Welcome to Concordia College and Moorhead, Minnesota!!
We are very pleased you are here. We hope you had pleasant and safe travels!
The purpose of this guide is to help you get settled during your first few days on campus and answer most of your initial questions. Much more information will be covered during orientation. There is also a list of contacts and resources in the back of this guide that you may use at anytime. We hope this will be helpful to you as you adjust to your new surroundings.
Overview of area:
Moorhead is adjacent to Fargo, North Dakota and really the two can be seen as one city with a river running through it. On the west side of the river is Fargo, North Dakota and on the east side of the river is Moorhead, Minnesota. The population of Fargo/Moorhead is about 170,000 with about 20,000 additional college students.
Overview of International Student Support at Concordia:
While all of the offices on Concordia’s campus are here to assist all students, there are some staff members who are especially hired to meet the needs of international students. There are three staff members you should get to know because they will be very helpful to you not only in your first days of adjustment, but throughout your Concordia experience. Please take the time to visit us!
Aida Martinez Freeman is the International Student Adviser. Aida is your primary contact with questions regarding immigration status issues, assisting with OPT and CPT applications, 
maintaining SEVIS records, assisting with academic and cultural concerns, and general support. Angela also serves as the International Student Organization adviser. Aida’s office is located in the new Campus Center 236B.
Don Buegel is the Director of International Student Recruiting and Support. Don recruits international students and assists them throughout the admissions process. Don is your primary contact for financial aid and other financial concerns. Don’s office is Lorentzen Hall 220 and his phone number is 3004.
Residence Halls:
The residence halls open at noon on January 5. When you arrive at your residence hall, please check in with residence life staff to obtain a key and residence hall information. Please take time to get to know the RA (Resident Assistant) on your floor and the Hall Director of the building. They are valuable resources and can help you get settled and answer questions. They also can help familiarize you with campus and hall policies. The residence halls have amenities such as an information desk, laundry room, kitchen, recreation area, and study areas.
Phones:
The telephone line in your room should be active and you should be able to make free calls when you move in. Free calls are local calls and toll-free calls such as 800, 888 and 877 area codes. You can make long-distance calls by using a calling card, pre-paid phone card or by calling collect. Pre-paid phone cards may
be purchased at various retail stores in Fargo-Moorhead. As with any purchase, it is wise to compare costs and find the option that is best for you. You may wish to ask current international students what phone cards or plans they have found that work well for them. The A&A food store at 1015 Main Avenue in Fargo seems to have a good selection of phone cards (and also has some Asian and African foods!). Calls or services (including internet services) that are charged to your residence hall room will be charged to you at a rate of $25.00 per service fee per statement plus the actual cost of the call or service. Please read page 9 of the Concordia Directory for more information about making calls from residence halls. If you have problems with your phone, first consult with your Resident Adviser (RA.)
Eating:
On Campus:
The Korn Krib is a small convenience store that sells some ready-to-eat food as well as some groceries. The Normandy is a small cafe that has a variety of foods. Both are located above the Cobber Bookstore.
Off Campus:
The two closest grocery stores are Hornbachers and Sunmart . Both have ready-to-eat deli food as well as groceries, and both are located on bus transportation routes. Restaurants in the area include McDonald’s, Taco Bell, Little Caesars, Qdoba, Burger King, Dairy Queen, China Garden, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Taco John’s, Speakeasy, Subway, Renelli’s Pizza, GodFather's Pizza, Papa John’s Pizza, Pizza Patrol, and Erbert & Gerberts. The map in the telephone book will locate
many of these restaurants.
Orientation:
Orientation is not only the most helpful way to learn about Concordia and transitioning 
to college life, but it is also a long standing Concordia Tradition and lots of fun.. There is an international student orientation on January 7 during which you will learn important information such as cultural adjustment and immigration regulations. All-Campus orientation is on January 6, and classes begin on January 7.
Social Security Cards:
Social security cards are given to all legal employees in the United States. They are necessary if you will work on campus. Your first task is to become employed and to receive a letter of employment from your employer. Once you have this letter,
Aida Martinez-Freeman can help you to apply for a social security card.
