Samford University International Getting Started

Samford
University
International
Getting Started
Guide
2014-2015
Table of Contents
Welcome to Samford University! ....................................... 1
Facts & Figures ................................................................. 2
International Student and Scholar Services ....................... 2
Academic Services ............................................................ 3
English Language Learner Institute (ELLI) .......................... 3
Academic Success Center ................................................. 4
Career Development Center (CDC) ..................................... 4
Communication Resource Center ....................................... 4
Student Health .................................................................. 5
Insurance ......................................................................... 5
Welcome to Birmingham &
Alabama! ............................... 6
Living in Birmingham ......................................................... 6
Attraction s & Recreation ................................................... 6
Restaurants & Dining ........................................................ 7
Churches, Synagogues, and Places of Worship ................... 7
Banking ............................................................................ 7
Bank Services .................................................................. 7
Checking Account ............................................................. 7
Savings Account ............................................................... 8
Stores .............................................................................. 8
Housing ........................................................................... 9
Utilities .......................................................................... 10
Mail Service ................................................................... 11
Schools .......................................................................... 11
Transportation ................................................................ 13
On-campus Transportation ............................................... 13
Private Vehicles .............................................................. 13
Amtrak ........................................................................... 13
Local Public Transportation ............................................. 14
Driving in Alabama .......................................................... 15
International Driving Permits ............................................ 15
Alabama Driver’s License ................................................ 15
Welcome to the United States! ........................................ 17
U.S. Culture & Customs ................................................... 17
Immigration Regulations .................................................. 18
U.S. S ystems of Education and Samford Uni versit y ......... 21
Post-Secondary Education ............................................... 21
Schools/Colleges/Universities .......................................... 21
Relationship between Students and Advisors .................... 21
Relationship between Students and Faculty ...................... 22
Common Academic Terms and Policies ........................... 22
Credit Hours and Semester System .................................. 22
Major, Minor, Core, and Electives ..................................... 23
Grade Point Average (GPA) ............................................. 24
Tests and Quizzes .......................................................... 25
Oral Presentations .......................................................... 25
Assessment .................................................................... 26
Research Papers ............................................................ 26
Syllabus ......................................................................... 26
Group Projects ............................................................... 27
Plagiarism ...................................................................... 27
Select Contact Information .............................................. 28
Welcome to Samford University!
Home of the Samford Bulldogs!
For more than years, Samford University and its students have impacted the world with
their academic achievement and leadership skills. At the University’s core is a foundation of Christian
values and belief, a mission to nurture persons for God, for learning, forever that has withstood the test
of time. Because of the united dedication to this mission, Samford students discover that professors,
administrators, and staff encourage them to reach their highest potential intellectually, spiritually, and
socially. The rewards are numerous, and the impact on individual lives is endless.
Samford was founded in 1841 by Alabama Baptists. As a Christian university, the community fosters
academic, career, and ethical competency, while encouraging social and civic responsibility and service
to others. Samford offers bachelors, masters, and professional doctoral degrees, as well as continuing
education and various types of worthwhile, non-degree learning. The university serves students through
eight schools:
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Howard College of Arts and Sciences
School of The Arts
Brock School of Business
Beeson Divinit y School
Orlean Bullar d Beeson School of Educat ion and Prof essional Studies
Cumber land School of Law
Ida V. Mof f ett School of Nursing
McWhorter School of Pharmacy
School of Public Health
School of Health Professions
The Samford international community is made up of people from across the world. We are enriched by
your presence here and honored that you have chosen to attend Samford University!
1
Facts & Figures
Address
800 Lakeshore Dr ive, Birmingham, Alabama, USA, 35229 - 0001
Area
3,358 square miles in the Birmingham Metropolitan Stat istical Area
(Jeff erson, W alker, St. Clair, Shelby and Blount Counties )
Area Code
The telephone area code f or Samf ord Universit y is (205). Campus
telephone numbers begin with the pref ix of 726. The general
telephone number is (205) 726 - 2011.
Altitude
Average is 620 f eet. Range is 583 to 1,200 feet
Latitude
33’34 North
Longitude
86’45 West
Population
938,500 in the Metropolitan area. 22% of Alabama’s total populat ion
is in the Birmingham area. Birm ingham is 7 t h in size in metro areas in
the Southeast.
Statistics
Birmingham ranks 11 t h in per capita income among oth er
southeastern metropolitan areas.
Climate
Average Day Temper ature
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Januar y - 46°F (6°C)
April - 63°F (17°C)
July - 90°F (37°C)*
November - 52°F (11°C)
Average Day I nches of Rain
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Time
Januar y - 4.84”
April - 4.67”
July - 5.22”
November - 4.85”
Birmingham is in the Central Standard Time (CST) Zone.
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International Student and Scholar Services
The International Student and Scholar Ser vices Team is responsible f or
assisting the int ernational student and scholar communit y at Samf ord
Universit y. The Office of International Education , along with t he English
Language Lear ner institute (ELLI), Academic Af f airs, Student Aff airs, Residence
Lif e, and other departments, provides many diff erent services and programs to
meet the needs of our inter national commu nit y. A f ew of the ser vices pr ovided
include:
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Orientation program s
Notar y public ser vice
Social activit ies and events
International S tudent Newsletter
Inf ormation and advice r egarding visa application, imm igration status,
driver ’s licenses, health insur an ce and a host of other related issues
Contact inf ormation f or the International Student and Scholar Ser vices Team is
listed below:
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Dr. Angela Ferguson , Director of International Education
o Samf ord Hall 218C
o (205) 726. 2915
Fax: (205) 726 -4374
o adf ergus@samf ord.edu
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Mrs. J. Ashley Gassner ,
Coordinator
o Brooks Hall 122
o (205) 726. 4334
o jawells@samf ord.edu
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Int ernati onal
Student
and
Scholar
Fax: (205) 726 -4374
Mr. Kyl e Baile y, I nternational and Graduate Student Coordinator ,
Office of International Student Development, Student Aff airs
o Universit y Center 115
o (205) 726. 2737
Fax: (205) 726 -4067
o kbailey3@samf ord.edu
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Academic Services
Policies related to admissions and academics at Samf ord Universit y are noted
in the Samf ord Universit y Catalog. The 2012-2013 Catalog is located on the
Student Records website, where you will also have access to the academ ic
calendars: www.sam f ord.edu/studentrecords . Admission policies are shown on
pages 14-21 and academic requirements on pages 22-29 in t he catalog. W ithin
these sect ions, please review the policies and/or processes listed below. If you
have any q uestions, you are encour aged to contact us.
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International Student Applicant Procedures
International Transfer Applicant Procedures
Academic Regulati ons
The 2013- 2014 Addendum to t he 2012 - 2013 Catalog is also located on t he
Student Recor ds website. It contains the academ ic calendars f or each of the
Universit y schools, as well as an updated tuition and f ee schedule. Please
review this section caref ully. Each of the graduate programs has a slightly
dif f erent calendar, so it is important t hat you review the information particular
to your program.
English Language Learner Institute (ELLI)
The English Language L earner Inst it ute at Samf ord Universit y of f ers a
concentrated English language curriculum designed to help non -nat ive English
speakers develop the English skills needed to achieve their academ ic goals in a
U.S. universit y. ELLI off ers two t ypes of programs: 1) An English Br idge
Program which provides a f ull curr iculum of ESL courses f or undergraduate and
graduate students t o prepare t hem f or universit y classes and 2) an ESL
Tutoring Program ( ESLT) f or graduate students which includes t utoring in
academ ic content and ESL, with a focus on academic writ ing and or al
presentat ions . Both programs include technology - based instruction, and cul tural
awareness activit ies.
For more inf ormation on ELLI and its various pr ogram off erings, please go t o
http://www.samf ord.edu/elli . A handbook f or the bridge and ESL T students can
be f ound on relat ed ELLI web pages. Contact inf ormation f or ELLI is listed
below:
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Mrs.
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Sandi Prater, ELLI Director
Brooks Hall 206
(205) 726. 4208
sprater@samf ord.edu
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Mrs.
