I-20: IMPORTANT

As we approach the end of the semester, most of you will begin to think about taking trips over the summer. Some of those trips will take you outside the United States. If that is you, this post is for you.

The first thing to mention is that last year, US Immigration redesigned the I-20 form. Some, mostly our new students, have already received one of these updated forms. For those that didn't, it was no problem, as both were accepted as you re-entered the US. We have been informed that will no longer be the case. So, if you are planning to travel outside the US this summer, even if you still have a valid signature, you MUST contact someone at International Affairs to print you a new I-20. Will they deny you entry if you have a valid I-20, with a valid travel signature, just because it is the older version? I don't know, but why would you risk it if all you need to do is have a new one printed?

Secondly, if you are in need of a travel signature, whether your current signature is expiring or you just need an updated form, you MUST fill out and bring the Request For Travel Signature form with your I-20 for someone to sign it. We have been using this form for a year, now. The form helps us process your I-20 for travel much faster, and reduces the number of students who need to be called back in due to issues, such as holds, wrong I-20, etc. The form asks you to verify your passport expiration, visa expiration, and make sure there are no holds on your account. It is really for your benefit, as well as ours. It reduces the processing time from 3 days to 1 day, though, we still ask that you bring your I-20 to us for signature 1 to 2 weeks prior to your planned departure. Don't let an emergency on our part cause you to miss your flight because we didn't have enough time to get to your form.

There are two ways you can get the form. First, you can come to either Peck Hall 208 or Jones Hall 111 to pick up a form. Take the form with you, verify the dates in your passport and that you have no holds, then return with both forms and leave it with us to sign. Secondly, you can print the form from the ISSS page, or here, fill it out, and bring it to either office for signature.

*Please note, the Request For Travel Signature form only applies to undergraduate students. Graduate students MUST take their I-20 to the Graduate Studies office for signature. Please check with them for their process.

April Events Flyer

Click to Enlarge

Events of Interest, March 14-20

Tuesday
- International Tax Workshop, 5pm, Jones Hall 109B
- Conversation Partners Meal, 6pm, PSF House
- Baseball vs Belmont, 6pm, Reese Smith Field

Friday
- Opry Mills Shopping Trip, 3pm, Nashville
- Baseball vs FAU, 6pm, Reese Smith Field

Saturday
- Baseball vs FAU, 11am, Reese Smith Field
- International Day with Men's Tennis & Parade of Flags, 2pm, Buck Bouldin Tennis Center
- Softball vs FAU, 2pm, Softball Field
- Softball vs FAU, 4pm, Softball Field

Sunday
- Baseball vs FAU, 12pm, Reese Smith Field
- Softball vs FAU, 12pm, Softball Field

Please contact the ISSS office if you would like to take part in the Parade of Flags. We have the flags, we just need you to carry them!

Events of Interest, March 7-13

Tuesday
- Baseball vs Memphis, 6pm, Reese Smith Field

Friday
- International Family Fun Night, 6-8pm, Tom Jackson Building

Saturday
- Softball vs Southern Mississippi, Doubleheader, 2 & 4pm, MTSU Softball Field (near Rec Center)

Sunday
- Softball vs Southern Mississippi, 12pm, MTSU Softball Field

Our Family Fun Night is designed for those international students and scholars who have spouses and children with them here at MTSU. We hope you'll bring them out for a few hours of fun and games.

March Event Details

We have three big events in March. The first is our International Family Fun Night, March 11. This event is designed to provide a fun evening for our international student who have a spouse and/or children with them here at MTSU. The event will start at 6pm in the Tom Jackson Building. We plan to end the evening at 8pm. The evening will feature light snacks, games designed for children of all ages, and prizes with some of the games. International students without families here at MTSU are also encouraged to get involved. We hope you'll be interested in helping us plan and execute the evening, as well as being there to play with, and encourage, the children. Sometimes, we forget the big changes in the lives of these children. They have come to another country, yet they may not speak the new language, and may have trouble making friends. Our goal is that this evening will help them to enjoy their time here a little better, and feel more a part of our community.

The next event on the calendar will be our Evening at Opry Mills Mall, March 18.. Our office will provide transportation to the Opry Mills Mall in Nashville. We will leave campus at 3pm and travel to the mall. Once there, you will have many popular, yet unique, stores to shop. Many of these stores are from among the more "upscale" stores in America, such as American Eagle, Saks, and Tommy Hilfiger, some of which are not available in Murfreesboro. There is also a large food court for your dinner meal, and a large movie theater complex. You'll be on your own to do what you want, you'll just need to rejoin us after the mall closes so we can leave and return to campus. We will plan to leave the mall at 9:30pm. So, if you want to take in a move, you'll need to select one that ends before that. We're taking vans, so you should have plenty of room to bring back all your goodies from the trip. If you'd like to join, you'll need to email the ISSS office to reserve your spot. Space will be limited.

Our final big event for the month will be the International Day with the MTSU Men's Tennis team, Saturday, March 19. They will battle College of Charleston at 2pm. They want us to begin the match with a Parade of Flags, and will offer free pizza and tips to improve your tennis game afterwards. If you can help out with the Parade of Flags by carrying the flag of your homeland, please email the ISSS office and let us know in advance. We have the flags, we just need you to carry it. Show your pride!

As always, if you have any questions about any of these events, don't hesitate to email the ISSS office. We're always glad to answer your questions!

March Events

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Welcome!

In an attempt to keep you, the international community at MTSU, up-to-date on everything we have happening, we have created this blog to post event reminders and event follow-up. By visiting on a regular basis, you will always know what is coming. You can also find photos and reviews of events that have taken place. You can also use the site to comment on events.

Another use for the site will be for us to keep you informed of important dates and events that you can use to stay connected with the campus, as a whole, or items that are important to help you maintain your immigration status. It will also be used to direct prospective and new students through the application and orientation process.

Overall, we hope you will find this site informative and relevant.