Helpful Information about Travel, Expenses, and Life at Pittsburg State University

TRAVEL TIPS

Students, especially those who have never traveled abroad before, may find the following list helpful.

1. Passport, money, and traveler’s checks must be kept in a safe place on your person at all times.
2. Personal items such as a toothbrush, toothpaste, a bar of soap, a change of clothing and medicine should be kept in a carry-on bag in case your flight is delayed or luggage is lost.
3. Although it is not necessary to tip everyone who is helpful to you, porters in an airport will expect a tip. Having a few $1 bills and coins on hand will give you peace of mind during your trip so that you can tip as necessary.
4. Your luggage should be identified with clear marks. A colored tape may help you pick out your luggage. A nametag with your name and address in the U. S. and home country should be put on every piece of luggage you have. The airline will furnish you with tags if you do not have them.
5. A good bilingual dictionary in your own language and English is essential.

TRAVEL COSTS

Travel costs for transportation from airports, and overnight lodging and meals must be prepared for. To avoid having expensive layovers, students should arrange flights, which do not require layovers for connecting flights. Students who fly into the Joplin Municipal Airport in Joplin, Missouri, will be picked up free of charge by a driver from the International Programs and Services Office (IPSO). The student will need to inform the IPSO of the flight number, time, and day of arrival at Joplin. If students fly into other airports, such as Tulsa, Oklahoma or Kansas City, Missouri, they will need to make their own travel arrangements to get to Pittsburg, Kansas, by bus or car rental, or by arranging for friends to meet them.

LIVING IN PITTSBURG, KANSAS

Transportation

Since the shopping mall is only about mile (1.3 km) from the campus, about a 15-minute walk, students may choose to walk. Or if they prefer, they may buy a bicycle; prices range from $100-$500. Pittsburg is not a big city; it is approximately eight miles long on the main street (Broadway), from the shopping mall, the university area, and the downtown business area to the other side of town.

Expenses

The money that students bring with them should be in the form of traveler’s check or a bank draft; no one should ever carry large amounts of cash. Each student needs about $8000 when he arrives to pay for tuition fees, books, and room and board. Tuition fees must be paid in full when the student enrolls for school.

1. Health Care. Hospitalization costs in the United States are much more expensive than in most other countries. A person who is ill or injured may pay hundreds or even thousands of dollars for medical care. Therefore, to avoid enormous expenses that would be beyond a student’s financial resources, every international student is required to purchase full insurance coverage; if the students have dependents, we strongly urge purchasing of insurance coverage for them also the policy could be purchased for approximately $540 per year for an individual student and $2300 for a student, spouse, and children. As most U.S. health insurance policies do not cover the cost of eye examinations, eyeglasses, or dental work, it is advisable for the student to have this work done before leaving his/her country. These services are expensive in the U. S.
   
2. Meals. The residence halls offer a meal plan for students, but meals are not provided on Saturday or Sunday morning, or during summer semester and vacation periods. Other options for meals include the Overman Student Center on campus and restaurants in the area.
   
3. Cold Weather Clothing. Although the climate is generally considered mild, with an annual average temperature of 60 degrees Fahrenheit (16 degrees Centigrade/Celsius), foreign students should be aware that there are four distinct seasons, and that extreme variations in temperature occur. In winter the area may have 3-6 inches of snow, and the temperature may vary from 20F (-6C) to 60F (16C), but in the summer the weather may be hot and sunny with temperatures between 65F (18C) and 100+F (38C). A student from a warm climate may need to purchase clothing suitable for keeping warm. A minimum of $150 would be needed for buying a warm coat and sweaters, and more could be spent, depending on the student’s resources.
   
4. Household Furniture. Both on and off-campus students must have their own pillows, bed sheets, blankets, and towels. Such furnishings are not provided in dormitories on campus.

INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS AND SERVICES OFFICE

The International Programs and Services Office is located in Whitesitt Hall on the campus of Pittsburg State University. We are there to serve you, and we welcome you to the campus of PSU. All international students are required to check in with this office when they first arrive. If there is any way we can assist you to make your adjustment easier, we will be glade to do so. Other students from our office will guide you to banks, shopping areas, and help you get settled in. The international students at PSU participate in various events during the year that help the American students learn about the different countries. Please bring anything which best describes your country. Suggested items are clothing, small art and craft projects, music pictures, etc. An increasing number of international students arriving every year prompted the establishment of the Office of International Programs Services at PSU, a non-academic services are offered through this office in the issuance of I-20’s, the authorization of Practical Training and applications form the Host Family Program.

Intensive English Program

Some applicants to PSU are academically qualified in every way except in English proficiency. These students are encouraged to enter the IEP program. When the required proficiency level is reached, the admissions process can be completed. Admission to the IEP however, does not guarantee admission to the academic program at Pittsburg State University. Students who want to lean more about these services may write to the Office of International Programs and Services, Pittsburg State University, 118 Whitesitt hall, Pittsburg, Kansas 66762.

LIBRARY AND SPECIAL FACILITIES

Pittsburg State University is proud to acknowledge the Leonard H. Axe Library. Housing more that 500,000 books and periodicals, the library also provides a search facility which assists students, faculty, and staff in identifying desired materials. If such materials are not available locally, they can be borrowed from owning libraries through the interlibrary loan at he Axe Library.

Special facilities include the Office of Management Information Systems, which provides a variety of computing services. Administrative support for specialized programs is provided. Students benefit from computing facilities and have direct access to the use of Apple, Macintosh, and IBM microcomputers as study aids in the library, the learning lab, the computing center, and other locations.

ORIENTATION

All the new international students are required to participate in the orientation programs. During orientation international students are informed about several areas of interest: academic and social matters, registration, shopping, banking, apartment location, and other matters particularly useful for international students. Also at orientation the international student presents his/her passport for inspection and buys heath insurance.

HOUSING AND FOOD SERVICES

After being admitted to the university, international students may apply for accommodations in the university residence halls (dormitories). In addition to the rooms, the university offers meal services. For further information regarding accommodations and meal services at PSU, international students are encouraged to write to University Housing Office, 209 Horace Mann, Pittsburg State University, Pittsburg Kansas 66762 or visit the web site www.pittstate.edu. If students decide not to live in a residence hall, they may look for rental apartments located around the university. The apartments and houses available vary in location, facilities, and rent fees.