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Susan Blazer, ELLI Assistant Director
Brooks Hall 206
(205) 726. 2678
snblazer @samf ord.edu
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Academic Success Center
The Academic Success Center is a resource center designed to f acilitate the
student ’s successf ul transition through the universit y. The director works
closely wit h f acult y, the Admission of f ice, Career Development, and the
Counseling off ices to provide academic assistance as needed. The Center is
located in Brooks Hall 127. Phone 726.2698 or email bcrose@samf ord.edu .
Career Development Center (CDC)
The Career Development Off ice (CDC) at Samf ord aids students in planning and
achieving their prof essional goals. Ser vices and pr ograms offered include:
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Job list ings f or part -time, f ull-time, and prof essional posit ions ( that
international student s may seek upon graduation)*
E-mail announcem ents of current part -time job oppor tunit ies (f or
international student s to partake in upon graduation)
Career f airs
On-campus inter view program (dates, times and employer s announced
ahead of time)
In-person resume services
Resume ref erral ser vice
Internship opportunit ies
Comprehensive resource cent er f or career -relat ed books, compan y
inf ormation, websites, videos and handouts
*Please note that as a student visa holder you are not able t o be employed of f campus as a standar d rule. However, there are inst ances (such as internships)
where you may r eceive special permission. Please contact the Off ice of
International Educat ion prior to acceptance of any posit ion off campus in order
to request this perm ission. Unauthorized employment is illegal and may result
in the cancellat ion of your student visa.
The Career Development Off ice is located in room 205 of the Universit y Center .
You m ay contact the staff at (205) 726. 2980. For more inf ormation, pl ease see
the CDC website at http://www.samf ord.edu/careerdevelopm ent/ .
Communication Resource Center
The CRC of f ers free tutoring f or all Samf ord students f or oral and wr itten
assignments. W e als o assist student s wit h crit ical reading assignments.
Students do not need to schedule an appointment. Just stop by the cent er
(Brooks 222) to talk with a tutor about wr iting, speaking, or reading. Visit us in
Brooks 222; email us at crc@samf ord.edu ; or call us at 205 -726- 2137. The
CRC has lim ited hours in the summer months.
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Samford University Library
The Samf ord Univer sit y Librar y is the primar y libr ar y f or all students, f a cult y,
and staf f . In addit ion to books, eBooks, periodicals, unique collections, and
electronic resources, the librar y ser ves as an off icial repositor y of a large
collect ion of government documents. The Special Collection houses outstanding
research mater ials with part icular strengths in Alabama histor y, Bapt ist records,
and Samf ord Univer sit y Archives. Individualized and group instruct ion in the
use of libr ar y resources is provided on a r egular basis by librarians. The
f ollowing are available f or patron us e: a computer laborator y, computer
classroom, individual and group study rooms, multimedia viewing and listening
rooms, meeting rooms with advanced pr esent ation and conf erencing
capabilities, and a patron -lounge area. For more inf ormation please visit
http://libr ar y.samf ord.edu .
Student Health
Healthcar e in the United States is excellent, but cost ly. The United St ates does
not off er a national health plan nor d oes the government pay any part of a
health plan to r educe costs . Responsibilit y f or payment of healthcare is placed
on the individual.
Due to the expense of healthcare, the purchase of a
thorough health insurance coverage plan is a necessit y.
Samf ord Universit y Student Health Ser vices provides students wit h care f or
non-emergency illne sses. The of f ice is open year-round to ser ve your needs ,
but hours var y accor ding to the time of year. Please call 726.2835 or visit t he
web page at www.samf ord.edu/he althservices to conf irm days/t imes . You are
encour aged to schedule an appointment prior to your visit in an eff ort to
minim ize your wait ing time. The off ices are located on t he ground f loor of
Seibert Gymnasium.
The Counseling Ser vices Off ice is a reso urce f or all student s. This off ice may
be of assistance in t he event you are depressed, homesick, or having learning
dif f iculties. It is also located on the ground f loor of Seibert Gymnasium. Further
inf ormation regarding Counseling Services may be f ound online at
www. samf ord.edu/counseling or call the Crisis Center at (205) 323.7777.
Insurance
All students and scholars , domest ic and int ernational, are required to carr y
adequate medical insurance during the cour se of their pr ogram at Samf ord
Universit y. You have the option to provide your own policy f or review or to
obtain the Samf ord Universit y plan through United Health Care . If you do not
“waive out” of the Samf ord University health insurance by t he deadline you will
be automat ically enrolled and the charges listed below will be post ed to your
student account. You will receive your insurance ident if ication card to your U.S.
address.
To “waive out” of the Samf ord Universit y insurance plan
go to
www. samf ord.edu/healthser vices and f ollow the links related to student health
insurance inf ormation. Af ter you subm it your policy f or review you will be
notif ied of whether it qualif ies. If so, you will not be charged f or the Samf ord
Universit y insurance plan. If your plan does not qualif y, you will be not if ied and
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will then be automatically enrolled in the Samf ord Universit y insurance policy
and the charges listed below will be placed on your student account.
HARD WAIVER
ENROLLMENT
Annual
Fall Semester Only
8/19/2013 – 8/18/2014
Student
$1301.00
Spouse
Children (per child)
$467.00
Spring/Summer
1/1/13 – 8/18/13
(New Students
Only)
$834.00
Summer
6/1/14 – 8/18/14
(New Students
Only)
$296.00
$3617.00
$1298.00
$2319.00
$822.00
$2318.00
$832.00
$1468.00
$527.00
Further inf ormation r elat ing to what is cover ed under this policy and other limits
and exclusions will be available to you in the Incom ing Int ernational Student
Online Orientation ( http://moodle.samf ord.edu ).
Welcome to Birmingham &
Alabama!
Living in Birmingham
W ith a population of near ly one m illion, t he cit y of Birm ingham is Ala bama’s largest
cit y and is the st ate’s industr ial, health, business, and cultural cent er.
Samf ord
Universit y is centrally located in the Homewood suburb, which is conve nient t o
many of the city’s entertainment areas. The city is home to major engineering
companies, a nat ionally r anked medical center, a symphony orchestra, t he
Birmingham Barons baseball team, the Birmingham Civil Rights Inst itute , and a
var iet y of other institutions and organizations that make it a thriving modern cit y.
For more inf ormatio n, please visit www. inf ormationbirmingham.com .
Attractions & Recreation
In addition to the wide var iet y of entertainment options t hroughout the cit y and
region, there are also a number of event s on the Samf ord Universit y campus . You
will receive notice of events f or internat ional students in the International Student
Newsletter. Other events are list ed on the Samf ord University website. Many of the
activities off ered on -campus, including all sporting events, are f ree wit h a vali d
student identif icat ion card. There are also a number of student clubs f or you to
join, including the International Club and the Chinese Student and Scholar
Associat ion, among many others.
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Restaurants & Dining
Birmingham boasts a large number of restaurants, including a f ew which are
nationally r enowned, such as Highland Bar and Grill. There are excellent options in
all pr ice categories, and f eaturing many dif f erent types of national and internat io nal
cuisine. A complete listing may be f ound in the local telephone director y or online.
Churches, Synagogues, and Places of Worship
Birmingham has many churches, temples , and places of wor ship. Foreign stud ents
and scholars who wish to visit or join a temple, church, mosque , or synagogue may
consult the names and addresses listed the telephone direct ory. The listing under
“churches” is classif ied by religious denomination. You may also consult t he
Appendix f or a brief listing of area churches.
Banking
Banks of f er a variety of prof essional ser vice s, including checking and savings
accounts, certif icat es of deposit (CDs), automatic teller machines (AT Ms),
electronic banking, credit and debit cards, investment ser vices , and est ate
planning. W hen selectin g a bank, it is important to det ermine which of these
ser vices is needed.
Banks and teller machines ( AT Ms) are available throughout the Birmingham ar ea.
Two banks have AT M machines on the Samf ord Universit y campus: Regions Bank
and BBVA Compass. It is advisable to obtain a checking account as it is not
recommended to car ry large sums of cash.
Samf ord Universit y partners wit h Regions Bank and BBVA Compass to help you
open a checking or savings account, because they make it possible f or you to open
an account without a Social Secur it y Number. Banks require certain inf ormation
bef ore they will open an account.
