International Support Staff - Who we are

Davenport University is home to around 100 F-1 international students. Our office advocates for international students on campus and serves as a primary resource for immigration, cultural, and social matters for international students. We work closely with many offices across campus, as well as organizations in our community to help international students feel at home and connected with the community.

Maintaining Status

Students in F-1 status are required to enroll in a full-time course load during the fall and winter semester. For undergraduate students (UG), 12 credits is considered to be full time. For graduate students (GR), 6 credits is considered to be full time. F-1 students are required to take in-person classes and those courses must count toward degree progress.

Summer is considered to be an official vacation therefore enrollment is not required to maintain F-1 status.

International students are required to maintain accurate records of their current address, phone number, legal name, and major. Any changes to these should be reported to your Designated School Official (DSO) within 10 days. This can be done by you through your student connections or by contacting your academic advisor.  

Students are advised to keep all immigration documents in a safe place. This includes your passport, visa, I-94 record, current I-20 and all previous copies of I-20's that you have been issued by DU as well as any other school you have attended. 

Davenport requires that all international (F-1) students have health insurance.  DU provides insurance directly to students at the beginning of each academic year.  There is an annual enrollment process that opens in July where students can opt to waive the cover if they have a comparable US based health insurance.  For more details about the health insurance options that are provided through Gallagher Student Health check out the FAQ and summary of benefits information on their website. 

Helpful Resources

Looking for something fun to do, check out the West Michigan Tourism site for upcoming events and activities. 

Michigan is home to some of the best beaches in the country, many of which are located right here in West Michigan.  Check out the Michigan Beach Towns website for some really cool places to visit. 

Global Student Organization: GSO is a group of internationally minded members of the DU community. Through our programs and activities we strive to promote international education, global awareness, and cultural integration. Click the RSO link above to find more information about GSO or any of the other registered student organizations on campus.

International Student Resource Guide provides contact information for local businesses near the Grand Rapids main campus