[InternatlPhD] UW-Madison Physics - international student information (Fri, 10 May, 10am)

[Sharon Kahn]

Hoping many/most incoming students and several current students can join at this time:  Fri, 10 May, 10am
https://uwmadison.zoom.us/j/94582235399?pwd=WUhYL0xwUmlUZXZ3K1VTTUtlL1NuUT09

Feel free to send questions ahead!
smk

*************************************
Sharon M. Kahn
Pronouns:  she/her/hers <What does this mean?<http://www.transstudent.org/pronouns101> / How to support others<https://medium.com/@mrsexsmith/dear-cis-people-who-put-your-pronouns-on-your-hello-my-name-is-nametags-78c047ed7af1>>
Graduate Program Manager
Physics Department | University of Wisconsin-Madison
2320f Chamberlin Hall | 1150 University Ave. |Madison, WI 53706
-----------------------------------------
email:  smkahn at wisc.edu<mailto:smkahn at wisc.edu>  |   phone:  608-262-9678
-----------------------------------------
Need to meet with me?  Schedule here:  https://calendly.com/smkahn

Plan ahead - Sharon will be out of the office Thursday afternoon, May 2


From: Sharon Kahn
Sent: Monday, April 29, 2024 3:57 PM
To: 21210200013 at m.fudan.edu.cn; fherzallah at ufl.edu; ndebru at ictp.it; great.history.1999 at gmail.com; yangymPhys at outlook.com; samyakjain02 at gmail.com; ChenLi2049 at outlook.com; us.bitspilani at gmail.com; Matthias.Thiesmeyer at rwth-aachen.de; vassal_f1 at denison.edu; Jerry Tianshen He <the53 at wisc.edu>; CHENG-HSU NEE <cnee at wisc.edu>; peterugarov at gmail.com; YEQING ZHOU <zhou356 at wisc.edu>; shenzibo at mail.ustc.edu.cn; AHMED SALAH ABDALKARIM <abdalkarim at wisc.edu>; lechihcho at gmail.com; fn.zeyu at gmail.com; huang_jifei at u.nus.edu; kmmy1110 at gmail.com; wlghks1895 at gmail.com; jhp1859 at gmail.com; gustav.romare at gmail.com
Subject: RE: UW-Madison Physics - international student information

Apologies, but my attempt to find a meeting time that would work broadly failed miserably!  Let's try again. ..  here's a new poll: https://www.when2meet.com/?24825618-vmMUR
Please fill it out and, with luck, we'll find a reasonable time for incoming international students and current international students to meet via zoom.
Thanks!
smk

*************************************
Sharon M. Kahn
Pronouns:  she/her/hers <What does this mean?<http://www.transstudent.org/pronouns101> / How to support others<https://medium.com/@mrsexsmith/dear-cis-people-who-put-your-pronouns-on-your-hello-my-name-is-nametags-78c047ed7af1>>
Graduate Program Manager
Physics Department | University of Wisconsin-Madison
2320f Chamberlin Hall | 1150 University Ave. |Madison, WI 53706
-----------------------------------------
email:  smkahn at wisc.edu<mailto:smkahn at wisc.edu>  |   phone:  608-262-9678
-----------------------------------------
Need to meet with me?  Schedule here:  https://calendly.com/smkahn


From: Sharon Kahn
Sent: Wednesday, April 17, 2024 12:34 PM
To: 21210200013 at m.fudan.edu.cn<mailto:21210200013 at m.fudan.edu.cn>; fherzallah at ufl.edu<mailto:fherzallah at ufl.edu>; ndebru at ictp.it<mailto:ndebru at ictp.it>; great.history.1999 at gmail.com<mailto:great.history.1999 at gmail.com>; yangymPhys at outlook.com<mailto:yangymPhys at outlook.com>; samyakjain02 at gmail.com<mailto:samyakjain02 at gmail.com>; ChenLi2049 at outlook.com<mailto:ChenLi2049 at outlook.com>; us.bitspilani at gmail.com<mailto:us.bitspilani at gmail.com>; Matthias.Thiesmeyer at rwth-aachen.de<mailto:Matthias.Thiesmeyer at rwth-aachen.de>; vassal_f1 at denison.edu<mailto:vassal_f1 at denison.edu>; Jerry Tianshen He <the53 at wisc.edu<mailto:the53 at wisc.edu>>; CHENG-HSU NEE <cnee at wisc.edu<mailto:cnee at wisc.edu>>; peterugarov at gmail.com<mailto:peterugarov at gmail.com>; YEQING ZHOU <zhou356 at wisc.edu<mailto:zhou356 at wisc.edu>>; shenzibo at mail.ustc.edu.cn<mailto:shenzibo at mail.ustc.edu.cn>; AHMED SALAH ABDALKARIM <abdalkarim at wisc.edu<mailto:abdalkarim at wisc.edu>>; lechihcho at gmail.com<mailto:lechihcho at gmail.com>; fn.zeyu at gmail.com<mailto:fn.zeyu at gmail.com>; huang_jifei at u.nus.edu<mailto:huang_jifei at u.nus.edu>; kmmy1110 at gmail.com<mailto:kmmy1110 at gmail.com>; wlghks1895 at gmail.com<mailto:wlghks1895 at gmail.com>; jhp1859 at gmail.com<mailto:jhp1859 at gmail.com>; gustav.romare at gmail.com<mailto:gustav.romare at gmail.com>
Subject: UW-Madison Physics - international student information

