International Services

• About OIS

  • Hours and Location
  • Mission and Goals
  • Organizational Chart
  • Meet our Staff
  • Emergency Contact Information
  • Contact Us

• International Center

  • Programs & Events
  • IC History
  • Student Groups
  • Bloomington Worldwide Friendship

• Student & Scholar Advising

  • Students

    • F-1 Students
    • J-1 Students
    • Orientation

  • Faculty, Staff, & Visitors

    • J-1 Scholars
    • H-1B Employees
    • Permanent Residence
    • Short-term Visitors
  • Living in the U.S.
• Site Map

---

• Indiana University

  • About IU
  • Bloomington
  • Indianapolis
  • East
  • Fort Wayne
  • Kokomo
  • Northwest
  • South Bend
  • Southeast

---

⇒ Student & Scholar Advising ⇒ Faculty, Staff, & Visitors ⇒ J-1 Scholars ⇒ Scholar Newsletter: March 2008

Scholar Newsletter: March 2008

What’s New?

Scholar Newsletter:

This is the first edition of the OIS Scholar Newsletter.  We hope that you enjoy this monthly up-date, as well as the electronic format, as we reach out to J-1 scholars across campus.

New Advisor:

Jennifer Ashcraft joined the OIS staff in October as the new J-1 Scholar Advisor.  Jennifer is a native of Indiana and completed her BA in Sociology at IU.  She also holds a Master’s degree in Higher Education, and worked as an academic advisor and study abroad advisor prior to her current role.  J-1 Scholars may contact her at jeashcra@indiana.edu.

Scholar Profile

Each month, the OIS Scholar Newsletter will include the Scholar Profile to introduce and recognize the activities of a scholar at IU.  We hope these profiles will be interesting to you, and help you get to know other scholars on campus.  Our first featured scholar is Dr. Pia Paivio.

Dr. Pia Paivio comes to IU via Turku, Finland and Berlin, Germany, with an interesting background.  She completed her BA in Fine Arts & Art History and Theater Costuming from St. Mary’s College of California, where she also played NCAA basketball.  After returning to Finland, she completed her MA and Ph.D. in Finnish linguistics at the University of Turku.

Dr. Paivio arrived at IU’s Department of Central Eurasian Studies in August 2007 and teaches three levels of language courses (introductory, intermediate and advanced Finnish), classical and modern Finnish literature and Finnish culture.  In fall 2008, she will also teach Finnish Morphology for Linguists.  Her research interests are simultaneous bilingual language acquisition of bilingual twins and Finnish syntax.  Dr. Paivio and her family plan to stay at IU for at least two years and eventually return to Europe.  Her husband is from Germany, so they hope to continue their lives and jobs in Germany, Finland, or a third country.

We asked Dr. Paivio to share some information about her experiences at IU:

Q: What is one thing you enjoy about IU?

A: I love the women’s basketball games.  I used to play basketball myself on a high level in three different countries (Finland, US, and Germany) for over 15 years.  I am a former national team player of Finland, and I have played against Ann Donovan and actually also Cheryl Miller in the mid-eighties as the US women’s team was on a tour in Europe.  I am still the tallest (6′ 5″) registered female player in Finland.  We try to make it to every home game the women’s team has.

Q: Are you involved in any activities at IU or in Bloomington?

A: I try to be active in bringing Finland and Finnish culture out to people on campus, and I try to make it to every meeting of the Baltic-Finnic student association.  I am a mother of 4-year-old twin daughters, so evenings I normally dedicate to them.

Q: What advice do you have for other scholars?

A: The students have so much talent in different fields, go out and explore it, watch them perform and enjoy it.

Important Dates

Spring Break:

Spring Recess (also known as Spring Break) is March 8–16.  There will be no classes at IU during this time, but most university offices (including OIS) will remain open for regular business hours.  Monroe County schools also have spring break during these dates.  Spring break is a popular time for many people to travel to warmer climates for a week of fun and relaxation.  If you plan to travel outside the US, remember to request a travel signature via iStart at least two weeks before you travel.

Daylight Savings Time:

Daylight Savings Time begins on Sunday, March 9th at 2:00am.  During Daylight Savings Time, clocks are turned forward one hour, moving an hour of daylight from the morning to the evening.

Tax Day:

April 15th is the due date for filing both federal and state tax returns for income earned in 2007.  The VITA help sessions will start on March 1st and end on April 12th.  To sign up for a VITA tax help session, please sign in at iStart and click on “Session Sign-ups” and then “VITA Tax Advising.”

Upcoming Events

Scholar Luncheon:

The next Scholar Luncheon will be held Thursday, March 20th at 12:00pm in the International Center (111 S. Jordan Ave.).

Trip to Chicago:

The International Center will be hosting a trip to Chicago on April 12th.  If you are interested in going on a trip with other internationals, mark your calendar, and keep an eye out for more information in the near future.

Something To Do

Farmer’s Market:

The Bloomington Winter Farmers’ Market is held at the Harmony School Gymnasium (2nd Street and Woodlawn Avenue), 9:00am–12:00 noon on Saturdays through March 29th.  The indoor market offers the opportunity to buy from local growers, listen to live music, watch chef demonstrations, and enjoy a sense of community.  For more information, visit the Winter Farmer’s Market website.  The Bloomington Community (outdoor) Farmer’s Market, located at Showers Plaza (North Morton and 8th Street), will open the first Saturday in April.  See the Farmer’s Market website for more details.

Did You Know?

The building now known as Franklin Hall was once known as the new Library building.  It was designed by Patton and Miller of Chicago and completed on January 1, 1908, at a cost of $137,000.  William Lowe Bryan, who was the president of IU at that time, selected the words from Milton to go over the entrance doorway, “A good book is the precious life-blood of a master-spirit.” Source

J Regulation Reminder: Travel

If you wish to travel outside the US during your J program, you should:

1. Make sure that your passport is valid at least six months into the future.  In most cases you will also need a valid J-1 visa stamp in your passport before returning to the US.
2. If you are traveling to a country other than your home country, consult with the appropriate embassy/consulate to determine what documents are required for entry.
3. If your DS-2019 has not been signed for travel authorization within the past 12 months, submit a travel signature request via iStart at least two weeks prior to travel.  You will be contacted when the request is approved, with instructions to have your DS-2019 signed for travel.

Remember, travel outside the US includes Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean, and includes any form of transportation (land, air, sea).  Also, J-2 dependent status is tied to your J-1 status, so consult with OIS if you will be traveling without your dependent spouse and/or children.  If your DS-2019 is issued by an organization other than IU (such as Fulbright), please consult with them regarding your travel.

Ideas?

Are there items you would like to see included in future editions of the Scholar Newsletter?  Click here to send us your suggestions.