BLOOMINGTON – Ben Grimwood, assistant director of international admission at Ivy Tech Community College Bloomington, co-presented at the 2018 NAFSA: Association of International Educators Region VI conference Nov. 4-6 in Columbus, Oh. The presentation, Changes of Status: Institutional Hazards & Student Jeopardies, provided recommendations for colleges in either assisting or directing prospective international students to immigration attorneys for help applying a change to F-1 student status needed to enroll in college.
Grimwood co-presented with Ron Cushing, director of international services, University of Cincinnati, and Susan Snider Salmon, retired & part-time senior paralegal, Adams Immigration Law, LLC.
“It is a tricky scenario and complex legal process for students to apply for a change to F-1 student status,” said Grimwood. “I represented Ivy Tech’s institutional decision to direct students to expert immigration attorneys who can help international students with filing the necessary documents. This is also the recommendation of NAFSA.”
Grimwood explained that larger colleges, like the University of Cincinnati, sometimes have the resources to directly assist students through the change of status process. For this reason, the presentation also provided strategies to limit liabilities for students, academic advisers and institutions when helping students through this process.
In the Fall Semester 2018, Ivy Tech Community College’s Bloomington campus has 92 F-1 full-time international students enrolled from 16 countries.
For information about international student services at Ivy Tech, visit ivytech.edu/international.
NAFSA: Association of International Educators is the world’s largest nonprofit association dedicated to international education and exchange, working to advance policies and practices that ensure a more interconnected, peaceful world today and for generations to come.
About Ivy Tech Community College
Ivy Tech Community College is Indiana's largest public postsecondary institution and the nation's largest singly accredited statewide community college system, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Ivy Tech has campuses throughout Indiana and also serves thousands of students annually online. It serves as the state's engine of workforce development, offering associate degrees, long- and short-term certificate programs, industry certifications, and training that aligns with the needs of the community. The College provides a seamless transfer to other colleges and universities in Indiana, as well as out of state, for a more affordable route to a bachelor's degree.
