Please find below the most commonly asked questions we receive from students. If you do not find your question here, we’d be happy to answer it for you.
General Questions
- How do I get questions answered between the monthly class weekends?
- I’ve lost some of the class materials I received in class (Student Notebook, Self-Counseling Resource Booklet, etc.). Can I get a replacement?
- I misplaced/didn’t get a handout from the weekend. Can this be replaced?
Attendance Questions
- What happens if I need to miss an entire weekend?
- What happens if I need to miss part of a class weekend?
Homework Questions
- Who can answer a question on a specific homework assignment?
- I lost the home assignment cover page (with the barcodes). Can I get a replacement?
- I forgot to pick up my homework at the end of the weekend—how will I get it back?
- Can I have next month’s handouts or home assignments in advance?
- Can I have the book list for next quarter in advance?
International Student Questions
- As a foreign student, do I need to let anyone know when I move?
- What happens if my passport or student visa expires?
- Do I need to have my I-20 signed when I go out of the country on vacation, etc.?
- How do I apply for OPT (Optional Practicum Training)?
To view contact information for USM’s Student Advisor and other Staff, please click here.
General Questions
How do I get questions answered between the monthly class weekends?
You may call the Student Advisor during office hours.
Back to TopI’ve lost some of the class materials I received in class (Student Notebook, Self-Counseling Resource Booklet, etc.). Can I get a replacement?
Yes. Contact the Educational Materials Administrator to order lost materials. A nominal fee will apply.
I misplaced/didn’t get a handout from the weekend. Can this be replaced?
Yes. Contact the Educational Materials Administrator to request handout replacements.
Attendance Questions
What happens if I need to miss an entire weekend?
Students are required to attend all classes. In cases of illness or emergencies, students may miss only one weekend, and this is only during the First Year.
Please call the Student Advisor in advance of the weekend to let us know you won’t be attending. You will need to make up the weekend the following year. You are still responsible to turn in your homework on time the Friday it is due; papers turned in after that may be assessed late point deductions. On the Monday following the class weekend, your read/evaluated homework and all the handouts from the weekend are mailed to you. Review them promptly, and if you have any questions, call the Student Advisor. Remember—be smart and do your homework early!
What happens if I need to miss part of a class weekend?
Students are required to attend all classes in their entirety. Missing parts of the class sessions (including being late) is reflected in your final grade. If you are aware of a situation that will cause you to miss a portion of class, it is your responsibility to call the Student Advisor in advance of the weekend. You may be required to make up the weekend.
Homework Questions
Who can answer a question on a specific homework assignment?
Our experience is that most of the time, you can! A question on a home assignment can usually be answered by carefully reviewing the instructions for the home assignment. We encourage you to center yourself in your Self and ask Spirit’s assistance in gaining clarity as you re-review the assignment handout. If, after doing so, a question remains, you are welcome to call the Student Advisor.
I lost the home assignment cover page (with the barcodes). Can I get a replacement?
It’s important to keep your cover pages in a secure location until you need them to submit your homework. Replacements are not given out in advance of the weekend. Just turn in your home assignment without the cover page and a new one will be made for you in the weekend. Point deductions are applied.
I forgot to pick up my homework at the end of the weekend—how will I get it back?
In cases where the homework has not been picked up, the Registrar’s office will mail it to you with next month’s assignment cover pages.
Can I have next month’s handouts or home assignments in advance?
Class materials are not available in advance of the class weekend.
Can I have the book list for next quarter in advance?
When the book list has been finalized, a “sneak preview” is included on the home assignment summary the month before the books will be offered for sale in class. If the books are not listed on the home assignment summary sheet, it means that the list is not yet available.
International Student Questions
Please refer to the International Student Information Booklet
for requirements and/or regulations while you are a student on F-1 status. This was given to you at the time of your acceptance into the Program and is also available by clicking on the link above.
As a foreign student, do I need to let anyone know when I move?
Yes. You must report any changes of address either abroad or locally to the Registrar. The Registrar will update that information in SEVIS.
What happens if my passport or student visa expires?
It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that these two items are kept current. Please refer to the International Student Information Booklet for further information.
Do I need to have my I-20 signed when I go out of the country on vacation, etc.?
Yes. If you travel out of the country, you need to have your I-20 signed by the Registrar. Please call and speak with the Registrar to arrange this.
How do I apply for OPT (Optional Practicum Training)?
Please contact the Registrar, who will go over the requirements and your eligibility.
