Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon Portland Community College

International Students

Orientation Week

Orientation Week is a MANDATORY week-long experience for all new F-1 international students:

  • to get acquainted with PCC and meet current international students, faculty and staff who will help them along their academic journey at PCC,
  • to provide the required testing (ESOL or academic),
  • to conduct 1-on-1 advising and registration for 1st term classes,
  • to learn all the “rules” for maintaining their F-1 visa status.

We update this page each term to include the dates, locations, and other important information for each upcoming Orientation Week.

Orientation Week Schedule – Spring 2020

Monday
March 16 at Rock Creek Campus		 Tuesday
March 17 at Willow Creek Center		 Wednesday
March 18 at Rock Creek Campus		 Thursday
March 19 at Rock Creek Campus		 Friday
March 20 at each campus
Time TBD appointment assigned

on Monday

 Time TBD appointment

chosen on

Monday/Tuesday

 10 AM-12 PM
Check-In
Welcome
Testing Prep
(lunch provided)		 Placement Testing*
(lunch provided)		 Student Success and
PCC Policy Workshops
(breakfast and lunch provided)		 Advising and Registration
(no lunch provided)		 “My Campus Day”
Tour, ID, Bookstore
Rock Creek Campus, Room TBD

 

 Willow Creek Center

(2nd floor)

 Rock Creek Campus, Room TBD Rock Creek Campus, Room TBD your “main” campus

CA – SU 308 (OISS)

RC – 3/223 (OISS)

SY – CC 215 (OISS)

SE – Room TBD

*Special note on Placement Testing (Tuesday): The OISS team will review whether you require ESOL testing, college-level Reading testing, college-level Math testing, or no testing at all. Based on our review, we will assign you an appointment time for Tuesday that you will receive at check-out on Monday.
You MUST attend all parts of Orientation Week on the schedule provided to you on Monday! If you do not, you may not be able to register for classes or attend PCC.

  • All F-1 international students new to PCC are required to attend all parts of Orientation Week.
  • A more detailed schedule will be provided on the first day of Orientation Week.
  • Orientation Week includes: 1. English language or academic placement testing, 2. academic advising, 3. registration for classes, and 4. workshops on PCC academic programs, policies, student services, and F-1 visa regulations.
  • Please make your travel arrangements early to ensure you arrive in Portland before the first day of Orientation Week.
  • Students who do not attend Orientation Week cannot register for classes.
  • Students must be admitted to PCC before participating in Orientation Week. Apply to become a student here.
  • Please contact oie.orientation@pcc.edu with any questions.

Register for Orientation Week

Transfer Students

You must ask your current school’s international student advisor (DSO) to transfer your SEVIS record to PCC. It must be transferred BEFORE you can register for classes!

Bring with You – Every Day of Orientation Week

  • passport
  • F-1 student visa
  • most recent I-20
  • local US address (can be hotel or friend’s house)
  • emergency contact information (name, phone number, email)
  • PCC name tag (you will receive this at check-in on Monday)

Transportation / Parking

  • CASCADE CAMPUS
    • Public Transportation – use trimet.org/ to plan your trip
    • Car – get parking permit ($5) at automated pay station before parking and park anywhere except “Staff Only” spots
  • WILLOW CREEK CENTER
    • Public Transportation – use trimet.org/ to plan your trip
    • Car – parking is free at the “Park and Ride” parking lot next to Willow Creek Center

Optional Downtown Portland Walking Tour

  • Friday, December 13, 2019 at 12-4 PM – limited space and sign up during Resource Fair required

Preparing for Your Trip & Arriving in Portland

PACKING

The U.S. has very strict rules about what you can bring into the country. Please review the information here and pack appropriately.

AIRPORT PICK-UP

PCC does not offer airport pick-up. You will need to arrange your own transportation. Some options for ground transportation at Portland International Airport (PDX) are:

PORTLAND INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT