Announcements

Email Subject:  Information for international students about visa revocations and SEVIS terminations
Sent Date:  April 10, 2025
From:  Heather Jacobson

Email Subject:  Documents to carry with you in the US
Sent Date:  February 11, 2025
From:  International Student Services

Email Subject:  Knack Tutoring
Sent Date:  January 16, 2025
From:  Heather Jacobson

Hello, everyone,

I’ve had several students ask me if it’s possible for international students to sign up to be tutors on Knack. This is a good question to ask given that the hiring process is quite different and the work primarily takes place through an online platform. When PLU first started using Knack last academic year, International Student Services, Payroll and Student Employment reviewed policies and procedures to arrive at the following responses to common questions you might have about being a Knack tutor.

• Does being a tutor on Knack qualify as an on-campus position?  Yes, the Knack tutoring position qualifies as allowable campus employment for international students because it is providing a direct service exclusively to PLU students.
• Can I apply for a Social Security Number (SSN) once I am hired as a Knack tutor?  Unfortunately, no. PLU cannot issue the employment verification letter needed for the SSN application because Knack is the one who pays the student tutors. However, Knack says on their website here that they cannot issue letters of employment either. What this means is that the Knack tutoring position cannot be an international student’s first job in the U.S.  If you are hired for another campus job and apply for a SSN with that position, you would then be able to add the tutoring job.
• How many hours per week can I tutor?  PLU’s policy limiting student employment to 19 hours per week during the school year includes Knack tutoring hours. Because tutoring hours are recorded in a different system, it will be your responsibility to ensure that your combined hours for all campus jobs don’t exceed 19 hours per week.
• How will I report this income when I file taxes?  Knack classifies tutors as 1099 independent contractors for tax purposes. Therefore, rather than receiving a W-2 tax document (like you do for your other PLU jobs), you will receive a 1099-NEC to report your income earned as a Knack tutor. You should receive this document in January or February. You can find more information on the Knack website here.

Email Subject:  Important Guidelines for International Students Entering the U.S.
Sent Date:  January 2, 2025
From:  International Student Services
Newsletter Link:  https://mailchi.mp/c48393099210/travel-guidelines-2025

Highlights:

• What Happens When You Land
• What To Do If You Run Into Problems
• More Resources

Email Subject:  Option to return to campus before January 20th
Sent Date:  December 20, 2024
From:  Heather Jacobson

Dear student,

I hope you’re enjoying your break so far! You’re receiving this email because you’ve indicated that you will not be staying in your residence hall room during J-Term. You can ignore this email if you are staying within the United States; this message is for students who will be outside the U.S. in January.

I know that some students are feeling anxious about traveling outside the U.S. because you’re concerned that Trump will choose to implement policies that restrict travel into the U.S. after he becomes president on January 20th. Unfortunately, there is no way to know when or even if any policy changes will be introduced.

If you are planning to be abroad after January 20th but you are questioning your decision, I want to let you know about an option to return to your campus housing before January 20th. Residential Life is willing to work with international students to allow you to return early, even though you originally submitted the housing cancellation form for J-Term.

There is no housing cost for J-Term, however, you would be charged for a modified meal plan.

If you decide that you want to return to campus before January 20th, you will need to wait until January to make your request. AFTER January 2nd, email rlif@plu.edu and let them know what day you would like to return to your residence hall. Residential Life will process and approve your request, and then arrange for the modified meal plan to be added to your account.

The university The university will be closed until January 2nd, so please hold onto your questions for now. Wait until the university reopens on January 2nd to send your questions and early return request to rlif@plu.edu.

Email Subject:  Food resources over Winter Break
Sent Date:  December 11, 2024
From:  Heather Jacobson