International Student Admission and Registration Policy

Purpose

To ensure compliance with United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, state and College requirements.

Definitions

Principal Designated School Official (PDSO)

Designated School Official (DSO)

Policy

International students are those who do not have United States citizenship, permanent residency, or refugee or political asylum status. International students must complete the College’s International Student Admissions and Registration process, including the International Student Requirements packet sent via email after the application has been reviewed. More information about this process can be found at www.minnesota.edu/international-students. International students must also meet the English language proficiency, academic, financial support, and immunization and health insurance requirements. The College issues the Form I-20 for F-1 and M-1 student visas to accepted students.

English Proficiency Requirements

Minnesota State Community and Technical College requires a minimum score of 550 on the paper version of the TOEFL exam, 213 on the computer version, or 79 on the internet-based version, or recent completion of a college-level composition course with a grade of “C” or better from a regionally accredited college or university in the United States. The College may waive the English requirement for an applicant whose home country’s native language is English. The College’s PDSO and Admissions Office maintains a list of qualifying countries.

Academic Requirements

The minimum academic requirement is graduation from an accredited secondary school or its equivalent. International student applicants must arrange for the College’s Admissions Office to receive official academic records from all secondary, college, university or professional institutions they have attended. The College reserves the right to determine the appropriateness of the certification. Documents not in English must be translated into English and submitted with a copy of the original document. Translations must be certified by a school or public official as a true copy/translation of the original document.

Cost of translation and document evaluation is incurred by the applicant. World Evaluation Services (WES) and Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE) are recommended providers, but any current member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) is accepted.

Financial Requirements

a. International student applicants must provide documentation verifying that all educational and living expenses will be provided for their first year of enrollment at the College (additional information regarding documentation will be provided via email in the Student Requirement Packet, Financial Responsibilities Statement). The College reserves the right to determine the accuracy of the financial certification. Financial statements must be recent (within the last 60 days).

b. International students are expected to have sufficient funds to meet all educational and living expenses through the duration of their educational program. Financial aid is not available for international students through the College. Off-campus employment is not available during the first year of academic study. Off-campus employment opportunities are limited after the first year and are subject to the regulations of the Department of Homeland Security unless special situations are identified.

c. Students must pay their tuition and fee balance in full no later than the fifth day of the academic term or have an approved payment plan in place per Minnesota State system Procedure 5.12.3 Payment Related Dates and Registration Cancellation. Failure to do so will result in a cancellation of that term’s courses and the termination of their SEVIS record.

Immunization Requirements

Minnesota law requires that all students born after 1956 and who are enrolled in a public or private postsecondary school in Minnesota be immunized against diphtheria, tetanus, measles, mumps and rubella, allowing for certain specified exceptions.

Health Insurance Requirements

International students shall purchase the system-approved student health insurance, procured by the College, except those students whose sponsoring agency or government certifies that the student is covered under a plan provided by the sponsoring agency or government.

Responsibility

Prospective International Student 

Complete online application, fill out and fully complete International Student Packet with required documents.

Admissions

Determine international student eligibility, collect and process documents, notify PDSO when ready for review and acceptance.

PDSO

Review student documents, issue acceptance letter/email, issue I-20, enter student information into SEVIS, annual DSO verification, communication with SEVP field representative, updating international student packet and website, procuring international student insurance, ensuring compliance with Student and Exchange Visitor Information System, and recertification process.

DSO

Assist with student onboarding, advising, and registration, ensure international student requirements are being met in accordance with the US Dept of Homeland Security, maintain SEVIS record.

References

Department of Homeland Security

Associated Policies and Procedures

Minnesota State system Procedure 5.12.3 Payment Related Dates and Registration Cancellation