TO:  Incoming international PhD students

I'm hoping to plan a 60-minute zoom call sometime in the next 2 weeks so that we can talk through some of the issues and answer some of the questions that are unique to the international student experience.

Current students are far more knowledgeable about this than I am, so I'm hoping that some of them will join to share their experiences. Some of you have already studied abroad (either in the US or elsewhere), so might know what you need to know while, for others, this is a brand new adventure.  Either way, I think you'll find this meeting helpful.

Please help me find a good time for this meeting by filling out this poll:   https://www.when2meet.com/?24662315-mZswS  If you complete it by Tuesday morning (23 April), I'll find the most workable time/day and get it on our calendars by the end of that day.

A few other items that are specifically relevant to international students:
As an international student, you must demonstrate spoken English proficiency before working as a Teaching Assistant. The University of Wisconsin uses an assessment of spoken English called the SPEAK test, which is administered by the UW English as a Second Language (ESL) program. We are asking you to participate in a virtual version of the SPEAK test in May.  The Department of Physics asks all non-native English speakers to participate in the SPEAK test and any other steps recommended to improve your spoken English language proficiency, as needed. This may include taking ESL course(s) during the 2024-25 academic year and re-taking the SPEAK test.  You will need to receive a satisfactory score on the SPEAK test before you can be appointed as a Teaching Assistant.

You may also choose to attend the summer in-person International Student Teaching Assistant (ITA) training course. If you do attend, you will be placed into an appropriate course track based on your score on the SPEAK test. You would need to arrive prior to the start of this in-person course, preferably by Wednesday, July 10.  If you plan to attend ITA, please contact me as soon as possible! (NOTE:  I have 5 of you signed up for ITA - please don't hesitate to confirm!) Please be sure you take necessary steps to arrive in the US prior to the course start date. You can refer to the International Student Services website<https://iss.wisc.edu/becoming-a-global-badger/> for resources. Once you have your visa and your travel plans are set, please confirm your arrival date with us. The ITA course will last for five weeks, and you will be provided funding ($3,811 via a 50% TA position for 5 weeks) to attend, and will also receive remission of the course tuition. If you choose to attend, you will receive a letter with additional appointment details related to the funding.

You will receive communication directly from UW ESL staff with more details about the SPEAK test. You will be able to take the test during a window in early May (probably May 6-7) Please pay close attention to the information you receive from ESL, to be sure you have the necessary equipment and are ready to take the test at the indicated time.


In advance of the May SPEAK test, it's important that students have a NetID so that they can access the test via Canvas. If you haven't yet activated your NetID. . . .

  *   NetID - Activating Your Account<https://kb.wisc.edu/iam/page.php?id=1140>
  *   I need my CampusID/Wiscard Number<https://kb.wisc.edu/helpdesk/6127>


Many thanks!  Send questions as they come up!
smk


*************************************
Sharon M. Kahn
Pronouns:  she/her/hers <What does this mean?<http://www.transstudent.org/pronouns101> / How to support others<https://medium.com/@mrsexsmith/dear-cis-people-who-put-your-pronouns-on-your-hello-my-name-is-nametags-78c047ed7af1>>
Graduate Program Manager
Physics Department | University of Wisconsin-Madison
2320f Chamberlin Hall | 1150 University Ave. |Madison, WI 53706
-----------------------------------------
email:  smkahn at wisc.edu<mailto:smkahn at wisc.edu>  |   phone:  608-262-9678
-----------------------------------------
Need to meet with me?  Schedule here:  https://calendly.com/smkahn


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