Individuals are asked to provide photo
identif icat ion, personal data, a mailing address , and money t o deposit. Most b anks
also will request a Socia l Secur it y Num ber (SSN) to be used to r eport earnings to
the f ederal tax authorit y, the Internal Revenue Ser vice (IRS). Students who work on
campus will be able to request a Social Securit y Number.
In the Unit ed St ates most people pay f or goods and ser vic es using either cr edit
cards or debit (bank) cards. It is uncommon f or people to carry large sums of cash
and not recommended that you do so . A lost credit or debit (bank) card must be
reported immediately to the company or bank that issued the card.
Bank Services
Checking Account
A checking account protects an individual’s money while allowing f or easy paym ent
of expenses. Some banks require their customers to maintain a m inimum balance
of f unds in t heir checking accounts. Virtually all checking acc ounts may be
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accessed using a plastic AT M (debit) card. The card is issued by the bank and may
be used together wit h a personal identif ication number (PIN) to withdraw cash and
make deposits at special banking machines. To avoid being f ined, do not wr ite a
check or withdraw more money than is available in the account. W hen wr iting a
check , do not leave blank areas on the check. Individuals should not writ e nor sign
a check f or cash until inside the bank.
Savings Account
A savings account is used to protect money f or a lengthy period. A low r ate of
interest is paid on the balance. Certif icates of Deposit ( CD) pay higher interest
than savings accounts; however, the individual must leave the money untouched f or
a specif ic period. The longer the money is le f t in the deposit , the higher the rate of
interest paid. Please be aware that if you have a U.S. savings account you will be
instructed at a later date, by the bank, to present to them either a Social Security
number or ITIN. If this occurs, please conta ct the bank off ice and they will give you
f urther instructions .
Stores
Stores and Shopping
In the Birmingham area there are stores to cover ever y need. The local newspaper
has advertising sect ions, which show sales f or the diff erent stores in the ar ea.
Individuals are encouraged to check coupons that can be used f or addit ional
discounts off attraction s, f ood products, restaurants , etc. St udents can sometim es
benef it f rom discounts f or movie theat ers and local attractions by showing their
student ID. Be sur e to ask attractions and rest aurants if they off er a student
discount.
In the United States, there is an aut omatic sales tax, which is attached to any
purchase made. Depending upon the area of Birmingham, a tax of 5 -9% will be
added to purchased items . This cost will be added when you check out, and will be
listed separately on the receipt .
Grocer y Stores
Grocery stores sell all t ypes of f ood such as f resh, f rozen and canned f ish, poultr y,
meat, f ruit, vegetables and prepared dishes. They also sell s taples such as f lour,
sugar, salt , and spices. Bakery goods, dair y products, toiletries (shampoo and
toothpaste), and paper products (toilet paper, paper towels, sanitar y napkins,
paper t issue, paper plat es and paper cups) are also available in grocer y sto res.
Some grocer y stor es also contain a phar macy (W al -Mart, Target), allowing patrons
to purchase prescr ibed medications. Several local grocer y stores cater to specif ic
international cuisines, such as Greek, Asian, Lat in Amer ican and Mediterranean .
Certain grocer y stor es also specialize in organic and inter national f oods (W hole
Foods, W orld Market, etc.)
Drugstores
Drugstores are stor es that are licensed t o sell pharmaceutical pr oducts. Examples
are W algreens and CVS. Doctors’ prescript ions can be f illed at a drugstore .
Drugstores also have a large select ion of cosmetics, soap, shampoo, t oothpast e,
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periodicals, household medicines , and greeting cards.
Department Stores
Department st ores sell a variet y of things: shoes, clothing, appliances, f urniture,
f abric, dishes, linens, and pots and pans. Hours of departm ent stores are usually
f rom 10:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday; m ost are also open on
Sunday af ternoon.
Second-hand Stores
These stores sell items that have been previously owned. W hen you leave
Birmingham it is also possible f or you to donate or sell your items to a second hand, thrif t or consignment store. Consignment shops and t hrif t stores in the ar ea
carry second- hand f urnishings , books and clothes that can be obtained at a ve ry
reasonable pr ice. Ref er to the Appendix f or a listing of area shops.
Housing
On-campus Housing
All Samf ord Universit y undergraduate students and exchange students live in on campus residence halls . The Off ice of Residence Lif e provides inf ormatio n about
the dif f erent residence halls and other amenit ies of f ered on campus. It is important
that you turn in your housing application f orm (available f or download on t he
Incoming International Student Online O rientat ion in Moodle) as soon as possible,
so that your wishes about a pr ivate room or your choice of roommate and living
situat ion can be honored. Please visit the Residence Life website f or f urther
inf ormation: www.samf ord.edu/reslif e . Please note t hat housing assignments f or the
upcom ing year are generally completed by July 31, so it is important to get your
inf ormation in ear ly.
Off-campus Apartment Housing
All Samf ord Univer sit y graduat e students must secure their own off -campus
housing. Apartment s in Hom ewood rent very quickly because Samf ord Universit y is
located in an ar ea t hat is known f or its good school systems. Theref ore, do not
delay in complet ing your applicat ion f or an apartment . It is your responsibilit y t o
f ind your own housing, set u p utilit ies, et c. Samf ord University does not of f er these
ser vices. For your convenience, attached is a listing of addit ional apartments with
some general inf ormation and rates to help you secur e housing.
Please note that i f you wish to have a roommate you will need to coordinate that
yourselves. A Facebook page (Samf ord Universit y Internat ional St udents) has been
created and you have been invited to that page. This page is meant as a way f or
you to begin to meet each other. You are also able to commu nicate with each ot her
using the Incoming International Student Online Orientat ion in Moodle
(http://moodle.samf ord.edu ). Shar ing an apartment will be the most econom ical
housing situation f or each of you.
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Questions to Ask Before Renting an Apartment
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How much is the rent?
W hen is the rent due?
W hat is included in the rent? Utili t ies (Electricit y, Gas, Water)? Phone?
Cable?
How long is the lease? Is there a penalt y f or breaking the lease contract?
How much not ice m ust be given bef ore the lease is term inated? W ill the
secur it y deposit be retu rned when the lease has expir ed?
Are storage f acilities available? Are there laundr y f acilit ies?
Are both f urnished and unf urnished apart ments available?
If you have a car or motorcycle, ask: Is parking is available? If so, what
kind? Is it on the street, in a garage, or in parking lot? Are there additiona l
charges f or parking a vehicle?
If you have children ask : W here the near est childcare f acilit y ? W here are the
nearest schools? Is t here is a bus ser vice?
If you have pets ask : Are pets allowed ? Is there a limit on size or number of
pets allowed? Is there a pet deposit? If so, is it per pet ? Is it ref undable if
there is no damage to the apartment?
Furnishing an Apartment
For individuals living on -campus, most of the f urnishings will be provided. To
purchase f urniture, individuals should check in the local newspaper (i.e. The
Birmingham News ) for used items to reduce expenses. You may also check with our
off ice as we may know of individuals wanting to sell used f urnishings. Garage sales
are another good place to f ind f urnishings. Garage sales ar e when private hom es
clear out goods they no longer need f rom their house and sell them. Somet imes
neighbors get together and have a large yar d sale. These items can include adult ’s
and children’s clothing, f urniture, appliances, household goods, toys, books , and
var ious other things . Usually goods ar e inexpensive an d it is of ten possible to
purchase good quality items. These sales are advertised in the newspaper, or signs
may be posted on posts or trees near the home wher e the sale is to take place.
Utilities
The Universit y provides all utilities except telephone and cable TV in residence
halls. Utilit y ser vices f or off campus housing may be arranged in accordance wit h
your lease agreement and in consultat ion with the applicable landlord or apartm ent
rental off ice. Please be aware that you may not need installation of all of the belo w
utilit ies. Many apartment complexes provide some ut ilities. W hen you are
determining where t o live be sure to ask which utilities are provided and which are
not.
