INTERNATIONAL STUDENT GUIDE

Consider attending the

UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA
at OMAHA

The University of Nebraska at Omaha
is an accredited four-year institution
located in the heartland of the United States.

welcome

Karibu!

BIENVENIDO

WELCOME!
A warm welcome awaits international students at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO). They come from all over the world seeking a good education at a cost they can afford. They find much more!

A campus located in a city that is large enough to offer diversity but small enough that students can easliy become acquainted with American students and families.
Special services to ease the transition to this American University.
Highly qualified teachers accustomed to giving special attention to students who need extra help.
An intensive language program (ILUNO) which helps students pass the Test of English as a Foreign language (TOEFL) if their English is not up to University Standards.
An opportunity to meet American families through welcome and friendship programs. You'll have the chance to share in American Family life and develop an understanding of how ordinary Americans live their daily lives. This may become one of the most important parts of your educational experience.

We hope that YOU will consider becoming part of the University of Nebraska at Omaha's international community.

Facts About the University
The University of Nebraska at Omaha, which is part of the University of Nebraska system, is an accredited, four-year institution with about 15,000 full-and part-time students. The University offers over 80 undergraduate degrees through its seven colleges: Arts and Sciences, Business Administration Continuing Studies, Education, Fine Arts, Information Systems and Technology, and Public Affairs and Community Service. Courses are also taught on the Omaha campus by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Home Economics and the College of Engineering and Technology.
More than 50 masters' programs are available on UNO's campus through the Office of Graduate Studies and Research. The University of Nebraska Medical Center also is located in Omaha and many UNO Graduates are admitted there for advanced studies in the health sciences.
The academic year consists of a fall semester from August through December and a spring semester from January through May. Courses also are offered during summer sessions.
A typical full-time student takes 12-15 credit hours per semester. Most degrees require at least 125 hours for graduation For further information about specific majors or courses, please order the UNO International Student Packet. (See below for instructions)
For further information about UNO, please send a check or money order for $12 (twelve U.S. Dollars) to UNO International Admissions, University of Nebraska at Omaha, 62 and Dodge Streets, Omaha, NE 68182-0005 and ask for our International Student Packet. This includes a University catalog, viewbook, off-campus housing information and a variety of other materials.
We regret that due to the high cost of mailing documents overseas, we cannot provide this free. Additional information also is available at your nearest U.S.A. Information Agency Office.

International Focus The University has gained national recognition for its Center for Afghanistan Studies, the only center in the United States. This is just one example of UNO's outreach to the world. There is an annual Third World Conference which draws scholars from developing countries for discussions of political and economic problems. The annual European Studies Conference also draws scholars from throughout the United States and Europe.
UNO is affiliated with several universities in Asia and Europe. The universities include:

South China Normal University - Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
University of the City of Minila-Phillipines
Carolo-Wilhemina Technical University- Braunschweig, Germany
A1.I. Cuza University-Iasi, Romania
Shizuoka University-Japan
Wirtschaftsuniversitat Wien-Austria
Charles University-Prague, Czechoslovakia
University of Hannover-Germany

Faculty
More than 80 percent of the University's faculty members have attained their field's highest degree. Full professors routinely teach undergraduate classes; many classes have fewer than 30 students.
Some University courses are taught by part-time instructors with expertise in fields such as business, marketing, finance and journalism. These professionals offer students an exciting combination of academic expertise and practical experience in the fields which students will someday enter.

Costs
Many international students choose the University of Nebraska at Omaha because it offers a fine education at a cost they can afford. A typical unmarried international student carrying a full load will spend about $12,000 a year for tuition, fees, books and living expenses (not including a car).
International students pay Nebraska's relatively inexpensive non-resident tuition. In addition, Omaha's living costs are among the best bargains in the nation.

Services for International Students

International Student Center
Home-away-from-home for UNO's international students is the Internationl Student Center located in the Milo Bail Student Center. It is here that UNO's 400 foreign students come to study, relax and meet friends from around the globe. Newspapers and magazines from all areas of the world are available here.
International Student Services (ISS), which is funded by the student government, plans special events for international students. It also publishes a newsletter and offers peer counseling for adjustment problems.

International Student Advisor
When you arrive at the University, you'll probably find that your best guide to your new world is our International Student Advisor. This warm, experienced staff member is available to help answer questions concerning your visa status to personal adjustments. When you don't know what a document means or what is expected of you or where to get help, the advisor will be there for you. This kind of advocacy helps most international students adjust readily to life at UNO.

Student Health
A nurse is available full time at the Milo Bail Student Center and a doctor is on campus several days a week. You can get treatment for minor injuries and illnesses on campus, or you can be referred for treatment of more serious health problems. UNO is within a 10-minute drive of four major hospitals including the University of Nebraska Med Center.

Friends of International Students and Scholars
When you arrive in Omaha, you can ask to be met at the airport by an American family who will provide temporary housing. This is just one service provided by Friends of International Students and Scholars (FISS).
The organization includes Omaha residents who enjoy meeting international students. At the University, you will have far more opportunity than at most colleges to share in the daily life of ordinary Americans.
Other FISS Activities include:

Social functions for international students from Omaha's many educational institutions and FISS members.
Professional Partners, a program to match students with Americans working in their career fields.
Friendship Partners, a program matching students with American families to become their special friends.

