International Student Admission Information

Orientation and Advising Information

• Counselor, Debby Ganser, is assigned to all international students to assist them.
• Group and individual orientations are provided before registration each term. Each individual also receives assistance in selecting suitable courses for each major and in meeting the degree requirements.
• Students also receive help adjusting to academic life in the United States and to the many challenges that are part of being a young adult living a long way from home.
• The Counseling/Advising Center is also available on a drop-in basis for personal adjustment concerns.

• International Student Orientations are held before the beginning of each term to prepare students for a successful college experience and is required for all incoming credit students (new and transfer students).
• Topics include preparing to choose classes and registering for classes, purchase textbooks for classes, using ExpressLane, and college procedures and deadlines.
• We cover very important topics including health care and health insurance, and the Immigration & Naturalization Service (I20) enrollment requirements. Apartment and host family arrangements, safety, cultural and social activities, and events for international students are also covered.

• Students are assisted in selecting first term courses.
• Counseling and Advising are available by drop-in and appointment.
• To determine what courses are suitable, the College uses the student's score on the TOEFL test as a contract to improve the student's English skills.
• TOEFL of less than 500 (173 on computerized version) requires two courses to improve English skills.
• TOEFL score is between 500 (173) and 520 (190) requires one course to improve English skills.
• New students take placement tests in Reading, Grammar, and Mathematics prior to choosing courses and registering. Scores attained on these placement tests determine which courses can be taken. Students may bring a translation dictionary and a calculator to the placement test office. The tests are not timed, and each take about one to one-and-a-half hours to complete.  Student-made testing appointments are required and available through the Placement Test website on Lane's main web page.

Choosing Courses:

• Courses for the first and subsequent terms are selected based on the student's major.
• Each major has its own course requirements. Also, each college or university that a student may attend has its own set of requirements for a major and for a degree.
• The higher education system in the United States of America is complex and encourages choice by students in selecting the courses needed to fulfill requirements.
• Meeting with a counselor/advisor at least once a term helps students understand the system and make progress toward an educational degree.

Choosing a Degree:

• Students who take professional/technical programs to be trained in selected job skills can attain either a Certificate or an Associate of Applied Science Degree.
• Students who want to take a variety of courses and are unsure if they want to transfer to a four-year program often choose the Associate of General Studies Degree.
• Students who are definite about wanting to transfer to a four-year program choose either the Associate of Arts - Oregon Transfer Degree or the Associate of Science Degree.
• Transfer students may also choose to forego a community college degree prior to transferring to a four -year school to pursue a bachelor's degree. This is called the "direct transfer" option.
• The different two-year degrees are listed in detail in the College's catalog. Students meet with their counselor/advisor to determine which degree best meets their needs.

Transferring to Four-Year Schools:

Students who plan to transfer will benefit from early selection of their major and the four-year schools to which they want to matriculate. Choosing courses is much easier if the requirements of the four-year school are known before the student begins the second year at the community college. Lane has a Career Information Center, computerized college data bases, and access to the internet to help students learn about and select suitable four-year colleges and universities. Assistance in using these resources is available in the Career Information Center.

Information requests:

Individuals wanting information apart from being admitted as international students may write directly to:

Beth Schenderlein
International Student Community Coordinator
Lane Community College
4000 East 30th Avenue
Eugene, Oregon 97405, USA Telephone #: (541) 463-3409
Fax #: (541) 463-3991

Beth Schenderlein, Email: schenderleinb@lanecc.edu