S.F. Bay Area PIER

Professional International Educators Roundtable (PIER)

2010 BA-PIER Meetings

Hello My Friends:

The next meeting of BA-PIER will be held on Thursday, February 18 from 1:00pm - 3:00pm at St. Mary's College College of California in Moraga.  Susie Miller Reid will send directions, parking info, exact location etc about one week before the meeting.  The Agenda also will be sent around that time.

I would appreciate it if you would send me suggestions for discussion at the meeting by Tuesday, February 9 and whether or not you would like to lead the discussion on the topics you recommend.  Please, Please, Please send me topics for discussion.

One Agenda item is already set.  There will be a presentation about the ITEP, International Test of English Proficiency  for evaluating English as A Second Language ability.  For those of you unfamiliar with ITEP it is an alternative to TOEFL and IELTS.  It is available in many places throughout the world including the USA.  If you wish you can offer the exam on your campus and get results very quickly.  Foothill offers it on its campus.  For those of you that are "old-timers" in the field you may remember Parandeh Kia.   She was one of out gurus in immigration advising for many years but is now Director, Institutional Relations of the ITEP program.  Parandeh will be making the presentation.

One matter that I feel needs discussion is the issue of the rules, regulations, time deadlines, grace periods and procedures for transfer of schools for F-1's that:

graduated form their previous school and want to transfer to a new school;
have not graduated but are between terms of their current school;
want to transfer during a term in which they are currently enrolled;
are completing OPT and want to transfer to a new school or return to the former school for a new program.

I have found that there are a variety of opinions about how these matters should be handled.  Do you think this should be discussed?

So let me hear from you about other topics for discussion.

Arthur Levine <LevineArthur@fhda.edu>

Expanding the Circle: Creating and Inclusive Environment for LGBTQ Students and Studies
February 25-28, 2010

I am very pleased to announce that CIIS is sponsoring a national higher education conference: Expanding the Circle: Creating and Inclusive Environment for LGBTQ Students and Studies to be held at the Hotel Nikko, San Francisco, February 25-28, 2010.

This conference will address factors that have contributed to excluding lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) issues from academic study and student life; and also explore strategies to make our campuses more inclusive for all students. We will examine strategies and best practices that effectively integrate LGBTQ areas of teaching and research with student life activities. This will be among the first national conferences in higher education to focus on LGBTQ concerns by seeking connections across diversities, disciplines, and academic and student affairs.

As you will see on the website, the conference is primarily directed toward higher education, mainly the academic and the student life areas. Please let our colleagues in student services know about this conference.  http://expandingthecircle.com/

Session information: http://expandingthecircle.com/2009/09/concurrent-sessions/

Thank you in advance!

Jody O'Connor

International Student Advisor

California Institute of Integral Studies

1453 Mission St., 4th Floor

San Francisco, CA 94103

Tel) 415/575-6157

Fax) 415/575-1268

www.ciis.edu



Introducing the SF Bay Area Professional International Educators Roundtable Program (BA-PIER)

What is BA-PIER?

The Bay Area Professional International Educators Roundtable (BA-PIER) provides international educators with a forum to meet regularly to discuss the current issues and government regulations that affect international students and scholars. It is an independent and informal organization dedicated to the professional growth and support of its members.

BA-PIER Goals

  • Develop an ongoing support network among international educators
  • Facilitate communication between international educators, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and other organizations such as the Department of Commerce, and the Department of State (DoS) 
  • Foster enrichment opportunities and professional growth for its members
  • Actively mentor new members in the field

What BA-PIER Offers You

  • Periodic liaison meetings with DHS
  • Ongoing support network
  • Opportunities for professional growth
  • Mentor program
  • Special workshops
  • E-mail listserv  for BA-PIER announcements, updates and Q&A

BA-PIER Meetings

Regular meetings are held throughout the year and are usually scheduled on the third Thursday of the months of September, November, February, April and June. A different member school or institution hosts each meeting. Meetings include immigration news and updates, an educational program and roundtable discussions on a variety of topics.

How to become a member?

Please send the BA-PIER application & check for $5 membership fee (payable to Susan Sermeno BA-PIER Treasurer) to:

Susan Sermeno, BA-PIER Treasurer2008-09

John F. Kennedy University Admissions

100 Ellinwood Way

Pleasant Hill, CA 94523-4817
  • After the BA-PIER application is processed you will be added to the official BA-PIER e-mail listserv