A guide for students from outside the United States
Welcome
Welcome to the University of Wisconsin-Stout! Students, professors and staff at Stout hope that you will find your stay in the United States a pleasant and rewarding one. This page contains information you will need to make your travel plans and some suggestions on topics concerning your arrival. If you have any questions, you may write or call:
Office of International Education
400 Bowman Hall
Office hours: 8:00 a.m. -- 4:30 p.m.
Telephone: 715/232-2132
E-Mail: globaled@uwstout.edu
Fax: 715/232-2500
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Passports and Visas
Before leaving your country, you must obtain a passport from your government and a visa from a United States Consulate or Embassy. As part of the visa process, you must first go to www.fmjfee.com to make the $100.00 (U.S. dollars) SEVIS 1-901 payment in order to be granted an interview with a consular official. The website has additional links to obtain further assistance if needed. You should take your Certificate of Eligibility, either your I-20AB or the DS-2019, student or scholar document, to the nearest U.S. Consulate to have an F-1 or J-1 visa stamped on your passport. Some U.S. Consulates may require that you also bring your letter of admission from UW-Stout and documents indicating how you expect to pay your personal and educational expenses while you are studying in the U.S. Occasionally, students have entered the U.S. on another type of visa of visa called a B-2, or a visitor's visa. This is not the correct visa for students and cannot be changed to a student (F-1 or J-1) visa after you are in the United States. (The only exception is when "Prospective Student" is written on the B-2 visa). It is entirely your responsibility to obtain the correct visa and to maintain your immigration status while you are in the United States. Read the conditions of your visa, form I-20AB or form DS-2019, before you enter the country.
Location
University of Wisconsin-Stout, an institution of 8,000 students, is located in Menomonie, Wisconsin, which has a population of 15,000. An international dimension is added to the city by the presence of 150 students from about 30 countries.
The university's attractive campus is situated on a lake surrounded by rivers and hills with biking, camping, and hiking. Entertainment and cultural events are offered on campus, in the community, and in nearby Minneapolis-St. Paul, one hour west on Interstate 94.
The university is well known nationally and internationally for its programs leading to professional careers in industry, commerce, education, and human services through the study of technology, applied science, art, dietetics, food and nutrition, industrial management, human behavior, and human development and family studies.
The university is in the middle of the city and most businesses and stores are nearby. There is no local public transportation. Most students walk, use bicycles, or own cars. Most student housing is within walking distance of the campus.
Climate and Clothing
Menomonie's climate is characterized by great temperature extremes. During the summer (June-September), temperatures are often above 80° Fahrenheit (26.6° Celsius) and occasionally above 90° F (32° C), while during the winter (December-March), you must expect many days of 0° F (-16° C) readings, and even lower. Both very light and very heavy clothing will be needed. Students usually wear casual attire, sweaters, shirts and pants (both male and female).
Travel Advice
If you should have any problems while traveling, feel free to ask people for advice. When you arrive in the U.S., you can receive assistance at your Port of Entry (i.e. New York, Chicago, San Francisco and other major cities) in going through customs, transfering airlines, finding accommodations, changing money or other arrival issues.
Reporting Dates and Procedures
Entering international students should arrive in time for the orientation program, Fall — September 2, 2009 and Spring — January 21, 2010. (No summer orientation.) If you cannot arrive before the reporting date on the I-20 (item #5), you should write and request that the Admissions Office update your application for the following semester.
New Student Orientation
All international students who enroll at the University of Wisconsin-Stout for the first time are required to attend an International Student Orientation Program. When you arrive in Menomonie, you should report to the Office of International Education, 4th Floor, Bowman Hall. Upon arrival, the Office of International Education will provide you with an orientation schedule and other pertinent information about UW-Stout and Menomonie. The required orientation program will include topics such as: housing, banking practices, immigration regulations, enrollment procedures and other academic information, shopping and American customs. The purpose of the orientation is to acquaint you with the United States, UW-Stout and Menomonie, and to help you get settled before you attend classes.
Travel to Menomonie
To reach Menomonie from Minneapolis use the Chippewa Valley Airport Service. Schedules and reservation capabilities can be found online at www.chippewavalleyairportservice.com.
Please notify the Office of International Education as soon as you have made arrival plans so that someone can meet you in Menomonie to transport you to campus.
Health Insurance and Medical Costs
The university provides only out-patient health care for students and only for the period of actual enrollment. Care is not provided for spouses and other dependents. No university health care is available during the summer months. All other health care needs must be met through private health care providers, and costs connected with such care can be extremely high. Therefore the university requires mandatory health insurance for all international students during the time they are students at UW-Stout. The university health insurance is included in your billing statement. Coverage from your home country will probably be inadequate to meet U.S. health care costs. Additional information on insurance will be provided during the orientation program.
