Advising Options
International Student and Scholar Services offers services and support to help members of the Ohio University international community as they live and learn at OHIO. Meeting with an advisor is crucial in helping you transition to living in Athens and ensuring you will have a successful experience on campus and in your academic journey.
Whether you are an international research scholar or student, ISSS advisors can help you connect with resources on campus, navigate issues and immigration processes, answer various questions you may have and much more.
Student Advising Options
Students are able to choose from three advising options: virtual drop-in, in-person drop-in and scheduled appointments.
Virtual Drop-In Advising
- When: Fridays from 1:30-4 p.m. EST.
- Where: Zoom
- Time Length: These sessions last no more than 15 minutes. If you think you will need more time, email isss@ohio.edu to schedule an appointment.
How the ISSS Zoom Meeting Works
- Click the Zoom link Fridays between the hours of 1:30-4:00 p.m. EST to enter the Virtual Drop-in Advising Waiting Room.
- A staff member will greet you shortly and ask for your PID # and a brief description of what you would like to discuss with the advisor. Please have this information on hand and ready. You will then be placed back to the virtual waiting room.
- When the advisor is free and prepared to assist you, you will be moved from the virtual waiting room to the virtual advising room to begin your discussion. After you are finished speaking to the advisor, please select “Leave the Meeting”. We have established this procedure in an effort to maintain security and privacy, so there may be short delays before you are greeted by an ISSS staff member.
In-Person Drop-In Advising
- When: Monday-Wednesday from 1:30-4 p.m. EST each week
- Where: Yamada International House, 56 E. Union St., Athens, OH, 45701
- Time Length: These meetings are limited to 15 minutes and are offered on a first come first served basis.
Scheduled Appointments
- Where: In Person (Yamada House) or Microsoft Teams
- How: Email isss@ohio.edu or use the Microsoft Bookings Links for each team member listed below.
Scheduling Recommendations
You may schedule an appointment to discuss complex questions that may take more than 15 minutes or if you are not available to come into the office during virtual or in-person drop-in advising hours.
We recommend scheduling an advising appointment if:
- You wish to discuss changing your visa status
- You are applying for reinstatement (if your SEVIS record has been terminated)
- You have a lot of questions about CPT.
Please note that we do not hold individual appointments to discuss the OPT application process.To learn about this please sign up to attend an OPT workshop by logging into your iCats account, scrolling down to the "Events" section and registering for an upcoming workshop.
ISSS Bookings Links
All ISSS advisors provide support for all students, however, when booking an individual appointment, choose the advisor based upon the last digit of your PID.
For All J-1 Students and Scholars book with:
Abby Conder Lussier, Associate Director https://outlook.office365.com/owa/calendar/AbbyConderLussierAssociateDirectorISSS@catmail.ohio.edu/bookings/
For F-1 Students whose PID ends with 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9 book with:
Sophia Hower Nimmer, International Advisor
https://outlook.office365.com/owa/calendar/SophiaHowerNimmerInperson@catmail.ohio.edu/bookings/
For F-1 Students whose PID ends with 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4 book with:
Kierstin Conaway, International Advisor
https://outlook.office365.com/owa/calendar/ConawayKierstinBooking@catmail.ohio.edu/bookings/
Research Scholar Advising Options
Schedule an Appointment
- How: Email isss@ohio.edu or use Abby Conder Lussier's bookings link
International visitors conducting research and visiting professors can schedule an appointment with a scholar advisor. We currently are unable to offer drop-in advising for scholars at this time.