2. Jennifer Frankel
International Student Insurance
Marketing Director / Licensed Insurance Agent
Jennifer Marks-Gold
Swarthmore College
Advisor, International Students and Scholars
3. Case Study
Staying Healthy – Mind & Body
Pre-arrival
Post-arrival
What students need to know:
Healthcare inside vs. outside the US
Health insurance
Staying healthy
Tools and resources to educate students
Crisis management: what to do in an emergency
Interactive Forum
Q&A
4. Each group gets a case study to analyze and
discuss with fellow group members.
As a group, discuss the issues and how you
would address the problem.
One member from each group will give an
overview of the case study along with the
approach your group would take.
5. Vincent from India. Fathers dies, and he turns to Drugs.
He
becomes despondent and struggles with his academics. We
suggest that he take a medical leave before he fails his all his
classes and advise him to seek counseling. He takes a medical
leave and returns home to India for a semester and meets with a
psychologist.
He is readmitted for the next semester and within one month he
begins to abuse drugs again and is not attending class. The
International Student Adviser(ISA) investigates the option of
sending him to a rehab in the states and another medical
leave. At that point the ISA finds out that when he was
readmitted, his heath care was not reactivated.
What should the ISA do in order to get him treated? Does he
need another medical leave? Is rehab covered?
6. Jennifer, an J scholar from South Korea, was diagnosed with
severe paranoid schizophrenia while in the middle of her
studies. This is a condition that usually manifests itself during
late teen or early 20’s. She was hospitalized in a psychiatric
institution and was unable to continue her studies, however she
was also deemed unfit to travel without a medical escort. What
action plan does your school currently have to deal with a
situation like this?
7. Jennifer, an international student from the United Kingdom, is
playing volleyball on the beach with some friends and falls and
breaks a collar bone. She doesn’t have health insurance, what
things should she consider prior to seeking treatment?
9. Pre arrival information:
information on VISA/Documentation, Travel, Living on Campus, Health, Advising
(including orientation & registration information) as well as financial issues.
We try to avoid ethnocentric thinking and stereo types and to keep in mind the
vast individual differences among students .
Social Challenges: Students may incur language problems, adapting to a new
culture( pressure to adapt quickly in a new environment is stressful)
Making friends and networking concerns. Adjusting to American openness can be
uncomfortable for some.
Emotional Challenges
Homesickness, parental guidance from home
Loneliness confusion and anxiety
Financial stress
Depression
Academic Challenges
Language, American classroom differences
American Academic writing styles and citation
Classroom discussions
Group vs. individual work
Frequency of classroom assessment
10. Academic Wellness is the ability to achieve a balance between work and leisure time.
On-Campus Resources:
SAMS- Several placed each dorm
Student Academic Mentors -SAMs- are upper class students specially selected and trained to work with
students on the development of skills necessary for academic success at Swarthmore such as time
management, organization, study strategies and reading techniques. Each residence hall is assigned a SAM
to serve as a resource for its residents. Any student may work with a SAM at any time.
WA’s
The Writing Associates Program at Swarthmore College has been helping students become better writers for
over 20 years. Our goals are:
To work with student writers at all stages of the writing process and in all disciplines.
To provide feedback and strategies designed to help student writers with the larger questions of
structure, organization, style, and argument as well as the smaller issues of sentence clarity and grammar.
To talk with student writers about their writing and thinking process in order to develop the analytical
skills, stylistic know-how, and confidence necessary for successful college writing.
To provide student writers with strategies that they can apply to their own writing and revision process.
TUTORS
Individual and group tutorials are available at no cost to all students who have demonstrated need for
them. Students may be referred to the tutorial service by a professor or academic advisor, or a student
English 1F.
This class introduces students to different genres of writing requirements at the
college.
11.
Social Wellness refers to one's ability to interact with people around them. It involves using good communications skills, having
meaningful relationships, respecting yourself and others, and creating a support system that includes family members and
friends.
On-Campus Resources
Resident Assistants
Resident Assistants (RAs) are selected Juniors and Seniors, who serve in the residence halls as peer counselors and advisors. They
are available to provide general information and counseling, and to make appropriate referrals as needed. RAs also have
responsibility for security, fire protection, and general safety within the dormitories. RAs function as liaisons between students
and the administration.
Social Affairs Committee
SAC is responsible for providing a balanced social calendar every weekend. The committee's responsibilities include funding allcampus parties, study breaks, and events and collaborating with groups and organizations to co-sponsor College events.
Women's Resource Center
The Women's Resource Center (WRC) exists as a safe space for all women at Swarthmore. The WRC is a nonpartisan organization
dedicated to creating a community of women from diverse backgrounds. Rather than taking a particular stance on issues, the
WRC board initiates and facilitates discussion and events concerning women. Everyone is welcome at the WRC, regardless of
gender.