To install these utilities:
Gas:
Contact Alabama Gas Corp. (Alagasco) (1.800.292. 4008) f or installat ion of
gas service. A cont ract and a deposit are required. Address: 20 South 2 0 t h Street,
Birmingham, AL 35295, www.alagasco.com.
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Electricit y: Alabam a Power is the utility f or electricit y. They may be reached at
1.800.245. 2244 or online at www.alabamapower.com . Please cont act them to
establish new ser vice. Explain that you are an international st udent wit h a valid
student visa (F- 1). They will set up service f or you af ter you tell them the addr ess
where you would like ser vice . A social secur it y number is not required as long as
you explain that you are a valid internat ional student. The requirements f or service
are a $150 deposit and a $40 account establishment f ee. These f ees will be billed to
your account. Your first bill will arrive in approximately 10 business days f ollowi ng
the setup of your account.
Cable TV/Internet: Check with your leasing off ice f or area representation.
Water: Contact W ater W orks Board of Birmingham (251. 5634) f or installat ion of
ser vice.
Address: 3600 1 s t Avenue North, Birmingham, AL 35283 -0269,
www. birm ingham water works.com . The charge f or wat er is usually included in your
rent, but you should check with the Leasing Off ice of your apartment complex.
Mail Service
U.S. Postal Service
The main post office for the City of B irmingham is located at 351 24 t h Street North.
It is open six days a week, twenty -four hours a day, excluding Sundays and
holidays. There is a branch located on campus. Hours of operation are 10:00 a.m.
until 4:00 p.m . Monday through Friday excluding holid ays. The campus Postal
Service phone number is 726. 2933.
*Please note tha t as a student you may have an on -campus mailbox located at the
campus post office. To determine your mailbox number and combination please
go to the Sam ford Portal and check your personal informatio n.
Electronic Mail
Enrolled students and employees are eligible to obtain a logon identif icat ion name
and password to gain access to their Samf ord e -mail box. Students and scholars
should contact Com puter Ser vices should they not rece ive their user identif icat ion
name and pass wor d. Their number is 726. 2662. They are located on t he 3 r d f loor of
Brooks Hall.
Schools
Pre-Schools/Childcare
Children under the age of f ive years m ay register to attend pre -schools/childcare
centers. Contac t individual centers to inquire about f ees and registrat ion process.
Consult the local yellow pages f or a complete listing. In selecting a good child care
program, you are encouraged to visit more than one program bef ore making a
decision. Take your child with you to meet the provider. Observe the f acilit y and the
caretakers when children are present. It is also recommended that you visit t he
Child Car e Resour ces website at htt p://childcar eresources.org . This site has
11
inf ormation to assist you evaluate the organizat ion and assist you in choosing the
best f or your child.
Private Schools
Parents, who desir e their children to attend a private school where tuition is
charged, should contact the individual schools t o inquire about registration. The
“Great Schools” website cont ains a list of all schools in the Birmingham area. It is
searchable, based on school type, and contains rat ings by other par ents .
http://www.greatschools.org/alabama/birmingham/.
Public Schools
Children ages 6 - 17 years are expected to attend the public school nearest their
homes, unless t hey are register ed f or a private school . A complete list of schools
can be f ound in the blue pages of the local telephone director y. Contact t he
appropr iate school ’s administrat ion off ice of your cit y or county to determine which
school to attend, or visit the nearest school of f ice.
Birmingham Cit y Schools
2015 Park Place
Birmingham, AL 35203
(205) 583. 4600
Mountain Brook Cit y Schools
3 Church Street
Mountain Brook, AL 35213
(205) 871. 4608
Homewood Cit y Schools
7 Hollywood Boulevard
Homewood, AL 35209 (205) 870. 4203
Vestavia Hills Cit y Schools
1204 Montgomer y Highway
Vestavia Hills, AL 35216
(205)402. 5100
Hoover Cit y Schools
100 Municipal Dr ive Hoover, AL 35216
(205) 439. 1000
Jeff erson Count y Board of Education
2100 1 8 t h Street South
Birmingham, AL 35209
(205) 930. 3800
12
Transportation
On-campus Transportation
Birmingham, Alabam a has limit ed public transportation , as is typical in most of the
southern United St ates . Theref ore Samf ord Universit y provides lim ited transportation
options f or students who do not have a pr ivate vehicle:

W eekly shuttle f or shopping
The shopping shuttle runs throughout the fall and spring semesters, with the exception of
holidays (e.g. Labor Day, Fall Break, Thanksgiving, Spring Break, etc.). On Tuesdays and
Thursdays at 10:00 a.m. the shuttle will transport students to the nearby Target and Brookwood
Shopping Center. Every other Friday the shuttle will operate in the afternoon from 1:00 – 3:00
p.m. On Friday afternoons students may choose where they would like to go from a list of local
department and grocery stores.

Enterpr ise Car Share
Samf ord Univers it y has partnered with the Enterprise CarShare Program to
provide a car to undergraduate and graduate students wit h a U.S. Dr iver ’s
License or a valid f oreign license. If you would like to make use of this option,
we recommend you secure an inter national dr iving permit prior to coming to the
United States. If you will be staying in the U.S. longer than 5 months, you will
need to get an Alabama dr iver ’s license.
Further inf ormation about the
CarShare program is available at www.enterprisecarshare.com .
Private Vehicles
Many students will f ind it most convenient to purchase a vehicle, especially if you live
off -campus (graduate students), or plan to study at Samf ord Universit y f or several
years. .
As part of Alabama state law, all dr ivers must have a valid driver ’s license. Please
see “ Applying for an Alabama Driver ’s License ” at the end of this sect ion. W hile in
your home country you should arrange to obtain an international driver’s license.
This will allow f or you to drive legally f or up to 5 months . It is imperat ive that you
obtain your international driver’s license bef ore departing your home countr y .
There are many places in Birmingham to purchase a vehicle. W e recommend working
with a local deal er ship, Donohoo Auto ( www.donohooauto. com ), or purchasing a
vehicle f rom Car Max ( www.carmax.com ). Other opt ions include perusing the listing of
used vehicles in the newspaper or visiting any of the wide variet y of car dealerships
in Birmingham.
Amtrak
Amtrak train ser vice provides daily railr oad passenger ser vice to New York Cit y and
New Or leans. The trains run once per day in each direct ion , and include a st op in
13
Atlanta among other
http://www.amtrak.com .
destinat ions .
For
more
inf ormation,
please
go
to
Local Public Transportation
Bus
Local bus ser vice is provided by MAX (Metro Area Express) to points of int erest
around Birmingham i ncluding shopping areas.
DART (Downtown Area Rapid
Transit), a mini-bus system, operates attractive trolleys in the central business
distr ict. Bus ser vice is lim ited and not available on weekends. For inf ormation and
schedules please contact (205) 521. 0101. You may f ind routes and schedules on
their website at ht tp://www.bjcta.org/.
Greyhound buses provide interstate bus
ser vice. For more information on Greyhound please visit www. greyhound.com .
Taxi and Shuttle Services












Yellow Cab of Greater Birmingham. (205) 328. 4444. Radio dispatch ser vice
cover ing metropolit an Birm ingham area 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Provides package deliver y.
A- 1 Cab Co. (205) 939. 3300. Primar ily ser vices Birming ham International
Airport. Lim ited ser vice of metropolitan Birmingham. Ser vice generally ends at
12 am. 24 hours dur ing weekends.
Ai rport Ex press Shuttle Service (205)591. 7770, www.T heAirportExpress.com .
Provides van ser vice bet ween the Birm ingham Internat ional Airport and the
Atlanta (Georgia) I nternational Airport. Reser vations required. Rates as of
9/02: $49.00 (one - way)/ $69.00 (round tr ip).
American- United Cab Co. (205)939. 3300. Pr imarily ser vices Birm ingham
International Airport . Limited ser vice of metropolitan Birm ingham. Ser vice
generally ends at 12 am. Limited ser vice24 hours during weekends.
American Cab Co. (205) 322.2222.
Pr imarily ser vices Birmingham
International Airpo rt . Lim ited ser vice wit hin metropolitan Bir mingham. Ser vice
provided 24 hours, most days.