Work on campus:
International students with F-1 visas are eligible to work on campus up to but no more than 20 hours per week while school is in session. International students are prohibited by federal regulations from working off campus. Many kinds of campus jobs are available. It is helpful to ask current students where they work and what it is like, visit various departments to ask them what jobs they have available, and visit the campus job shop website or office in Academy 110. You can start looking for campus jobs anytime! Concordia’s International Student website also has additional information about employment in F-1 status.
Shopping:
Bus transportation is available to various shopping districts. Target, Walmart and Kmart are three large discount stores in east Moorhead that have most of what you need to get settled. Herbergers in Moorhead Center Mall is a department store. West Acres in Fargo is a large shopping center with many stores.
Bus Service:
You can pick up a bus map at Campus Information in Knutson Campus Center. Normal
bus service as indicated on the main bus map operates all year. Concordia students ride the bus FREE using their Concordia ID. Additional information about bus service is at http://www.cityoffargo.com/matbus/
Health Center:
The health center is located in the north wing of Hoyum Hall and is open from 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.. During the academic year, a physician or nurse practitioner is available from 9:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. with a registered nurse available during all office hours. Appointments are encouraged but walk-ins are welcome. Concordia needs copies of certain health records to document immunizations. Please give your health forms to nurse Kathy Benson in the Health Center during your first week at Concordia. Kathy will discuss the form with you and make sure all your immunizations are correct and current.
College ID Cards:
A photo for your Concordia IDs will be taken during Orientation. Your ID is very important, as it has many functions. You can deposit money into an account that will allow you to use your ID as a debit card for laundry, vending, Korn Krib and Normandy purchases, and your meal plan. You also will use your ID as a free pass for the bus system. If you need to do laundry before orienation, please request a guest card from the Auxiliary Servies office in Knutson Campus Center.
Computer Logon:
You will receive a user name and password to log on to the Concordia network as part of Orientation. There will be a technology training session during Orientation that will acquaint you with Concordia's system.
Library:
There will be library orientations offered at 3:30 and 7:00 p.m. on January 9. This will be a great time to become acquainted with library services and resources.
Safety:
The Concordia campus is normally a very safe and friendly place to be. However, common sense is always necessary.
1. Lock your bicycle if you have one.
2. Lock your residence hall room if no one will be in.
3. Do not block open outside building doors that are normally closed and locked.
4. Do not leave laptop computers, purses, backpacks, or things of value unattended.
If you have any specific concerns about safety, campus security and/or your Resident Assistant will assist you.
Emergencies:
Across the United States, dialing 911 is a way of calling police, ambulance, and/or fire fighters. If you have an emergency that is life threatening, dial 9-911 (from a campus phone) or simply 911on any other phone.
Banking:
There are several banks near Concordia. There will be banking information provided at international student orientation on January 7. You are encouraged to set up a checking and savings account at a local bank.
Immigration Documents:
Your visa, passport, I-20, I-94 and social security card are valuable documents. Please photocopy these, and keep the originals in one safe location and keep the copies in another. While these can be replaced if lost, the processes to do so are time consuming and expensive.
CONTACTS & RESOURCES
Aida Martinez Freeman
Director of Intercultural Programming
& International Student Adviser
Campus Center Student Affairs
299-4267
Don Buegel
Director of International Student Recruiting & Support
Lorentzsen Hall 220
299-3004
buegel@cord.edu
Student Affairs Office
For questions regarding housing
Lorentzsen Hall 120
299-3455
Registrar’s Office
For questions regarding transfer credit & class registration
Lorentzsen Hall 140
299-3250
Business Office
For questions regarding payments and student accounts
Lorentzsen Hall 240
299-3150
Counseling Center
For questions regarding personal and/or emotional issues
Academy Hall 106
299-3514
Information Technology Services
For questions regarding computers
Lorentzsen Hall 20
299-3375
Campus Ministry
For questions regarding personal and/or spiritual issues
Knutson Campus Center
299-4161
Campus Health Center
For questions about health insurance and health concerns
Kjos Health Center (north of Hoyum Hall)
299-3662
Campus Security
For questions about safety and security
Physical Plant
299-3123
International Student Website