Did you know...?
The ceiling mural in Rice University's Duncan Hall is called
“The Birth of Consciousness.”
Office of International Students & Scholars
Lovett Hall, Entrance A, Second Floor
Rice University, Houston TX
Phone: (713) 348-6095 Fax: (713) 348-6058
i-PREP (international - Preparation and Regulatory Education Program) (updated as of 03/04/2008 at 9:30am)
The purpose for iPREP is quite different than O-Week - which is why we named it differently. The principal purposes are: 1) To equip the international students with the immigration and legal information that they need, 2) Get them to check-in the OISS with immigration documentation, 3) Let them rest and have time to settle, see the city, get things they need to buy, 4) Build "community" between themselves and with our office, and 5) Understand the role of the OISS and how we can support them during their stay at Rice.
**i-PREP is a program intended for non-immigrant foreign national undergraduate and exchange students. U.S. Citizen and Permanent Resident students from abroad, who feel like "international" students, are welcome to attend the i-PREP information sessions, however the i-PREP on-campus lodging, meals, and transportation are reserved for the foreign nationals. The program begins on August 15 at 9:00am.
We invite all "international" students to join us for the International Reconnect on Wednesday, August 20 at 3:00pm in Sewall Hall, Room 309
**
TRANSPORTATION
Transportation options for new incoming international undergraduates and exchange students are available here. *Updates available*
KEYS
Keys to the college dormitories will be available for pick-up from the Campus Police Department from Thursday, August 14th, 2008 until 12:00(noon) Friday, August 15th, for all i-PREP participants. Please see their location on the map. Please be sure to have your immigration documents, as proof of identity. For students who miss i-PREP: As of 12:00(noon) on Friday, August 15th, the keys will be returned to the colleges, and regular move-in and check-in procedures for O-Week will apply.
MEALS for students during iPREP: Thursday (August 14th) Lunch (12:00pm - 1:00pm): on-campus Dinner (4:30pm - 5:30pm): on-campus
Sunday (August 17th) Brunch (~11:30am): Brunch will be in the colleges with all the incoming undergraduates
REQUIRED attendance
The i-PREP schedule may be found here. The entire program will be held on Friday, August 15th, and is required for all new international undergraduate and exchange students. Any student unable to attend, must notify OISS in advance.
OPTIONAL activities
On Saturday, August 16th, international students will be on their own and free to do the activities they wish. OISS recommends that students take the time to rest and set themselves up for school. Please see the options below:
1) BANKING: Chase Bank will be open on Saturday from 9am to 3pm as a courtesy to new Rice students. Students may open their bank accounts by taking their immigration documents, and the bank letter provided by OISS to verify their foreign address. It is recommended that students also take their Rice ID if they have obtained it.
2) CITY TOUR:
Individual - Sign up with Houston Greeters at http://houstongreeters.org/ for an individualized tour of the city. Group - A Christian non-profit group will be providing a group tour of the city and offering a meal to new students wishing to participate. For questions, please write: Chris.Sneller@uscm.org
3) SHOPPING and ACTIVITIES: Students may take the Rice Shuttle from the Rice Graduate Apartments to go to the Super Target and Fiesta grocery store to purchase necessities. Also, other activities near Rice are available for students. Click here for details.
4) REST, SLEEP and RELAX: It is highly recommended that students take the time to rest and relax, as O-Week is a fun-filled with with not much time to sleep!
WHAT TO BRING TO iPREP:
-Immigration original documents including: passport, I-94 (white arrival/departure card), I-20 or DS-2019.
-Recommended: Make 3 copies of immigration documents before Friday at 1pm, so that you can facilitate: 1) check-in, 2) Texas ID application (at DPS) and 3) bank account application.
NOTE: Be sure to read the undergraduate booklet provided to you in your international packet, as it has important arrival information.
For list of PIAs (Peer International Advisors), please click here.
PARENTS/RELATIVES:
Parents and relatives are welcome to attend the i-PREP if they wish, however on-campus lodging and meals are reserved for students only.
For accommodations near Rice, click here. For restaurants near Rice, click here.