Aw ard Cab Co. (205)243. 5552. Ser vices Birmingham International Airport only.
Ser vice generally ends at 12 am.
Bessemer Taxi Service. (205)592. 9410. Service pr ovided t o the Birmingham
metropolitan area 7 days per week. Ser vice generally ends at 12 am.
Birmingham Cab Co. (205) 567. 7890. Ser vices Birmingham International
Airport only. Ser vice generally ends at 12 am.
Birmingham
Door- To- Door
Shuttle
Service
(205) 591.5550
www .BirminghamDoorToDoor.com .
Provides
van
service
f rom
the
Birmingham Internat ional Airport to any point within the st ate of Alabama.
Charges are quoted via telephone. Reser vat ions required.
E-Shuttle Service (205)702. 4566, w ww.Eshuttle.net . Provides car and van
ser vice f rom the Birmingham International Airport to all point s within a 900 mile
radius. Reser vat ions required.
Hill Cab Co. (205) 222. 7812. Ser vices Birmingham International Air port only.
Ser vice generally ends at 12 am.
Hoover Cab Company. (205) 823. 8294. Pr imar ily ser vices Birmingham
International Airport. Limited ser vice to Birmingham metropolitan area 24 hours
a day, seven days a week.
14

RC Cab Co. (205)960.1114. Lim ited service to metropolitan Birmingham area.
24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Driving in Alabama
International Driving Permits
An International Driving Permit translates information contained on your driver's
license into English so that law enforcement officers and other officials in the United
States can understand the information. An IDP supplements a valid government-issued
license, so you should always carry both documents. The United States does NOT issue
International Driving Permits to foreign visitors, so you will need to obtain this
document before traveling to the U.S. Valid International Driving Permits are available
from the motor vehicle department or related official governmental agency in your
country of origin.
(Source:http://www.usa.gov/Topics/Foreign_Visitors_Driving.shtml)
Alabama Driver ’s License
Persons wanting to purchase a car dur ing their stay in the U.S. will be requir ed to
obtain an Alabam a driver ’s license. Anyone in a valid nonimmigrant status (F, J, H,
TN and their dependents) may apply f or an Alabama driver’s license.
Individuals visiting the U. S. with a B - 1/W B or B-2/W T status are not eligible to apply
f or an Alabama driver’s license . If these individuals have a need to dr ive in the U.S.,
they should obtain an International Dr iver’s Perm it in their home countr y.
There is only one off ice in Birmingham wher e an international visitor may go and
apply f or an Alabama Driver ’s License : 908 Bankhead Hig hway Birmingham, AL
35204; Phone: (205) 252. 7445.
W ritten and road exams are off ered Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Individuals will be required to take both a wr itten and a
road exam. The wr it ten e xam is provided in a variet y of languages and can be t aken
as many times as necessar y to successf ully pass the exam. You may access a copy
of the Alabama Driver ’s License Study Booklet at www. dps.state.al.us . It is
recommended that you study this manual prior to taking your exams.
Those individuals who do not have an International Dr iving Permit must have a
licensed dr iver take them to one of the driver ’s license locations. The licensed dr iver
must be willing to allow the individual use of his or her car f or the road test. The
off icer will inspect the car. The car must be f ully f unctional (i. e. working turn signals,
horn, etc.) bef ore the of f icer will pr oceed with the road exam. Bring the f ollowing
items when applying f or the Alabama dr iver’s license:
15






Passport
Form I-94 card
Specif ic immigration document (i.e. I -20, DS-2019 or approval notice f or
classif icat ions such as H ).
Birth cert if icate ( ver y helpf ul to have)
Social Securit y Ca rd (if you are not eligible , you must f irst obtain a denial letter
f rom the Social Securit y Adm inistration and present this document instead).
Verif icat ion of immigration status f rom the Off ice of International Educat ion
(please not e that this letter is valid f or only 30 days!)
Please be awar e that the ID number issued to you by Samf ord Universit y should not
be presented to the driver ’s license off ice. That is a dif f erent ident if ication number .
The Alabama Dr iver’s License Bureau can also provide identif icat ion car ds. The
Alabama Identif icat ion card is used solely f or identif icat ion purposes. This card is
not valid f or driving purposes. The Alabama Identif icat ion Card is issued at the same
locations as the dr iver’s license .
16
Welcome to the United States!
U.S. Culture & Customs
This is a ver y exciting, and perhaps anxious t ime f or those who have never traveled
or lived in the United States. Moving and leaving behind close f riends and f amil y
can be ver y stressf ul, and immersing oneself in a ne w cultur e can be even more so.
Many newcomers will be adjusting to a new language, culture , and a dist inctly
dif f erent way of lif e.
Having an understanding of U.S. cult ure will help in the transition t o lif e in the United
States. There are many resources available to assist with the transit ion. One
important recommendation to all newcomers is to becom e involved in activities
off ered through Samf ord Universit y. A wide var iet y of activities are available that
provide opportunities to meet and develop f rien dships with other newcomer s from
around the wor ld as well as local students and f amilies .
The f ollowing general guide to U.S. customs is off ered to help you adjust to life in
the U. S. There are many regional, ethnic and individual dif ferences within the U .S.,
so please keep an open mind and learn from each person that you meet.
Greetings
U.S. citizens of ten greet each other with a “ hi” or “how are you .” The f ormulaic
response to this question is “Fine, how ar e you?” This greeting is off ered to
ever yone, including strangers, and the r esponse is always f ormulaic in those cases.
It is only when close f riends or f amily ask this question that people r espond in detail
with how t hey ar e actually f eeling. During introductions people will of ten shake
hands. Embra ces or hugs are generally reser ved f or greeting f amily members or
ver y close f riends.
Appointments
Punctualit y plays an important role in U.S. culture and it is very important to arrive at
the precise time an appointment is scheduled. For inf ormal invita tions, such as
parties, people generally arrive 15 – 20 minutes af ter the start and somet imes lat er.
W hen one is invited to a home f or dinner, it is polite to arrive 5 – 10 minutes af ter
the stated time, in order to give the host and hostess tim e to comple t e all of the
arrangements.
Gestures and Nonverbal Communication
Many U.S. cit izen s use arm gestures while conversing.
17
People generally like to
maintain about one arm length of distance bet ween themselves and t he person with
whom they ar e speaking. Eye contact is generally direct.
Hygiene
Physical hygiene issues are important in U.S. culture . Body odor in part icular is a
ver y
sensitive
issue.
Most
U.S.
cit izens
bathe
daily
and
use
an
antiperspirant/deodorant to reduce perspiration and odors. It is unusual t o use strong
perf umes or colognes to simply mask odors.
Work Schedules
The average workday is f rom 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Retai l
stores usually operate f rom 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. or 9:00 p.m. Some r etail stores
and grocer y stores are open 24 hours a day. Banks and many government al off ices
generally close by 4: 30 p.m., although they occasionally have later hours one or two
days per week.
Tipping
W hen eating in a restaurant it is custom ary to leave money ( a “tip”) f or the w aiter or
waitress who ser ved you. The amount is generally about 15 - 20 percent of the total
bill. It is paid separately and in additi on to the amount f or the meal. It is also
customar y to tip bellmen in hotels (about 50 cents per bag) and taxi drivers (10 - 15
percent of the bill). Do not tip governm ent employees and school of f icials. These
are considered br ibes and are punishable by law.
Sources and Recommended Texts:
Althen, G. (1988) American Cultural W ays: A Guide f or Foreigners in the United
States.Yarmouth, ME: Intercult ural Press.
Kohls, L. R. (1988) The Values Amer icans Live By.
Hayward, Ir va R. and David W . Coombs (1994) W elcome:
Successf ul Living in the Southern United States .
A Foreigner ’s Guide to
Immigration Regulations
All f oreign st ude nts and scholars who have entered the U.S. on nonimmigrant visas
are subject to f ederal regulat ions that do not aff ect U.S. citizens or permanent
residents. It is extr emely important that you are well inf ormed about the specif ic
regulations pertaining to your status. These regulat ions affect f oreign students and
scholars and their f amilies in areas such as taxes, employment, study and travel.
W hen in doubt, please contact the Off ice of International Education f or advice.