Black Cultural Center
The Center fully welcomes Black students from all experiences and will support them and their efforts to thrive at Swarthmore.
It will encourage Black students to explore the complexities of their identity, their connections to members of the Black
community, both locally and globally, and to learn how to live productively after Swarthmore.
The Intercultural Center (IC)
provides programs and services that support the personal and intellectual development of Asian
American, Latino/a, Multiracial, Native American, Queer (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered), lowincome, international, and first-generation college students at Swarthmore College. In addition, the IC promotes systemic
change toward a multicultural perspective across the institution, and fosters community-building and collaboration among
diverse groups both within and outside of the college.
12. Swarthmore has a full time wellness coordinator
Our coordinator does one on one counseling and consulting
Works with students on TM but in a different way: Finds pockets of time to reposition
schedules. Suggests time for medication and mindfulness.
Discusses what makes them feel good and happy
Wellness peer educators are responsible for programming. Some events they plan include:
homemade facials and lavender pouches
Bath salts and body scrubs
5 K walks
Bedtime stories series It takes the students out of the academic into a more restful
state, where they also enjoy calming drinks and healthy snacks.”
Wellness room , this space can be reserved for special wellness activities.
13. Be aware of and accept our feelings, rather than deny them
Have an optimistic approach to life
Express feelings freely and manage feelings effectively
Express emotions appropriately
Adjust to change/handling culture shock
Cope with stress in a healthy way, Diet, Sleep, exercise
Enjoy life despite its occasional disappointments and frustrations
On-Campus Resources
CAPS - Counseling and Psychological Services or
email: caps@swarthmore.edu
Speak to Swatties: Student peer support group and mental heath
advocacy.
Dean's Office: Contact class deans
14. “A study by the U. S. Department of Education revealed that students
who participate in co-curricular activities are three times more likely
to have a grade point average of 3.0 or better” than students who do
not participate in co-curricular activities (Stephens &
Schaben, 2002, para. 4).
School associations
Cultural/religious organizations
Intramural/ club sports
Gym and recreational areas
15. Aided
School required plan discounted up to 100% Healthcare Coverage
1,000 loan
Winter housing and $550 stipend for the break
Free trip home
ALL:
TAXES *
Winter Coat trip
On campus jobs
SSA
5 day international orientation
Orientation Leaders
Big/ Little sib
Homestay
16. The Adviser for International Students and Scholars provides support
services and programs for international students at Swarthmore.
Swarthmore Homestay International Program (SHIP) is a cooperative effort
involving the International Student Adviser, faculty, alumni and staff
volunteers. This program supports international students during times when
the resident halls are closed on campus during school breaks.
For some international students finding a place to stay when the dorms are
closed can be challenging and many of our international students do not
have family living in the United States. During Winter break, Swarthmore
closes the dormitories from anywhere from two weeks to a month.
We will assign a student/ host match and share your contact information.
The international student adviser will do the matching and make the initial
contact. Then the student will connect to the Homestay volunteer to secure
and finalize the arrangements.
If you would like to participate in the SHIP program, please complete the
attached application form and submit to jgold12@swarthmore.edu
17. International Student Orientation leaders are hired to help (45 new students )
Navigations and Negotiations Workshop
Round table discussions( small groups)
Plagiarism, meal plan, wellness, class dean, academic resources
Karaoke night( 4th night of program)
F1 regulations ( stand alone Saturday)
Trip to Philadelphia
18. Extended orientation focusing more on social , academic and
emotional concerns
Work with faculty to educate on issues facing international
students. Attend faculty meetings, invite them to dinners, etc.)
Peer to peer mentoring( big sibs/ little sibs, SAMS, etc)
Weekly 1 credit course in the first semester, with an academic
advising component.
28. IRS enforces mandate based on resident vs. non-resident alien
analysis
F, M, Q and J (student/scholar) visa holders are exempt for 5
years from:
maintaining minimum essential coverage
paying the shared responsibility payment
International students can choose their plan:
School’s group plan
Individual health insurance
State exchanges
International students will still need to meet the US Department
of State (J visa) and their school’s insurance minimums
29.
Annual Limits:
Policy year September 24, 2012 until December 31, 2013:
Annual limits of no less than $500,000
Policy year on or after January 1, 2014:
No annual limits
Preventative Care: Student health coverage is
required to provide preventive services without costsharing.
Lifetime Limits: Plan may not impose lifetime limits
Pre-existing condition limitations: Plans may not
impose pre-existing condition limitation on those
younger than age 19.
•
After January 2014, pre-existing conditions cannot be excluded
30. What does your school do to address the health needs of your
international students?
31. How do you overcome mental health issues and the stigma
associated with it?
32. What support system does your school have in place to make sure
international students are safe and secure?
