Arrival & Orientation
International Student Orientation
When to Arrive at Winthrop University
Arriving by Plane, Bus, Train and Luggage
Living on Campus at Winthrop
Student Health Services and Required Medical Form
Mandatory Health Insurance for International Students
Tuition and Fee Payments
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Orientation Spring 2008
International Student Orientation
At Winthrop, we not only recognize the inevitable challenges and rewards that international students encounter, but also the importance of empowering our students with the necessary knowledge and support for a culturally rich and academically successful experience in the U.S. Toward that end, Winthrop offers a comprehensive International Student Orientation, which provides our students with:
- Transportation from the Charlotte Douglas International Airport to Winthrop.
- Assistance with matters on getting settled, such as opening a bank account, trips to local stores, campus and Rock Hill tours, etc.
- Assistance with getting students' Winthrop email address, ID card, validating health insurance coverage, checking into campus housing, etc.
- Important Information Sessions on academic expectations in an American university environment, your immigration responsibilities, safety and security on campus and in Rock Hill, health and counseling services offered to students attending Winthrop, etc.
- The opportunity to get acquainted with other students, people and places on campus and in the surrounding area.
Very important information concerning the Spring 2010 International Student Orientation Program -
- Orientation is MANDATORY for all international students new to Winthrop University;
- Orientation will be held on Thursday and Friday, January 7-8, 2010;
- A $100 orientation fee will be charged to the Winthrop account of all new students at the beginning of the semester because of the required nature of the orientation.
As part of Orientation new students can move into their on-campus housing beginning at 5pm on Wednesday, January 6, 2010.
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When to Arrive at Winthrop University
We recommend that you arrive at the Charlotte Douglas International Airport in Charlotte, North Carolina on Wednesday, January 6, 2010. Winthrop University is a 30-minute drive from the Charlotte airport.
If you arrive in Charlotte on Wednesday, January 6, 2010 we can meet you at the Charlotte Douglas International Airport at no charge.
Please note:
- In order to schedule an airport pick up with the International Center you must complete and return the International Student Arrival Form by no later than Friday, December 4, 2010. If you do not return the International Student Arrival Form to us by the date listed above we cannot promise that we will be able to meet you at the airport on your arrival date.
- If you plan to arrive in Rock Hill before Wednesday, January 6, 2010 , it will be your responsibility to find transportation to Winthrop and a place to stay prior to January 6. If you contact us early enough we may be able to find someone to meet you at the airport prior to January 6. Also Winthrop has a small hotel called The Inn that may have rooms available for $60-$80 per night prior to January 6. It is not recommended that you rely on this and you try your best to arrive on January 6.
If you choose not to have someone from Winthrop meet you at the Charlotte airport and you arrive on your own on January 6-
- Before 5 PM you should report directly to the International Center in 206 Tillman Hall.
- After 5 PM report directly to Campus Police in the Goode Building next to Dinkins Student Center, and Campus Police will contact an Orientation Assistant to meet you there.
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Arriving by Plane, Bus or Train and Luggage
Arriving by Plane
The Charlotte Douglas International Airport (in Charlotte, North Carolina) is the closest airport to Rock Hill (about 35 km). Direct flights from Europe and Canada are available.
Once you have completed and returned the International Student Arrival Form someone representing the International Center will be at the airport to meet you at the next designated pick-up time referenced on the Arrival Form. Please meet at the “Welcome Center” located between the Zone B and Zone C in the Baggage Claim area of the airport.
If you arrive at another time, take a taxi ($60-80) to the Winthrop University campus. Ask the driver to take you to the Campus Police Office located at 526 Myrtle Drive, Rock Hill, SC, 29733 and an Orientation Assistant will meet you there.
Arriving by Bus
There is a Greyhound bus stop in Rock Hill if you need to arrive by bus. Winthrop is located 4 miles (6-7 km) south of the bus stop on Cherry Road. Please complete and return the International Student Arrival Form and we will do everything possible to meet you at the bus station upon your arrival. If we cannot, please call a taxi when you arrive in Rock Hill (327-4144, 327-4131 or 327-4132) to take you from the bus stop to the Winthrop campus. Ask the driver to take you to the Campus Police Office located at 526 Myrtle Drive, Rock Hill, SC, 29733 and an Orientation Assistant will meet you there.
Arriving by Train
The closest Amtrak train station is located in downtown Charlotte, North Carolina. Please complete and return the International Student Arrival Form and we will do everything possible to meet you at the train station upon your arrival. If we cannot, please have a taxi take you from the train station to the Campus Police Office located at 526 Myrtle Drive, Rock Hill, SC, 29733 and an Orientation Assistant will meet you there.
Luggage
You should attach a tag to each piece of your luggage with the following address:
Winthrop University Campus Police, 526 Myrtle Drive, Rock Hill, South Carolina, USA 29733 with telephone number (803)-323-3333.
If your luggage is delayed, make sure to request the airline forward your luggage to the Campus Police Office as they are open 24 hours a day and they will notify the International Center as soon as they receive your luggage. We suggest that you pack a small bag with essential items and keep it with you on the plane, just in case your luggage is lost, you will have necessities for a few days.
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Living On Campus at Winthrop
Winthrop's residence hall experience is dedicated to the development of each resident student and is an essential part of the university's total educational experience. Deciding where to live is an important decision for an international student. On our website under Future International Students is a link to Housing & Meals. This site gives you the best and most important information you need to make a decision about your accommodations while studying at Winthrop. All new freshman and sophomore students have a residential committment of living on campus their first two years at Winthrop.