The Illegal Immigration Ref orm a nd Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (HRI RA)
has placed t he burden of responsibilit y on the f oreign nat ional to know the limit s of
their nonimmigrant status.
Listed below are some gener al requirements f or all
nonimmigrants.
18





Nonimmigrants enter the U.S . f or a t emporar y period of time and are rest ricted
to the activit y consistent with their visas. The most important documents in
their possession are the passport, the Form I -94, and their part icular
immigration document (I -20, DS-2019 or approval notice) . These documents
should be kept in a saf e p lace where they can be accessed if needed.
Nonimmigrants must demonstrate their st ay in U.S. is tempor ary.
Nonimmigrants must maintain a valid passport .
Nonimmigrants cannot hold more than one nonimmigrant stat us at a time.
Nonimmigrants must be participating in activities that are considered with the
specif ic immigration status they currently hold.
Visa
A visa is a mult icolored stamp placed on one of the passport pages by the U.S.
Embassy or Consulate which gives perm ission to enter the U.S. at the port -of -entr y
(POE). The visa is presented along wit h the appropr iate document (i. e. I -20, DS2019 or approval notice) to an immigration off icer. At the inspection the imm igration
off icer marks the immigration stat us on the Form I -94 (Ar rival/Departure Record).
Once adm itted to the U.S., nonimmigrants are not required t o maintain a valid visa
stamp. They must, however, ensure that all other f orms are kept up -to-date.
Immigration Status
Immigration St atus ref ers to an individual’s immigration status while in t he U.S.
Each immigration st atus has specif ic condit ions and limitat ions under which a person
may remain in the U.S.
Duration of Status (D/S)
Durat ion of Status (D/S) is def ined by the BCIS as that period in which an F-1
student “is pursuing a f ull course of study at an educat ion inst itution appr oved by
BCIS f or attendance by f oreign students, or engaging in authorized pract ical training
f ollowing complet ion of studies, plus 60 days to prepare f or departure f r om the U.S.”
J-1 exchange visitor s are also admitted with the “D/S” notat ion and may remain in
the U.S. as long as they maintain J -1 st atus unt il the ending date on the f orm DS 2019 plus 30 days.
Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
The USCIS ser vice center having jurisdiction over Alabama is located in Mesquite,
Texas. This f acilit y is not open to the public f or walk -in ser vice. All applications f or
change of status, e mployment cards and employment -based immigrant pet itions are
processed through t his of f ice.
The Atlant a District USCIS of f ice is open to the public Monday through Fr iday 7:30
a.m. to 4:00 p.m., except f or f ederal holidays. The district off ice processes limited
types of applications. Please contact the Off ice of Inter national Education prior to
visiting Atlanta.
19
SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information S ystem)
SEVI S is a national tracking system mandated by Congress t o monit or F -1 students
and J-1 exchange visitors. SEVIS provides tracking, monitoring and acce ss to
accurate and current inf ormation on nonimmigrant student s (F and M visa) and
exchange visitors ( J visa).
SEVIS enables schools and program sponsor s to
transmit electronic inf ormation and event notif icat ions via t he Internet to the BCIS
and the Depa rtment of State throughout a student or exchange visitor ’s stay in the
U.S. SEVIS is direct ed by the BCIS in partnership wit h the Department of State and
the Department of Educat ion (Source: www. ins.usdoj.gov).
Passport
Students and scholars should always keep their passport in a saf e place. Most
passports are valid f or a limited per iod of time.
The law requires that all
nonimmigrants maintain a passport valid f or at least six months into the f uture.
Some countr ies have entered into agreements wit h the U.S. government
acknowledging that a passport is valid f or six mont hs beyond the expiration date
shown in the passport. It is the responsibilit y of the students and scholar s to
remember when their passport will exp ir e and contact their home country Consulate
or Embassy f or an ext ension. EXCEPTION: Canadian citizens are not requir ed to
have a valid passpor t while in the U.S.
I-94
The f orm I -94 is the small white card that is issued at the port -of -entry into the U.S.
The eleven- digit number listed in the upper lef t -hand corner of the I-94 card is known
as the admission or entr y number.
This is an ident if ication number wit h the
Immigration and Naturalizat ion Ser vice. The I-94 shows the individual’s immigration
classif icat ion and endorsements made by the immigration of f icer to indicat e the date
and place of admission to the U.S. and the initial period of authorized stay.
J-1 Exchange Visitors
The J-1 Exchange Visitor Program has been an import ant component of U. S.
immigration law f or over 40 years. Legislat ion enacted by congress in 1948 and 1961
directed the executive branch to f acilitate and promote exchanges. Under INA § 101
(a) (15) (J), an individual may enter the U.S. in J -1 status if he or she is a “bona f ide
student, scholar, trainee teacher, prof essor, research assistant, specialist, specialist
or leader in a f ield of specialized knowledge or skill, or other person of similar
descr iption.”
The f oreign visitor m ust come to the U.S. temporarily in a prog ram
designated by the U.S. Department of State f or “teaching, instructing or lecturing,
studying, obser ving, conducting research, consult ing, demonst rating special skills, or
receiving training.”
20
U.S. Systems of Education and Samford
University
Post-Secondary Education
The United States possesses a unique educat ional syst em , particular ly in the case of
its post -secondar y system. Unlike som e other countr ies, there is not a central
Ministry of Educat ion in charge of the post -secondar y system. Instead, i n the United
States, each individual st ate regulat es those academic inst itutions within its borders.
These inst itut ions are accredited by privat e, non -government al agencies. A school
which is accredited has undergone an investigation by a team of experts and has met
the minimum requirements of the accredit ing agencies. Samf ord Universit y is
accredited by the Southern Associat ion of Colleges and Schools. Many academic
programs within the Universit y have addit ional accreditat ion f rom organizat ions
appropr iate to the particular academ ic discipline.
Schools/Colleges/Universities
W hile the terms “school” and “college” in the United States can be used gener ically
to ref er to any educational institut ion, they have ver y specif ic meanings within the
organizat ional struct ure of universit ies. Samf ord Universit y is divided into a num ber
of colleges and schools. Each of these, in turn, houses specif ic academic
departments which t each all of the courses of f ered at Samf ord Universit y. Gener ally
speaking the Univer sit y is the highest organizat ional unit, f ollowed by College, t hen
School and then Department. On our campus we have the f ollowing:








School of The Arts
Howard College of Arts & Sciences
Brock School of Business
Beeson School of Divinit y
Orlean Beeson School of Educat ion & Pr of essional St udies
Cumber land School of Law
Ida V. Mof f ett School of Nursing
McW horter School of Pharmacy
The College of Health Sciences is in development. It will house the School of
Communit y and Public Health, School of Health -Related Prof essions, Ida V. Moffett
School of Nursing and McW horter School of Pharmacy.
Relationship between Students and Advisors
The Academ ic Advisor plays an important part in a st udent’s academic lif e, helping
them to graduat e at the scheduled t ime. The advisor is r esponsible f or guiding
students towar d this desired goal, and assists them in the select ion of a pat h to
attain this goal. The student and the advisor work out a student’s degree plan, and
also work together t o ensure that the st udent will be able t o complete their degree
21
within the usual am ount of time (gener ally 4 years f or an undergraduate degree, 2
years f or a graduate degree).
In most countries, t he concept of an advisor does not exist. The students have a
f ixed study plan that they h ave t o f ollow without deviation. So, they usually do not
interact with any individual in the posit ion of an advisor to help them. Also, students
have to keep track of their own studies and academic matters.
In the United St ates, inter action wit h an adviso r is an essential part of a student’s
academ ic lif e. Any student who comes t o Samf ord is assigned an academic advisor.
This advisor checks on a student ’s academ ic progress. The advisor is also
responsible f or assisting students in the selection of classe s which will help them to
f ollow their required and desired course load with eff iciency. W hen a student is in
their f inal semester, the academ ic advisor certif ies to the Universit y that the student
has completed all necessar y coursework and f ulf illed the r equirements of the degree.
