OC International Education - Benefits and Support

 

OC International Education - Benefits and Support

International students at Olympic College have access to the full range of support services that are offered to all students of an accredited public institution of higher learning. International students also have access to services that are designed to prepare them for success in American college courses. They are also supported by the Office of International Education & Study Abroad, which has its own International Student Programs and Services.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENT PROGRAM AND SERVICES

The Support Team - The staff in the Office of International Education & Study Abroad are the advocates for the international students at Olympic College. These are the services managed by the Office of International Education & Study Abroad. Any questions regarding this office or international student affairs can be directed to:

Tony Coolidge - Global Admission Specialist & DSO - tcoolidge@olympic.edu - +1 (360) 475-7310 - For assistance with outreach, overseas partnerships, international student application submissions and processing.

Rachel Leeper - Program Specialist & DSO - rleeper@olympic.edu - +1 (360) 475-7310 - For assistance with student retention, student visa compliance, and student services.

Student Visa Status Maintenance - The most critical support services we office is to guide students to maintain their student visa status and eligibility to study in the United States. There are many factors affecting status and eligibility, and in a changing environment, it is important to rely on advocates who stay on top of the changes. We work with many departments in the college to manage the many factors that affect student status, including the academic plan and course enrollment, grades, payment of fees, travel plans, documents, etc.

Intensive English Program - For students who do not meet the English proficiency requirements to take English 101 and college-level courses as determined by Duolingo, IELTS, TOEFL, or Accuplacer Exams, Olympic College offers a very effective and immersive Intensive English (IE/ESL) program. The program not only improves English, but it also prepares students to be successful for college-level classes in the U.S. by improving essay writing and developing critical thinking. The Conversation Partner Program is a supplemental service for international students to improve their English listening and speaking skills. They are paired with an American OC student to meet once a week for conversations. There are also activities provided for the conversation partners to participate in, which nurtures their friendships.

High School Completion Program - Washington State is one of three U.S. States that allow colleges to offer a high school completion program. It is a dual-credit system that allows F-1 international students to earn a high school diploma and college credits at the same time. That means it is possible that a 16-yr-old high school student to enroll in Olympic College at complete an Associate's degree and earn a high school diploma by the time he or she is 18 years old. They must be able to provide a high school transcript for 9th and 10th grade.

2+2 University Transfer - Olympic College partners with more than 20 universities around the world to offer Transfer Admission Guarantees to international students. Our 2+2 University Transfer Program allows you to complete the first two years of your bachelor’s degree at Olympic College, then transfer to a university to complete your four-year degree! Click here to view our partner universities.

International Student Employment Opportunities - The Office of International Education and Study Abroad assists international student to gain employment. International students are eligible to work on campus at Olympic College. There are three types of work opportunities for international students:

• International students typically can apply for jobs after they complete one quarter. Job openings are posted online on the Handshake app. The pay rate starts at $17.40 USD per hour, and students may work up to 17 hours per week. 
• After completing one year of study, students are eligible to work off-campus through Curricular Practical Training (CPT) as authorized by the Designated School Official (DSO) in the Office of International Education and Study Abroad. For CPT, F‑1 students work in the U.S. in a role directly related to their major, as part of their program of study.
• Optional Practical Training (OPT) is a temporary work authorization for F‑1 students that lets you gain real‑world experience in your major. It is recommended by your Designated School Official (DSO) in SEVIS, but you must apply for it yourself with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Assistance will be provided to receive a social security number.

ACADEMIC SUPPORT

Academic Advising - The Academic Advisors (Success Coaches) are instrumental in evaluating the student goals and creating an academic plan to achieve the goals. The advisers are skilled and knowledgable in creating pathways to desired Universities.

Transferability to Partner University - If the student goals include transferring to a Partner University, support will be provided to the student by the Academic Advising team and the International Education Team to help the student meet the GPA requirements of the Partner University. The Intensive English (IE/ESL) Program is a key program to ensure the academic success of international students. Students not only improve their English proficiency, but they also need an adjustment period to get used to the American college classroom. In the IE class, students learn how to think critically and expand their essay writing skills, which is a key skill to succeed in all college courses. To improve their profile on University applications, the Office of International Education helps students find Leadership opportunities and learn job skills. The Career Center will teach students how to present themselves professionally in their applications.

Tutoring Services - Professional tutoring services are offered as a free service to students who request assistance. If grades to not meet target goals, Advisors may request students to sign up for tutoring.

FINANCIAL SUPPORT AND INCENTIVES

Academic Scholarships - Twice per academic year, the OC Foundation opens applications for academic scholarships. Students are awarded over $400,000 annually. International students are eligible to apply. Students are selected based on academic merit. The OC Foundation offers two scholarship award cycles annually. The Spring Award Cycle and the Fall Award Cycle. The scholarship ward amounts vary, depending on the scholarship.

Summer Housing Grant - Designed for students who want to get a head start for the Academic Year, Olympic College offers the Summer Housing & Student Success Program, students can begin their college journey early with free summer housing while building friendships, improving academic readiness, and adjusting to campus life in a welcoming community environment. The Summer Housing Grant pays for housing at the Olympic College Residence Hall (on-campus dorm). The grant does not cover housing application fees, deposit, and activity fee.

Application Fee Waiver - On special occasions related to recruiting activities, the $50 international application fee may be waived for a limited time. Please ask the office of International Education & Study Abroad (international@olympic.edu) about details.