1. ECONOMIC HARDSHIP

    Student must have been in F-1 status for at least one full academic year. The student must prove to U.S. Citizens and Immigration Service (USCIS) that employment is necessary due to severe economic hardship caused by circumstances beyond their control that arose after obtaining F-1 status. It is designed for off-campus employment, but there is no specific prohibition against it being used on-campus. It is granted by USCIS in increments of one year at a time, or until the program end-date, whichever is shorter. Authorization ends if a student transfers schools. It is limited to 20 hours per week while school is in session and it can be full-time during official school breaks. The work can be in any job; it does not have to be related to the course of study. The student must apply for Employment Application Document (EAD) from USCIS, and receive EAD before employment begins.

  2. INTERNSHIP/APPRENTICESHIP/CURRICULUM PRACTICAL TRAINING (CPT)

    Student must have been lawfully enrolled on a full-time basis at a Department of Homeland Security (DHS)-approved school for one full academic year before being eligible for CPT. Additional requirements per FIDM policy are: – Student may only be authorized for CPT during their last or second-to-last quarter of their program and must maintain a 3.0 grade point average or higher to be eligible. – Student may engage in CPT only for the specific employer, location, and period approved and recorded by FIDM's International Students Office in SEVIS. CPT must be an integral part of student's established curriculum to qualify. – Student must first receive an offer letter from their potential employer specifying the job title, job duties, days and hours of employment, and the company's Employment Identification Number. – The potential CPT must be approved by both FIDM's Career Center and the Education Department/Office of Academic Support prior to being submitted to FIDM's International Students Office for processing.

  3. OPTIONAL PRACTICAL TRAINING (OPT) T

    o qualify, an F-1 student must have been lawfully enrolled on a full-time basis at a DHS-approved school for one full academic year before being eligible for OPT. Students may engage in OPT for any employer for the duration of their OPT au

thorization, as long as the employment qualifies under OPT standards. Standard, post-completion OPT is authorized for a maximum of 12 months (no FIDM major qualifies for a STEM extension). OPT must be directly related to the student's course of study. Students on post-completion OPT are limited to a maximum of 90 days of unemployment. Student files I-765 application for EAD with USCIS. Work can begin only after receiving EAD issued by USCIS. F-1 International Students may apply for OPT as early as 90 days before their program end date, the application must be RECEIVED by the USCIS no later than 60 days after student's program end date. OPT must start and end within a 14-month period.

STUDENTS: Please see the Designated Student Official (DSO) for a complete employment policy form and for more information regarding International F-1 students.

Campus & Personal Safety

PERSONAL SAFETY & CRIME PREVENTION ON CAMPUS

FIDM is dedicated to providing a safe working and learning environment. All students are informed of campus security procedures during orientation and employees are informed upon hire. While Campus Security plays a role in ensuring the campus remains as safe as possible, students and employees are also responsible for their own safety, as well as for the safety of those around them. Students and employees should be familiar with FIDM's campus security procedures and report an incident when it occurs.

For information on FIDM's campus security policies and crime statistics, please see FIDM's most recent Annual Safety and Security Report, which is available on FIDM's website: fidm.edu/en/about/policies+ disclosures/general+information/.

TO REPORT A CRIME OR EMERGENCY

Students and employees should report any and all suspicious campus activity immediately upon witnessing it. Students, faculty, and staff are strongly encouraged to report all crimes to local law enforcement. Dial 9-1-1 for emergencies only. Any suspicious activity or person seen in the parking lots or loitering around vehicles or inside the building should be reported to the local law enforcement agency. The Annual Safety and Security Report contains applicable contact information. Off-campus: Report any crime to the local police. For emergencies, please call 911. On-campus: Report any crime, emergency, and/or suspicious or potentially criminal activity immediately to the FIDM Campus Security Authorities.

PREPARING ANNUAL DISCLOSURE OF CRIME STATISTICS

To maintain compliance with Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act ("Clery Act"), Higher Education Act ("HEA") requirements, and related statutes and regulations, and in an effort to continuously promote and improve safety