At Samf ord Universit y, each student is required to meet with their advisor each
semester pr ior to r egistration. The advisor then provides the student with a PIN,
which will allow the student to regist er f or courses online. It is not possible t o
register f or courses without f irst obt aining the PIN. Students who choose not to f ollow
the advice given by an academic advisor can encounter great diff icult ies, so we
recommend that you work closely with your academ ic advisor.
Relationship between Students and Faculty
The relationship bet ween students and f aculty in t he United States is more inf ormal
than in most other countries. Particular ly at small universities like Samf ord, f acult y
members have a great deal of contact with students. Facult y members in the United
States are typically required to have a specif ic number of “off ice hours” in a week in
which a student may discuss quest ions relat ing to the course . During these hours,
which are posted in the syllabus and also on or near the f aculty of f ice, the f acult y
member can be f ound in his/her off ice. If a student is uncomfortable asking questions
about coursework in class, it is a good idea to visit the f aculty member dur ing of f ice
hours.
Students in the U. S. are expected to actively part icipate in class.
They provide
ver bal f eedback to each other and to the f acult y members inside and outside of the
classroom. Facult y members vigorously encour age this inter action as it is believed to
help students gain a deeper understanding of the t opic.
Common Academic Terms and Policies
Credit Hours and Semester System
An academ ic year in the United States is divided into eit her semesters or quart ers.
Samf ord Universit y uses the semester system. A semester consists of 15 weeks of
study dur ing which students attend their classes. Students receive varied amounts of
credit hours f or attending a class t hroughout the semester. Typically, they will earn
3-4 credit hours at Samf ord Universit y f or any given class. There are t wo long
semesters in a yea r , the f all and spring. Samf ord Univer sit y also off ers courses
during the summer term (10 weeks), Summer I term (5 weeks), Summer II term (5
22
weeks), and Januar y Term (Jan Term – 3 weeks) .
All international students, including Exchange students, are requi red to maintain a
f ull-time load while studying at Samf ord Universit y. A f ull-time load at the
undergraduate level is 12 – 18 hours of credit. At the graduat e level, students usually
take 9 credit hour s for a semest er , alt hough this dif f ers by graduate pro gram. These
are the required number of hours to classif y a student as being f ull -time. Students
attending classes adding up to f ewer cr edit hours than mentioned above do not f all
into the f ull-time student cat egory, which can aff ect the ir visa status. Cr edit hours are
a conf using concept f or many int ernat ional students, as this notion is not prevalent in
many countries. In most academ ic pr ogram s, a student is r equired to complete 128
credit hours to obtain an undergraduate degree and 33 -36 credit hours to complete a
graduate degree.
Major, Minor, Core, and Electives
The f ollowing common terms relate to pursuing a degree in the United Stat es in
general and at Samf ord Universit y specif ically . It is helpf ul to understand the
dif f erence between t hese terms, e specially as you work together with your academic
advisor to set up your degree plan ( i.e. the specif ic sequence in which you plan to
take the courses that lead to the degree you have chosen) :

Degree: This is the specif ic tit le you will receive, indicat in g that you have
completed a course - of -study. At the undergraduate level, students can choose
bet ween a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and Bachelor of Science ( B.S.). Somet imes
there are f urther subdivisions, such as the Bachelor of Science in Business
Administrat ion (BSBA), f or example. At the graduate level, students generally
f irst pursue a master degree and then a doct orate, although certain
prof essoional degrees (J.D., D.Pharm.) can be attained af ter complet ing an
undergraduate degr ee . A f ew common examples of graduate/prof essional
degrees are the Master of Arts ( MA), Master of Science ( MS), Master of
Business Adm inistration ( MBA), Master of Science in Nursing ( MSN), Maste r of
Science in Educat ion ( MSE), Master of Divinit y ( M.Div .), Doctor of Philosophy
(Ph.D.), Doct or of Education (Ed. D.), Doctor of Pharmacy (D.Pharm.), and
Juris Doctor (J.D.).

Major: The “ Major” is the f ield in which you have chosen to get a degree. As
the name implies, t he majorit y of a student ’s workload will be in courses
related to this f ield-of -study.

Minor: Many majors require that a student also receive a m inor, or a secondar y
area of specialization. Students taking a specif ic major would usually minor in
a f ield that will help them gain a better underst anding of the major.
Sometimes students select a m inor in a f ield that st imulates their int erest but
does not relate to their major.

Core Curriculum, General Education and Convo: At Samf ord Universit y, these
terms relate specifically to the cour ses required f or all undergraduate
students. T he cat alog specif ies which courses f ulf ill the “ Core” requirements,
and which f ulf ill the “General Educat ion” requir ements . These courses are
required to obtain a degree. Undergraduate students at Samf ord Universit y
are also requir ed to obtain 60 Convo Cr edits in the course of the ir academ ic
career at Samf ord. These credits are obtained by attending the weekly Convo
23
(Tuesdays and Thur sdays at 10 a.m.) as well as other univer sit y - wide events.
The number of Convo Credits available f or a given event ar e listed in the
Event Calendar on t he Univer sit y Ministries website ( www.samf ord.edu/um ).

Elective: A given m ajor or minor will list certain courses as “required” and
others as “elect ive”. Together, these will ma ke up the total number of courses
required f or the degree. An elective course is generally chosen f rom a list of
courses. In other words, a student may need 4 credit hours (the equivalent of
one course), but they will be off ered a choice of several courses , f rom which
they need choose only one. It is in choosing f rom among the wide variet y of
electives available that an academ ic advisor can be particularly helpf ul to
students.
Grade Point Average (GPA)
Another conf using concept can be that of the Grade Point Average ( GPA). This is a
mathematical average of all grades a student has received, and assists in
demonstrat ing the qualit y of a student’s work overall. The GPA is used to assess
academ ic success, t o see if students qualif y f or certain scholarships or if students
are perm itted to rem ain in their chosen program -of -study. It is important to maint ain a
good GPA. A “good” GPA is generally considered to be a GPA of 3.00 or above.
In the United Stat es, the GPA is calculated using the number of credit hou rs
attempted and the gr ades achieved f or those hours. The grades are generally based
on percentages , and then assigned a specif ic letter. Here is t he common sequence of
grades f rom highest (best) to lowest ( wor st) : 90-100%= A, 80- 89%=B, 70-79%=C, 6069%=D, below 60%= F. These letter grades can also be modif ied by a + or -,
indicating a student achieving at a high or low level within each grade.
Each letter grade then corresponds to a specif ic number of “qualit y” points. A=4;
B=3; C=2; D=1; F=0. The “total points” is the product of the number of qualit y points
multiplied by the number of credits f or a given course. For example, if a student
receives a C in UCCA 101, a 4 -credit course, the total points f or that course is 2
(qualit y points f or the grade of C) x 4 ( number of credits given f or the course) = 8.
The GPA is calculat ed by adding together all of t he points f or the courses a student
is taking and then dividing that number by the credit hours. The GPA is the rat ion of
the total accumulat ed points f rom the above scale and the total number of credit
hours taken.
GPA = TOTAL NUMBER OF POINTS
CREDIT HOURS
24
Please see the following example s:
Student A
Student B
Student C
UCCA 101 (4): B
UCCP 102 (4): A
LAB 101 (1): C
BUSINESS 101 (3): B
Credits: 12
Total Points: (4*3)+(4*4)+(1*2)+(3*3)
= 39
LAB 101 (1): B
UCCP 102 (4): A
UCCA 101 (4): C
BUSINESS 101 (3): B
Credits: 12
Total Points: (1*3) + (4*4) + (4*2) +
(3*3) = 36
UCCA 101 (4): C+
UCCP 102 (4): BLAB 101 (1): D
BUSINESS 101 (3): F
Credits: 12
Total Points: (4*2.3) + (4*2.7) +
(1*1) + (3*0) = 21
GPA = 39/12 = 3.25
GPA = 36/12 = 3.00
GPA = 21/12 = 1.75
It is required that all Samford students maintain at least a GPA of 2.00 to be considered making
satisfactory academic progress. Falling below that number can result in academic warning or, in
extreme cases, the student being asked to withdraw from the University. In the examples above,
Student C is not making satisfactory academic progress and could be placed on academic warning
(if this is the first semester that student has had difficulty) or required to withdraw. Each graduate
program has specific degree requirements, and certain other degrees, programs or scholarships at
Samford University stipulate a higher GPA. It is your responsibility to be sure that you are
maintaining the standards set for your major. Further information is available in the 2012-2013
Catalog on pages 27-28 as well as in the descriptions of each of the degrees offered at Samford
University.
