Jessica Waters Emerald
Peter Eberhardt, SEVIS Coordinator for the University Office of International Programs,
examines some of the forms used to collect information from international students.
International
continued from page 1
and few staff members were available the
following week as they worked full time
to enter student data into SEVIS. Records
include information ranging from stu
dents' home addresses to their majors.
All students on F-1 visas were then is
sued new I-20s; visiting scholars on J-l
visas received new DS-2019 forms. I he
forms have a barcode with a unique
number assigned to each student, and
scanning the barcode at any U.S port of
entry or consulate automatically brings
up a saident's information. Schools are
required to update the system with any
changes in student status, such as fail
ure to register for classes.
Eberhardt and about six other staff
members registered 1,260 students in
"active status" and 637 students in
"initial status" — students expected
to begin in the fall.
"We will reconcile this fall to see
the students who showed up and
those who didn't," Eberhardt said.
The records were painstakingly en
tered one at a time by logging onto the
SEVIS Web site Eberhardt said the Uni
versity' s Computing Services office is
still trying to develop a batch system al
lowing staff to enter hundreds of
records at once. He said he hopes the
batch system will be in use by fall term.
It we don t have it ready by then,
it's going to overwhelm us," he said,
"rhe race is on to get it ready."
Due to kinks in SEVIS, the data
entry process is subject to glitches,
however.
"We had problems where you're in
the middle of a record and then
'poof — you lose the Web connec
tion," Eberhardt said. At times, the
record was even lost completely and
had to be re-entered.
And at one point, school officials na
tionwide would print out an 1-20 and
the wrong record from a different uni
versity would print. Eberhardt said they
would pick up an 1-20 and wonder,
"What's this about? Why am I getting a
University of Texas record?"
Another problem Is that the U.S. De
partment of State, which oversees con
sulates, is not directly linked into
SEVIS. Homeland Security has to copy
records to the State Department, and
not all records get copied. Eberhardt
said that in certain cases students with
authentic SEVIS documents have ar
rived at embassies in their home coun
tries and been turned away because of
ficials couldn't find their record.
"Obviously (the record) is in the
database, but the State Department
doesn't have it," he said. "They're not
going to give you a student visa if
you're not in their database."
In addition, SEVIS lists the University
as "Oregon University System," which
poses a problem when officials at one
school want to create paperwork for
students transferring to the University.
Eberhardt said the international pro
grams office has received several calls
from other schools who cannot find a
listing for the University on SEVIS.
The University also had to foot the
bill for implementing the system. For
instance, Eberhardt's position was
specifically created to implement the
system at the University, and the in
ternational programs office had to
buy two new computers and a printer
to process the new documents. Funds
are also being spent to develop the
batch technology that will allow sev
eral records to be entered at once.
Director of International Pro
grams Office Ginny Stark was un
able to put a dollar amount on the
new requirements.
"It's just very difficult to tell what it's
costing us," she said. "It'll probably take
a few months to regularize the cost."
Despite the problems and a few mi
nor mistakes on some documents,
most students received their paperwork
in time for the summer vacation.
sophomore biology major Pin
Chun Lin, a resident ofTaiwan, said she
had no problems getting her new 1-20,
adding that she thinks the new system
is good for the government because it
can track students more effectively.
"If you're doing things properly,
you're actually being a full-time stu
dent, then there's no problem,"
Lin said.
Graduate student Yashar Kafi of
Iran has similar sentiments, saying
the system is a practical way for the
government to make sure students in
the country are doing the right thing.
"Nowadays you always have to
keep an eye out for the rules," he said.
Kafi said he is happy the interna
tional programs office has made con
certed efforts to publicize the new sys
tem because all students can now be
registered on time and also be aware
of different immigration laws.
Students who were not entered
into the system are now considered
out of status. Eberhardt said there are
a few records for students at the Uni
versity which are still outstanding.
A report on CNN.com stated that
5,937 schools had made the Aug. 1
deadline, but that nearly 600 schools
still needed to comply.
Contact the reporter
at ayishayahya@dailyemerald.com.
CAMPUS
Tuesday
University journalism professor Lauren Kessler will
host a book reading from her new book, “Clever
Girl," 7 p.m., Knight Library Browsing Room.
Kessler's 10th book follows the story of a woman
who paved the way for the age of McCarthyism.
Linguistics lecture by George Lakoff, 4 p.m., 180
PLC. Lakoff will discuss "The Mind and Language:
Issues in Cognitive Linguistics.”
Photography lecture by San Francisco photo collage
artist Mary Daniel Hobson, 24 p.m., EMU Ben Un
der Room. Hobson's work is currently being dis
played in the Adell McMillan Gallery in the EMU.
016832
MEET ( IIIMi...
You may know him as: Your bartender at Downtown Lounge
Where Craig learned his bartending secrets:
Premium Pour Bartending, INC.
“If it wasn’t for Premium Pour, I wouldn't be working at one of
the coolest bars in town. With the training Premium Pour gave
me, I learned how to serve drinks, serve customers, and every
part of working in a bar. Now I can work anywhere where
serving alcohol is legal, thsuiks to Premium Pour. ”
WEEKEND, EVENING, and DAYTIME classes available,
call for details. 4tt5”4(l «)5
loio oak st., Eugene«www.premiuin-poiir.com
Today's crossword solution
for Vice Provost for
Institutional Equity & Diversity,
On campus
August 12 & 13
Open Reception
August 13
2:00-3:30
Gcrlingcr Lounge
Students, Faculty & Staff
Welcome. Refreskments.
Question and Answer.
Come meet tkis Candidate!