International Student Orientation

International Orientation will be Tuesday, August 11, to Thursday, August 13 for F-1 students, MKs, and TCKs. Registration is now open.

Housing for International Families

COVID-19 has disrupted many of our normal routines as we seek to mitigate the spread of the disease. In order to keep Taylor employees and students safe and to remain in compliance with current CDC guidelines, we ask that all incoming and returning international students and their families traveling from abroad to quarantine themselves for two weeks before arriving on campus. You need to be in the United States by Tuesday, July 28th to participate in International Orientation. We recognize that for some students, finding a place to quarantine can be a challenge. Taylor will offer a limited number of spots on-campus to quarantine before classes begin. However, you would need to make your personal arrangements to transport you to Taylor’s campus upon your arrival to the United States. This option is only available for incoming or returning students. Families will be responsible to make arrangements for their own transportation and quarantine location.

Following the state of Indiana’s COVID-19 guidelines, housing for international families will not be provided on campus during International Student Orientation. Families will need to find their own housing. Check out hotel and lodging accommodations in the area.

Please view the table below for the cost of attending International Orientation. These charges cover a student’s registration fee, room and board, and all activities at the orientation August 11-13.

Who	Early Bird Special (Before July 27)	Fee for Orientation (July 28-August 5)	Details
F-1 Students	$150 (charged to student account)	$175 (charged to student account)	Internationals or TCKs without American status
U.S. Passport & Residents	$130 (charged to student account)	$155 (charged to student account)	MKs or TCKs with American status
Parents/Guardians	$15 per day	$15 per day + $10 late fee	Any adult traveling with the incoming student
Siblings	$7.50 per day	$7.50 per day + $10 late fee	Any child under the age of 18

Please note that for parents and families attending both International Orientation and Welcome Weekend, IO fees do not cover Welcome Weekend meals (August 16-18) or the gap of August 14-15 between IO and Welcome Weekend. Click here to see more about Welcome Weekend.

During International Student Orientation, you will have the opportunity to:

Ask questions
Be encouraged
Build relationships with others
Check out opportunities to work on campus
Meet key administrators, faculty, and staff
Open a local bank account
Participate in fun activities
Prepare for transition into college life and a new culture
Shop

Visit the International Orientation Website for more details.

Please submit the following forms by July 27, 2020. This will help make your registration for IO and transition to Taylor University a smooth transition.

Form	Contact Person(s)	Contact Email	Form Links
Health, Medical, & Vaccination	Bev Guffey, Administrative Assistant for VP of Student Development and Deans	bvguffey@taylor.edu	View Now
Health Insurance (Required only for F-1 visa students)	Chris Wacker (PSI)	chris@psiservice.com	View Now
Under 18 Years Old - Release Form	Lori Slater, Housing Coordinator	lrslater@taylor.edu	View Now

Transportation

Scheduling Your Arrival for International Orientation

International Orientation starts on Tuesday, August 11, where you will spend the day moving into your residence hall. Once you are ready to travel, please do the following:

Register for International Orientation (mandatory for all International, MK and TCK students). Registration is now open.
Please schedule your travel to arrive to the United States by or prior to Tuesday July 28th, two weeks before International Orientation. Families, incoming or returning students traveling from abroad need to quarantine themselves for two weeks before arriving to Taylor’s campus in compliance with current CDC guidelines.
To remain in line with the state of Indiana’s COVID-19 guidelines, upon arrival to the United States, Taylor cannot provide transportation.
Students are encouraged to make arrangements with family, friends, or hotel closest to your arrival airport in the United States to quarantine yourself.
We recognize that for some students, finding a place to quarantine can be a challenge. Taylor will offer a limited number of spots on-campus to quarantine before classes begin. However, you would need to make your personal arrangements to transport you to Taylor’s campus upon your arrival to the United States.
If you need a place to quarantine on campus please contact Maribel Magallanes, Director of Student Leadership and Cultural Programs, at maribel_magallanes@taylor.edu.
Transport from Crackle Barrel restaurant (the Hoosier Shuttle drop-off location) and local hotels: Taylor University will provide transportation for incoming international students and their families on the International Orientation registration day, August 11th.
Parents headed back to the airport may consider taking the Hoosier Shuttle to the airport. While we do not provide transportation for parents and guest back to the airport, we provide transportation to the Cracker Barrel where you pick up the Hoosier Shuttle.
Please notify Jeanna Evans at zola_evans@taylor.edu about your travel plans by Wednesday, August 5, 2020. You will need to communicate your arrival, departure date and time from Crackle Barrel, if you are staying in a local hotel, and the number of people travelling with you. A schedule that has information about your driver, host, vehicle, and driver's number will be provided so you will know who and when you will be picked up.
Please make sure to arrive on Taylor’s campus on or after August 11, 2020 at 12:00pm as you will not have access to your residence hall should you arrive earlier than International Orientation.
In case of any flight changes, please let us know.

