Dear Students. Your first few days in Starkville will be a busy and exciting time. In addition to meeting with your academic advisor and registering for courses, you will be settling into a new home and tending to your basic needs, including housing, food, health insurance, medical screening, and finances (banking, employment, social security numbers).

The ISO staff will do everything it can to assist you. We recommend that you secure housing prior to arrival. Information on housing options is available at the ISO website.

For a specified (see upcoming events for dates) period prior to the start of classes, the Student Association International Affairs Committee (SAIAC) provides airport pick-ups and daily store runs for those students needing basic supplies. The daily store runs are to Wal-Mart, a large department and grocery store. Contact ISO receptionist two days prior to Wal-mart run for confirmation. For a schedule of store runs, see below. Store runs may be delayed due to airport delays.

If you are in need of an airport pick-up, please contact the ISO receptionist with your flight number and day and time of arrival at least one week in advance. The receptionist will forward your information to the SAIAC who will contact you with a confirmation.

The International Services Office offers orientation and check-in sessions for new students during a specified period prior to the start of classes (see orientation schedule below). Sessions are offered twice weekly, once in the morning and afternoon. Students are required to attend one two-hour session.

The orientation and check-in sessions are designed to provide students with important information regarding health insurance and medical requirements, employment opportunities and policies (including obtaining a social security number), and registration procedures.

Students are requested to attend the earliest session after their arrival. They should bring with them passport, I-94, and I-20 documents for review and inspection. For a schedule of orientation sessions, see below.