NEW STUDENT GUIDE For International Students and Families Prepared by the International Student Advisor Last Edited - 7/2021 Last Update 07/2019 We lco me to Go rdo nCo nw ell Th eol ogi cal Se mi nar y Greetings from Gordon-Conwell in Charlotte, North Carolina! We are excited to welcome you to our community. Gordon-Conwell is truly a global institution, with hundreds of students, staff, and faculty representing more than 50 countries and thousands of alumni serving God’s Church worldwide. Gordon-Conwell is located only 20 minutes from the heart of Charlotte, North Carolina. Coined the “Queen City”, Charlotte reigns over 300-square-miles (482-square-kilometers) of neighborhoods that branch out from the banks of the Catawba River. With a diverse population of nearly 3 million people, the Charlotte Metropolitan Area is also home to numerous universities, parks and museums. As a student at Gordon-Conwell, you will have the privilege of receiving an outstanding theological education, and living and ministering in a diverse and populous city in the United States! This manual was created and prepared to help you adjust to life at Gordon-Conwell. While we have tried to include all pertinent information that you will need to know (including answers to commonly asked questions and concerns), we encourage you to stay in contact with our office. We are here to serve you and help you in any way possible. If you have additional questions that have not been answered here, please contact our office: Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary International Student Advisor/DSO/ Registration Assistant 14542 Choate Circle Charlotte, NC 28273 Telephone: (704) 940-5807 Fax: (704) 940-5827 E-mail: ktokic@gordonconwell.edu Website: www.gordonconwell.edu We wish you well throughout your time at Gordon-Conwell! Sincerely, Kristin Tokic This manual was prepared by the International Student Advisor. Resources consulted during the preparation of this manual include The National Association of International Educators (NAFSA) Adviser’s Manual (2007), as well as resources for international students at Brandeis University, Boston University, Harvard University, and Fuller Theological Seminary. When changes in the particulars of this handbook are introduced, the seminary will give such notice and will ensure adjustment without undue inconvenience. However, the right to make whatever changes may be deemed necessary at any time is specifically reserved. Information provided in this Handbook is not legal counsel and should not be deemed as such. For official counsel in regard to your visa status, please consult an immigration attorney. Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary | 2 Table of Contents PACKING AND MOVING TIPS............................................................................................................. 6 IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS TO BRING...................................................................................................... 6 ELECTRICAL OUTPUT........................................................................................................................... 7 SIM CARDS......................................................................................................................................... 7 ON-CAMPUS HOUSING......................................................................................................................... 7 OFF-CAMPUS HOUSING........................................................................................................................ 7 SIGNING A LEASE................................................................................................................................ 8 MAKING A DEPOSIT............................................................................................................................. 8 UTILITIES........................................................................................................................................... 8 CLASSIFIED AD ABBREVIATIONS........................................................................................................... 9 CHARLOTTE WEATHER: WHAT TO EXPECT.........................................................................9 CHANGING SEASONS......................................................................................................................... 10 COMMUNICATION ON CAMPUS.........................................................................................11 STUD