Tests and Quizzes
Examinat ion structure var ies. Each teacher has hi s/her own crit eria as to how
students should be tested on the knowledge they have acq uired. Some f acult y
members give mid-t erm exam inations and comprehensive f inals. Mid -term exams
include the material that has been covered in the class up to the middle of a
semester , while comprehensive f inals ar e at the end of the course, and consist of
all inf ormation that has been taught throughout the term.
Some f acult y members give more tests throughout the semester, each of which
covers only the mat erial lear ned s ince t he previous test . Most f aculty at Samf ord
Universit y establish the f inal grade of a course using a combinat ion of test grades,
homework grades, participat ion, attendance and quiz grades. A quiz is a ver y short
test, covering only a small, discrete am ount of knowledge.
These can be
announced by the t eacher, or in the f orm f or “pop” quizzes. A “pop” quiz is not
announced and is used to assess st udent lear ning at a given point in the semester.
It is important to study consistent ly throughout the semes ter so you are not
surprised by a “pop” quiz.
Oral Presentations
Some classes r equir e oral pr esentat ions by the student. These presentat ions may
comprise a major percentage of the f inal grade and requir e r esearch on the part of
the student.
A st udent i s expected t o give an oral pr esentation on a specific
25
subject in f ront of the other class members and obtain a grade f or this
presentat ion.
Assessment
Tests and quizzes consist of a number of diff erent types of questions to assess
student learning. Exam ples include essay quest ions; true/f alse questions; f ill in t he
blanks; matching the correct answers; and short answers. The t ype of assessment
f avored by a teacher relates to the f ield -of -study and the most eff ective way of
assessing student learning in t hat f ield.
Research Papers
Sometimes f aculty m embers require students to write a 15 -20 page research paper
pertaining to the course material. These papers might be in lieu of or in addit ion t o
examinations or oral presentat ions.
Students may be per mitt ed to choose their
own topic or select a topic f rom the choices given by the teacher. W hen preparing a
research paper, a st udent generally consults a number of sources (books, articles,
online inf ormation) t o resear ch a part icular quest ion or idea. The stu dent must list
the sources they used, and combine the ideas they lear ned in those sources (using
proper citation f ormats) with their own thinking and ideas.
Syllabus
A syllabus is an outline of the content of a particular course. Facult y members
usually distr ibut e the syllabus on the first day of class. The syllabus provides
important dates f or examinations, the t ype of examinations, and the course out line.
Students must master the m aterial indicated in the syllabus, as that is usually t he
content of exam inat ions. The syllabus also cont ains inf ormation about the t eacher ,
his/her name, of f ice hours, textbook requirements and any special policies the
teacher has regarding the course.
A particular ly important policy item relates to attendance. St udents ar e required to
attend class, and to participate actively with class discussions and other act ivit ies.
A student who is well -pr epared and actively participates will receive a good
participation and attendance grade. It is possible t o f ail a course, even if a st udent
has good grades on homework and test s, if the student misses class. Each class
will have a certain number of excused absences (usually 3 – 6) in a given
semester. If a student misses class m ore of ten than allowed, that student will
receive an “FA” = “Failure because of Absences”. This is the equivalent of an F in
the course, and will have a negative impact on student GPA.
The syllabus f unctions as an agreement bet ween the student and the teacher. In it,
the teacher puts in wr it ing ever ything that the student is r equired to do in order to
successf ully complete a course. The teacher also relates specif ically what skills
and inf ormation will be lear ned in that course. By accept ing the syllabus, the
student agrees to f ollow the policies out lined (atten dance policy) and to complet e
the work assigned. It is vital that you read the syllabus caref ully at the beginning
of the course.
26
Group Projects
Group projects may be given in classes when interaction is desired among
students. The point s f or the assig nment are given equally to all students involved
in the project. Theref ore, it is necessar y f or ever yone to pr ovide his or her best
input. For group projects, shar ing inf ormation and material is appr opr iate. The
f inal project will be a combined eff ort. S tudents should not share inf ormation on an
examination or complete class assignments as a group unless specif ically approved
by the instructor.
Plagiarism
Copying someone else’s mater ial and labeling it as your own is called plagiar ism.
Plag iarism is ca use f or sever e repr im and. Students must be caref ul to avoid
plagiarism, even if by mistake. This may lead to course f ailure or academic
suspension.
The website Plagiar ism.Org ( http://plagiarism.org ) provides an
excell ent over view of what plagiar ism is and how t o avoid it. The concept of
plagiarism and its signif icance is not exclusive to the U.S. academ ic syst em, but
precisely what const itutes plagiarism does dif f er from one culture to another. It is
theref ore necessar y that you f amiliarize yourself with what constitutes plagiar ism in
the United States and how best to avoid it. Please f eel free to talk with your
teacher, your academic advisor, or anyone in the Off ice of International Educat ion
if you have any questions related to this matter.
27
Select Contact Information
EMERGENCY (FIRE, POLICE, SERIOUS INJURY, ETC.) ........................ 911
OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION ( ACADEMIC MATTERS)
DR. ANGELA FERGUSON ........................................................... 205.726.2915
DIRECTOR OF INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION
FRANK PARK SAMFORD HALL R OOM 218C
adf ergus@samf ord.edu
VISA MATTERS
MRS. J. ASHLEY GASSNER ....................................................... 205.726.4334
INTERNATIONAL STUDENT AND SCHOLAR COORDINATOR
BROOKS HALL 122
jawells@samf ord.ed u
INTERNATIONAL STUDENT DEVELOPMENT (NON -ACADEMIC MATTERS)
MR. KYLE BAI LEY ..................................................................... 205.726.2737
INTERNATIONAL AND GR ADUATE STUDENT COORD INATOR
UNIVERSITY CENTER 115
kbailey3@samf ord.edu
AUTO LICENSE ( CAR TAG)
JEFFERSON- BIRMI NGHAM TAG & TITLE ................................... 205.325.5171
716 RI CHARD ARRI NGTON JR. BLVD.
N COUNTY COURTHOUSE, SUITE 100A
BIRMINGHAM, AL 35203
BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU .............................................................. 205.558.2222
BIRMI NGHAM NEW S/BIRMI NGHAM POST HERALD ............................... 855.885.681 9
http://www.bhamnews.com/customerser vice/
BURSAR’S OFFI CE ............................................................................. 205.726.2816
FRANK PARK SAMFORD HALL 1 S T FLO OR
BUS SERVI CE – SCHEDULE INFO RMATION ......................................... 205.521.0101
http://www.bjcta. org/schedules/schedulebyroute.cf m
BOARD OF EDUCATION
BIRMINGHAM ............................................................................ 205.231.4600
JEFFERSON COUNTY ............................................................... 205.379.4500
CRISI S CENTER ................................................................................ 205.323.7777
DRIVER’S LICENSE BUREAU .............................................................. 205.252.7445
908 BANKHEAD HIG HW AY W EST
BIRMI NGHAM, AL
HUB 24-HO UR INFORMATION CENTER ............................................... 205.726.2407
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LIBRARIES
BIRMINGHAM PUBLIC LI BRARY ................................................. 205.226.3600
SAMFORD UNIVERSITY LIBRARY .............................................. 205.726.2748
SAMFORD BEESON LAW LIBRARY ............................................. 205.726.2714
SAMFORD PUBLI C SAFETY ................................................................ 205.726.2407
SAMFORD RESIDENCE LIFE ............................................................... 205.726.2956
STUDENT HEALTH SERVICES ............................................................ 205.726.2835
F. PAGE SEIBERT HALL
STUDENT RECORDS .......................................................................... 205.726.2911
FRANK PARK SAMFORD HALL 214
W EATHER INFORMATION ................................................................... 205.916.0021
29