Housing
Many international students choose to live on campus in the residence halls. The halls are convenient to classrooms, the library, the dining halls, the student center, the athletic facilities, and most campus offices and departments. Campus housing is for single students (we do not have married student or family housing), and is required for freshman and sophomore students who are under the age of 21. UW-Stout also offers double rooms (two people per room) and single rooms (one person per room). You will need to provide your own towel and washcloth, soap, toothpaste, shampoo, sheets and blankets, pillows, and other personal items. If you bring clocks, radios or other small electrical appliances, please remember that the U.S. uses 120 volt AC (alternating current). Other appliances, or direct current electronics, will not operate. Internet connections are available in all residence halls. Cooking is allowed in the kitchen located in the basement of the hall. Large bathrooms with 3–4 sinks, 3–4 private showers, and 3–4 toilet areas are shared by approximately 30 members of the floor.
Meals
Students living on campus in the residence halls are required to participate in one of the university meal plans offered by the University Dining Service. If you live off-campus, you will be responsible for making your own arrangements for your meals, whether you prepare them yourself in your room or apartment, eat in a restaurant, or you may opt to participate in a university meal plan.
Money and Expenses
It is quite expensive to live in the United States. You must be prepared to pay the entire cost of schooling and, if at all possible, you should bring the entire year's resources with you. If the funds are not in a U.S. bank, traveler's checks or other safe and easy convertible means of transporting the money should be used. Do not carry large sums of cash! Before coming to the U.S., talk with your sponsor's bank about currency transfers. Find out about time needed to obtain money, limits on the amount which can be transferred at any one time, and special processes to follow. Because it can take 3-4 weeks for checks drawn on foreign banks to clear, you should bring an adequate supply of international money orders or traveler's checks with you. Do not pack these in your luggage!
The estimated cost of attending the University of Wisconsin-Stout for a 9 month academic year is:
| Estimated Yearly Cost (Student Only) | Undergraduate | Graduate |
| Tuition and fees | $15,846 | $10,512 |
| Housing (1 bedroom shared on campus) | 3,000 | 3,000 |
| Food and Living Expenses | 2,500 | 2,500 |
| Books, supplies, other instructional costs | 200 | 200 |
| Health Insurance (student only) | 828 | 828 |
| Total ---> | $22,374 | $17,040 |
More detail is available here.
Dependents: Support of dependents is not included in the estimates above. An additional $4,000 yearly is estimated for support of a spouse and $1,500 for each child. In order to receive a Visa for spouse and children you must show that you have funds to cover their expenses. Funds are not available in Menomonie or at UW-Stout to cover these costs.
There is an annual increase in total expenses of approximately eight percent or more. This should be taken into consideration when making financial plans for more than one year of study at UW-Stout.
Payment: You can pay for your tuition, housing or food plan by money order, personal check, cash or UW-Stout's debit card.
Spouses and Children
If you will be accompanied or joined by family members, it is essential that you have sufficient funds to support them here, including child care costs if you have preschool children and your spouse will be unable to care for them full-time. Anyone you bring with you for the purpose of daytime child care must be over the age of 16. All school age children between the ages of 6 and 16 must attend school full-time during the day according to U.S. law. Children under the age of 6 can attend preschool or day care programs. If you have school age children accompanying you, please notify us as soon as possible so we can contact the school system.
International Relations Club
We invite you to join the International Relations Club (IRC) — a cultural, social and educational organization that brings students together from more than 30 nations. One or two activities are organized each month in addition to the monthly IRC meeting, and are open to everyone in the Stout community. These activities foster social interactions between U.S. and international students, and promote international awareness and understanding.
One Final Note
Each year during International Week which is in mid-November, we sponsor many events and hold an international dinner and fair offering international students an opportunity to wear their native dress, and display art and artifacts from their countries. It is an opportunity for the campus and the community to celebrate the rich and diverse cultures represented by our international students. Our international students often find it helpful to bring small, inexpensive items which are typical of their customs and culture. Suggested items include photographs and slides, native dress or costumes, recorded music, and musical instruments, recipes and cooking utensils, toys, games, posters and artwork. We encourage all international students to participate in this fun and popular event.
We hope that the information provided meets your immediate needs. We will be ready to assist you with your questions when you arrive.
Please notify us of your arrival date and time as soon as possible so that we can have someone available to meet you in Menomonie. Should you need to reach us any time after you enter the U.S., please call us at 715/232-2132.
Best
wishes for a safe and pleasant journey!
The Office of International Education
You
will need to refer to this information as you travel.
Print this document and keep it with you, not in your luggage.