After Admission

We’re here to ensure international students and scholars have everything they need to be successful at IU. We are the only campus source of information and assistance on student-related immigration issues. We also provide guidance and assistance to students who need help finding and using university and community resources. It is important to encourage your student to ask questions and let us know when they need help.

To help international students make IU feel more like home, we host cultural events, provide support to student leaders, and establish build connections through activities and events around IU.

If you are concerned about your student’s well-being, we can contact them on your behalf. U.S. regulations prevent staff from providing personal information about a student to anyone without the student’s permission. But we will check on a student and encourage them to contact family or appropriate help.

If a student is in need of emergency assistance or is unable to communicate with their family, the university will notify parents directly unless the student forbids it.

Residential Programs and Services (RPS) has a wealth of information on their website about housing available on campus. IU is a beautiful campus surrounded by all the best Indiana has to offer. IU is home to thousands of students each year.

Dormitory rooms are furnished with a bed, desk, chair, and closet for each student. And there are many ways students can set up their room. Each dorm is key-card accessed, and Resident Assistants (RA’s) are assigned to groups of rooms.

While there is no direct monitoring of students, RA’s are generally aware of any conflicts and do their best to make sure students aren’t alone or isolated. They are trained to help students succeed and to deal with emergencies.

Students sign a roommate agreement at the beginning of the year. If necessary, a student can request a room change after six weeks. More information can be found in our Parent Resource Guide.

Should your student become ill while on campus, IU has a full-service health center on campus. The City of Bloomington has two hospitals, several urgent care centers, and many private physicians. In the case of a life-threatening emergency, family members are notified unless the student forbids it.

The Student Health Center also has a pharmacy. It is very important that students disclose any medication or herbal treatments they are using to a physician or health care provider to guard against adverse reactions.

IU also has counseling and mental health care to help students manage stress, depression, anxiety, or other serious concerns.

All international students are required to purchase medical insurance through the university. This is comprehensive coverage. By working with one insurance provider, we are able to keep costs low and assist with any claim or coverage questions.

Students should review their orientation Canvas session for instructions on arriving in Bloomington.

Once they are in town, there are many ways to get around. Transportation options include a bus system that covers campus and Bloomington, Zip Cars, bicycles, scooters, and private taxi services.

Some students buy their own car, but remember: freshmen are not allowed to have cars on campus—they have to park at the football stadium and take a bus to get to their car.

IU prides itself on creating and maintaining a safe environment for our students.

IU has a dedicated police force that assists students as needed. All buildings have security systems. A bystander intervention program and an escort service, all available through a safety app, are also available.

We encourage students to be vigilant—just as they would anywhere—and to look out for each other.

IU provides countless ways to help students thrive and succeed. From individualized academic counseling to academic help sessions, writing improvement, and professor’s office hours, there are many ways for students to get help.

The most successful students ask for help when they need it. Academic advisers and faculty watch for issues, but a student will always sense when they need help.

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act is a U.S. federal law designed to allow students over the age of 18 to shield information about their studies. The general principle is that student education records are considered confidential and may not be released to third parties (including parents) without the written consent of the student.

Protected elements of the student’s education record include, but are not limited to, financial data, progress in courses, class scheduling, grade information, and academic disciplinary information.

If you have questions about your student’s performance or life, you should ask your student.

Unlike some educational systems, the U.S. places a high value on original thought and giving credit to those whose work you reference.

Using someone else’s thoughts or work is called plagiarism, and is against IU’s Code of Conduct. Students are educated about this in the orientation process, but it may be helpful for you to be aware of it as well.

Most students start their studies in the University Division with 1–2 years of general education classes that serve as a rich foundation for the study of their major.

They then transition into one of IU’s 16 schools, allowing them to specialize in their major field of study. They work closely with an academic adviser to navigate that process.

The U.S. education system typically uses an A through F grading scale.

IU provides several ways, including installment plans, to assist students with paying their bills. Student Central consolidates all that information in one place.

Many international families prefer to use one of IU’s wire transfer services: Flywire or GlobalPay. It will be most convenient to establish a U.S. bank account for your student while they are in Bloomington. A list of local banks is provided to students in their online Orientation Handbook, located in the OIS Orientation Canvas Session.

IU places a high value on practical experience to supplement classroom learning. Consequently, career counselors partner with schools and academic advisers from the beginning of each student’s journey at IU.

International students are coached to find work in the U.S., as well as in their home country.

• Parent Association
• First-Year Parent’s Newsletter
• Parent Engagement
• Gateway Centers