About OIS

Mission, Vision, and Values
Who We Are
What We Do
General Contact Information

Vision, Mission, and Values

Mission

The Office of International Services supports and complements the academic mission of the University by providing the services necessary to facilitate international education and exchange in its broadest sense.

Vision

The Office of International Services will be recognized internally and externally as a center of excellence dedicated to serving international students, international faculty, and international staff, and the interests of the University, with an unwavering focus on people, service, and results.

Values

Commitment. Customer Service. Professionalism. Teamwork.

Who We Are

Josef A. Mestenhauser, Professor of Educational Policy & Administration at the University of Minnesota, wrote the following about international education professionals:

More than fixers of problems, international education professionals are developers of people. More than adjustment specialists, they are builders of respectful, trustful, cooperative, and reasonable citizens. More than orientation providers, they are knowledge brokers. More than helpers of the helpless, they are guardians of the mental health of nations at a time when such guardians are urgently needed. More than functionaries in a bureaucracy, they are educators . . .

The Director of the Office of International Services is personally and professionally committed to the office being a "more than" kind of office where those whom we serve throughout the University and the wider community experience an exceptional level of customer service and efficiency in every interaction with the office. To that end, OIS is staffed by the following "more than" staff members:

Administration

David Bryan Clubb
Director

Charles L. Nieman, PhD
Associate Director

Janine S. Fisher
Assistant Director for International Programming & Public Relations

(See below under "Immigration Services" for Elizabeth (Betta) Risa, Assistant Director for Immigration Services, and see below under "International Admissions" for George F. Kacenga , Assistant Director for International Admissions.)

Juliann Mehall
Administrative Assistant to the Director

Erin Acampora
Receptionist

Immigration Services

Elizabeth (Betta) Risa
Assistant Director for Immigration Services

Amanda Bougades
Immigration Specialist

Genevieve Cook
Immigration Specialist

Sara E. Jones
Immigration Specialist

Elizabeth A. Leibach
Immigration Specialist

George Omwandho
Immigration Specialist

Mary Lou Glover
Compliance Coordinator

Constance Rankin
Administrative Assistant for Immigration Services

International Admissions

George F. Kacenga
Assistant Director for International Admissions

Genny M. Parker
International Admissions Officer

Marina Sciulli
International Admissions Specialist

International Programming & Public Relations

(See above under "Administration" for Janine S. Fisher, Assistant Director for International Programming & Public Relations)

What We Do

The Office of International Services (OIS) provides a variety of information and services to current and prospective international students, faculty and researchers and departments at the University of Pittsburgh. Following is a list of some of the many services the OIS provides:

Administration

OIS ensures that the University maintains compliance with all applicable laws and regulations set forth by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the U.S. Department of State (DOS), the U.S. Department of Labor, and other government agencies related to international students, international faculty, international staff, other international visitors, and their accompanying dependents (i.e., spouse and children).
OIS staff members function as liaisons to local, state, and federal government agencies including but not limited to the following: Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Department of Labor, and U.S. Department of State.
OIS staff members function as liaisons to sponsoring and programming agencies such as the Institute of International Education, the Fulbright Commission, Ford Foundation, etc.
OIS supports and engages in advocacy efforts at the local, national, and international level promoting the value of international educational and cultural exchange.

Immigration Services

OIS provides competent and professional services to international students, international faculty, international staff, other international visitors, and their accompanying dependents (i.e., spouse and children) concerning U.S. immigration laws governing and/or regulating their stay in the United States. OIS assists these individuals in meeting obligations and requirements of federal regulations governing their status and period of authorized stay within the United States.
OIS determines eligibility for issuance of U.S. government documents for international students, international faculty, international staff, other international visitors, and their accompanying dependents (i.e., spouse and children) to facilitate the acquisition of the appropriate visa for entry to the U.S. or change of visa classification within the United States.
OIS advises international students, international faculty, international staff, other international visitors, and their accompanying dependents (i.e., spouse and children) on personal, financial, academic or cultural adjustment concerns including but not limited to the following: orientation for new students; international tax information sessions; cultural adjustment sessions; information sessions on regulatory issues and application processes (e.g., Optional Practical Training employment authorization for international students, the H-1B1 petition process, etc.).
OIS assists academic and administrative departments regarding employment-based immigration processes for international faculty, researchers and staff members.

International Admissions

OIS works closely with all academic units throughout the University to facilitate the admission of international undergraduate, graduate, and professional students.
OIS performs credential evaluations and makes admission recommendations for undergraduate and graduate applicants who have had education outside of the United States, ensuring that international students meet the University's admissions standards.

International Programming & Public Relations

OIS overseas all International Orientation Programs and the PASSPORT Program Series for International Students & Scholars.
OIS coordinates with the international programming efforts of the Cross Cultural Civic Leadership Center to provide additional programming designed to promote international good will; providing for cultural, social, and educational exchange; and bring together international students/scholars and US students/scholars.
OIS staff members support and serve as advisors to various international student organizations.

General Contact Information

OIS Location & Hours

The OIS is located on the 7^th floor of the William Pitt Union on the corner of Fifth Avenue and Bigelow Boulevard in the Oakland section of Pittsburgh:

Office of International Services
University of Pittsburgh
708 William Pitt Union
Pittsburgh, PA 15260

412.624.7120 or 412.624.7853 (Immigration Services)
412.624.7129 (International Admissions)
412.624.7123 (Administration – Director’s Office and Public Relations)

Fax: 412.624.7105

OFFICE HOURS: Monday-Friday, 8am-5:00pm
APPOINTMENTS are available Monday-Friday, 8:30am-5pm.
WALK-INS* for Immigration Services are accepted
Monday-Friday, 1-4pm.
No appointment necessary. Walk-in service is for general questions and basic procedures (e.g., travel signatures, etc.) that can be addressed in approximately 5-10 minutes or less.
CHECK-INS for new international students are conducted during the designated times for OIS Fall and Spring Terms unless the student arrives after too late for them or arrives to start a Summer Term. In those cases, and for all new international scholars, Check-Ins are available during Walk-In hours. No appointment necessary.
NOTARY SERVICES are available Tuesdays and Thursdays, 1-4pm (NOTE: Notary services are only available to Pitt affiliates and only if related to an OIS request or if they are otherwise a requirement of immigration or admissions casework being processed by OIS).

* IMPORTANT NOTE:The services available during Walk-Ins are limited to the following: Travel Requests; Driver’s License Letters; Social Security Number Letters; and Replacement of Lost/Damaged Form I-20/Form DS-2019. All other issues or questions require an appointment with an Immigration Specialist. To schedule an appointment, call 412.624.7120.