Due to the number of students living on campus at Winthrop, it is extremely important that you reserve a room on campus as soon as possible. Complete the Housing Preference Form and submit it by email to the International Center or by fax to (803)323-2340. Housing reservations are based on Winthrop receiving this application and rooms are assigned in the order the applications are received.
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Student Health Services and Required Medical Form
Winthrop University students are entitled to basic health care services that are provided by Health and Counseling Services on campus. Most of the cost for using this on-campus facility is covered by your Winthrop tuition and fees. Office visits are offered at no charge. Some services, e.g., laboratory, pharmacy, medical supplies/procedures will incur a minimal fee. Please note, however, that costs for off-campus emergency treatment, ambulance transportation, procedures, prescriptions, and laboratory tests are at an additional cost that you must pay separately.
The Medical and Immunization Form is required of all students enrolling in classes at Winthrop University. You will not be able to enroll in classes until this completed form is received by our Health Center. Send your completed Medical and Immunization Form to Winthrop University, International Center, 701 Oakland Avenue, Rock Hill, South Carolina, USA 29733 Phone (803) 323-2133.
It is recommended that you take care of all your health requirements before traveling to the US, as it is probably more expensive here than it would be outside of the US. If Health Services does not receive a completed Medical Form before you arrive at Winthrop, you will need to have any incomplete immunizations administered during the International Student Orientation. The cost for these immunizations will be added to your Winthrop account. Because of the expense, it is strongly recommended that you have these tests completed at home before you arrive.
BCG Vaccine/Tuberculin (Tb) Skin Test
In many countries, students are given a BCG vaccine while they are in school. International students who have had the BCG vaccine may get a positive Tb skin test result. In this case, a chest x-ray must be taken and a physician’s written report of the result must accompany the immunization requirement form. We strongly recommend that you have the chest x-ray done in your home country before you come to Winthrop to avoid the high cost of having the x-ray done in the US.
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Mandatory Health Insurance for International Students
Health insurance is a mandatory requirement of all international students enrolled at Winthrop University. Because all medical and dental treatment in the USA is private and very expensive, it is very important that everyone has insurance. Winthrop University requires all international students, and their dependents, to maintain health insurance. All major universities have a similar requirement. The Winthrop University Student Health Insurance Plan (“Health Plan”) offered by our insurance provider insures the student against major expenses accompanying an accident, illness or hospitalization.
The University will enroll you in the Winthrop University health insurance policy each semester. The cost of coverage will be charged to your student account. If you have your own insurance coverage that meets the University standards (listed below) you can provide this policy information during Orientation and decline the Winthrop University insurance policy. Once your policy coverage is verified by our provider the cost of the insurance will be removed from your student account.
Listed below are the minimum required benefits that must be covered by alternate insurance plans.
International students will be charged for their insurance twice a year, along with their tuition, housing and other expenses, and will pay directly to Winthrop’s cashier or on-line, as with the other University expenses. The cost for insurance for 2009-2010 is as follows:
Fall (8/15/2009-1/7/2010): $434
Spring/Summer (1/8/2010-8/14/2010): $635
Annual (08/15/2009-08/14/2010): $1,069
There will be an insurance information and registration session held during the first week of classes to explain the terms of the insurance including deductibles and Wellness Benefit.
You should be prepared to pay for the semester health insurance by the first day of classes.
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Tuition and Fee Payments
Detailed information on the Winthrop University policy for payment of tuition, room, meals, insurance and other fees will be updated by Winthrop University's Cashier's Office. This summary is intended to help international students and their families understand the options for payment.
During New Student Orientation, we will assist students in opening an account at a local bank. Most students use Bank of America. We recommend that students coming for the first time to Winthrop arrive with two (2) Bank Drafts. The first should be payable to Winthrop University and in an amount sufficient to cover one semester’s tuition, insurance, room and meals (see Schedule of Fee Payments) The second Bank Draft should be payable to the student so they can open a bank account for personal expenses, including books and other miscellaneous supplies. We recommend this be approximately $1,000 USD. Once an account is established students are able to use checks from that bank to make any necessary payments, and funds can wired into their personal account from anywhere in the world. Listed below are other payment options.
Payment Options
- Credit card payments may be made through the Cashier’s online secured payment gateway at the Cashiers Office. An additional fee of 2.5% of the total payment amount will be added to the charge when choosing the Credit Card payment option. The Cashier’s Office will not accept credit card payments at the teller windows, by mail, e-mail or by telephone – only via the internet.
- Note: Visa branded credit cards are not accepted for payments made for tuition or other university fees. Only American Express, Discover and MasterCard are accepted.
- Money Orders, Cashiers Checks or Personal Checks on U.S. banks can be used at the University Cashier.
- Wire Transfers directly to the University can be accepted but require contact via email with the International Center to obtain necessary wiring instructions. It is recommended instead that you wire funds into the student’s personal banking account and let the student pay with a personal check.
- Students and parents will be able to make payments directly from any U.S. checking or savings account by using the new web payment option (Electronic Funds Transfer) with no additional charge, simply by entering the bank/financial institution routing and account numbers at the Cashiers Office. This recommended process is easy and involves no additional charge.
- Winthrop will accept Cash, Money Order, Travelers Checks, Cashiers Check, Bank Drafts and Personal Checks on U.S. banks at the teller windows in the Cashier’s Office, as well as check payments received in the mail. Checks should be made payable to Winthrop University.
If you have any questions about your travels to Winthrop University or Orientation contact the International Center.