Campus Life
UNO is an urban university which offers many on-campus activities, sports and cultural events. It also encourages students to participate in the cultural life of the city. International students fully participate in the many activities at this University.
International Festival
UNO holds an annual International Festival featuring films, cultural displays, ethnic food, entertainment and an international awareness contest. The week is highlighted by the International Banquet featuring foods from around the world and a student talent show.
Canoe Trip
Many international students get a close-up look at the "Wild West" on an annual canoe trip down the Niobrara River in a remote area of northern Nebraska. The two-day expedition includes a campout and a rare opportunity to savor the wilderness.
Sports
All students may use the spacious gym, six-lane indoor swimming pool, basketball, handball and raquetball courts, indoor track and other facilities at the Health, Physical Education and Recreation Building. The university is adjacent to one of Omaha's major parks with complete outdoor recreation facilities.
International Students are active in intramural soccer and volleyball teams, and participate in FISS-sponsored athletic events with Americans.
Cultural Life
UNO has its own Performing Arts Center where numerous concerts of all types are held. It is frequently used by Omaha's international groups for programs featuring ethnic entertainment from around the world.
In addition, students are encouraged to participate in Omaha's active cultural life which includes a symphony orchestra, opera company, ballet company, community theaters and live music of all types. The International Student Advisor can help you take advantage of Omaha's cultural offerings.
Student Organizations
International students are encouraged to participate in the University's numerous student organizations including student government, special interest groups, religious organizations, and academic and professional groups.

Life in Omaha
When students come to Omaha, they have entered America's Heartland. This metropolitan area of about 600,000 people is located in the geographic center of the United States. It ranks high on national indexes of liveable cities with a relatively low crime rate, and affordable housing and services. It is accessible by air from both coasts. Interstate-80, the nation's longest east-west highway, goes through Omaha.
History
Omaha played an important role in settling the American West. It was the starting place for Union Pacific, the nation's first transcontinental railroad. The city has numerous historical museums saluting its pioneer heritage. These are of special interest to many students who are fascinated with the American West.
Economy
Omaha is a major national center of insurance, food processing and transportation. It also is headquarters of the Strategic Air Command of the U.S. Air Force. The city also boasts of two medical colleges: the University of Nebraska Medical Center and Creighton University. UNO graduates often continue their education in medicine, nursing, pharmacy and other health fields at the medical centers.
Climate
Omaha's climate can best be described as varied. There are four distinct seasons. Summers tend to be quite warm and humid, and winters can be cold and snowy. No two years are alike. Students learn to expect the unexpected. The city often experiences sudden weather changes. Omahans joke that "If you don't like the weather, wait an hour and it will change."
Population Omaha's population is diverse and cosmopolitan. The city is considered an ethnic microcosm of the United States. There are numerous cultural organizations representing many of the world's major countries. You are welcome to participate in their activities including the city's annual Ethnic Festival.
Special Foods
Omaha has specialty grocery stores which offer the major ingredients required for Asian, Latin American, European and Middle Eastern cooking. Thee also are numerous restaurants which offer the foods of many countries. University staff members and FISS members can assist you in finding the foods you are accustomed to. In addition, many of the ethnic grocery stores also rent videotapes of movies in various languages.
Transportation
The campus' central location on one of Omaha's major streets eases transportation problems for international students who do not have cars. The campus can be reached by bus from all over the city. The campus also is within walking distance of one of the city's largest shopping areas and several major grocery stores. The foreign student advisor will help you learn the bus system and provide city maps.
Housing
There is no on-campus housing, but modestly-priced apartments are readily available within walking distance of campus. Many students share apartments with fellow students or find rooms in the homes of American families. The Student Housing Office will assist you in locating housing that is convenient and affordable.

Enrolling at the University

English Proficiency Requirements
All undergraduate applicants whose native language is not English must present a minimum Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) sciore of 500 on an official International TOEFL test or a UNO Institutional TOEFL test. Graduate school applicants must present a minimum score of 550. No other institutional TOEFL's are accepted.
English majors are required to score 600 on the TOEFL. Applicants for a master's degree program in English are required to score 650.
WAIVERS OF THE TOEFL
REQUIREMENTS ARE NOT GIVEN
UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES
In addition to the English requirement, individual colleges may have their own admissions criteria which can be found in the undergraduate and graduate catalogs.

Immigration Requirements
When you have been accepted by the University, you will receive an I-20 form to be presented to the American Consulate in your country to obtain an F-1 student visa.
International Student Orientation
International students are required to attend a two-day orientation held about a week before each semester. After you have been admitted, you will receive detailed instructions.
Intensive Language
Since its establishment in September 1977, the Intensive Language Program (ILUNO) has provided instruction in English as a Second Language to nearly 1,700 international students from over 50 nations. The non-credit program is designed for high school graduates who plan to study in the United States, but who lack the English proficiency to do so.
The program offers six levels of instruction with classes in reading, writing, listening, and pronunciation. Students spend 20 hours per week in class with additional time in the language laboratory and in the Learning Resource Center where they work with computers.
Students receive academic, personal and immigration counseling; participate in a wide range of cross- cultural activities; and are assisted by community volunteers.
Upon completion of their English studies, most ILUNO students enter academic degree programs in the United States, many of them at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.
For further information, write to ILUNO, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, NE 68182-0259.

The University of Nebraska does not discriminate in its academic, admissions, or employment programs and abides by all federal and state laws and regulations pertaining to same.

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