Frequently Asked Questions

How should I send my luggage to Taylor?
For any items you may need upon your arrival, please consider shipping estimates.

Send items to:
- (Your Name)
- 236 W. Reade Ave.
- Upland, IN 46989
Do not ship items prior to July 21.
If I shop online and want my items to arrive at Taylor, where should I shop and what address should I send my items to?
Here are our recommendations:
- Target
- Walmart
For any items you may need upon your arrival, please consider shipping estimates.

Send items to:
- (Your Name)
- 236 W. Reade Ave.
- Upland, IN 46989
Do not ship items prior to August 1.
How will I get from the airport to Taylor for International Orientation?

We will provide transportation from Cracker Barrel, the Hoosier Shuttle drop-off location, and from local hotel sites on August 11th for students and families at no additional charge.

Please keep in mind, you need to arrive to the United States no later than July 28th to attend International Orientation. Check out hotel and lodging accommodations in the area. While we do not provide transportation for parents and guest from the airport, we will provide transportation from the Cracker Barrel where you get dropped off from the Hoosier Shuttle on August 11th. Those who stay at local hotels, not within walking distance, will also be provided transportation for getting back and forth to the campus at certain hours during those days.

Parents headed back to the airport may consider taking the Hoosier Shuttle to the airport. While we do not provide transportation for parents and guest back to the airport, we will provide transportation to the Cracker Barrel where you pick up the Hoosier Shuttle.
Where should I get a cell phone in the United States?
Here are our recommendations:
- Option 1: AT&T’s GoPhone
- Option 2: Purchase iPhone; use “iMessage” and “Nextplus” apps in wifi hot spots only
If you have any additional questions, we will provide more information on cell phones and service at IO.
How do I open a bank account in the United States?
You can choose whichever bank you would like. If you have an interest in creating a bank account with a bank branch that is close to campus, we recommend completing the following documents for an account with Star Financial bank. Completing these documents ahead of time will allow for a swift and easy sign-up process.
View All Acceptable Documents

If you have questions about these forms, we will provide more information on banking at IO or you can contact Stephanie Lyons (Star Financial) at stephanie.lyons@starfinancial.com.
If I have questions, who should I contact?

Any questions not addressed in the Pre-Departure Information Packet can be emailed to Maribel Magallanes, Director of Student Leadership and Cultural Programs, at maribel_magallanes@taylor.edu or Rev. Gregory Dyson at greg_dyson@taylor.edu. We look forward to having you on campus!

Fall Orientation Only

Students will be moved directly into their dorm room upon arrival. Students registered before July 27 will be charged $150. If registered after July 28, they will be charged $175, which includes a registration fee, room and board, and all activities at the orientation.

We will provide transportation from Cracker Barrel, the Hoosier Shuttle drop-off and pick-up location, and local hotel sites on Tuesday, August 11th for students and families at no additional charge.

Parents headed back to the airport may consider taking the Hoosier Shuttle to the airport. While we do not provide transportation for parents and guest back to the airport, we will provide transportation to the Cracker Barrel where you pick up the Hoosier Shuttle.

Each adult or guardian who attends will be charged $15 per day for meals. Each sibling will be charged $10 per day. If you register after July 28, adults will be charged $25 per day and siblings will be charged $17.50 per day.

You are welcome to attend our Class of 2020 Graduation Ceremony (Saturday, August 15th at 8am) and in campus activities during Welcome Weekend (Sunday & Monday, August 16th - 17th).

Parents are encouraged to attend a workshop titled: “Parenting from a Distance” with our Vice President for Intercultural Leadership & Church Relations, Rev. Gregory Dyson at 10am on Monday, August 17.

Family members should say your good-byes and exit campus by the evening of Monday, August 17th.

New Course Designed to Meet Language Needs of Multilingual English Users

ENG 170: Fundamentals of American Reading and Writing

3-credits, designed for multilingual English users but would also benefit third culture students and missionary students.

This course is designed as an optional alternative for ENG 101 (Fundamentals of Writing) and/or AEC 140 (Academic Reading) for students who have tested or been placed into either or both of those courses. Additionally, this course is also open to multilingual students who do not have to take ENG 101 but want to improve as academic readers and writers; however, preference for enrollment will be given to freshman students who are required to take either ENG 101 or this course.

If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Barb Bird at brbird@taylor.edu.