Resources and Documents

Pre-Arrival Resources

Please contact the Ivanhoe International Center (contact information at right) whenever you have a question, need help understanding information about the University, or understanding the steps to apply and attend here.  We will help in every way that we can.

International Student Handbook (pdf)

Helpful Resources (Updated July 19, 2022)

Academics Section

• Professors, staff directory: https://www.sdsmt.edu/Directories/Personnel/
• Syllabus/Syllabi: https://sdmines.sdsmt.edu/SyllabiSearch
• Academic Integrity: https://www.sdsmt.edu/campus-life/community-standards/academic-integrity/
  • Purdue Online Writing Lab: https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/purdue_owl.html
• Undergraduate and Graduate Registration in Banner: https://www.sdsmt.edu/Self-Service-Banner/

Finances Section

• Money:
  • Money in the U.S. (pdf)
• Budgets:
  • Make A Budget (pdf)
  • Mint.com - Free budget handouts
• Taxes:
  • U.S. Government’s Internal Revenue Service website: https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/state-government-websites

Housing Section

• General:
  • Utilities Lists
    • Electricity Service: Black Hills Energy is the electricity company in Rapid City. You can start your service, pay a bill and other matters here: https://www.blackhillsenergy.com/
    • Telephone/Internet/Cable Service: There are multiple providers in in Rapid City, the two primary are:
      • Midco: https://www.midco.com/
      • Bluepeak: https://mybluepeak.com/internet/
    • Water Service: Visit the Rapid City Government Department of Public Works/Water Division online at: https://www.rcgov.org/departments/public-works/water-division.html
    • Gas Service: Visit Montana-Dakota Utilities Co. for more information: https://www.montana-dakota.com/
• Contracts, Leases, Insurance:
  • Rental Agreement Terminology (pdf)
  • Lease Checklist (pdf)
• Roommates
  • Roommate Agreement (pdf)
    
• Last Thoughts
  
  • Apartment Terminology (pdf)
  • Apartment Hunting Checklist (pdf)

Living In Rapid City

• Transportation
  • Rapid Ride: http://www.rapidride.org/rapid-ride
  • Bicycles: Rules of the Road (pdf)
• Licenses
  • South Dakota Driver License: https://dps.sd.gov/driver-licensing
  • South Dakota Identification Card: https://dps.sd.gov/driver-licensing/id-cards
• Bank Accounts
  • Banking Terminology (pdf)
  • Bank Checklist and listings, example of Check writing (pdf)
• Social Security
  • How to apply for a Social Security card (pdf)
  • Social Security Scams (pdf)
• Shopping and Cellular Phones
  • Cellular Phone (pdf)
  • Food and Groceries (pdf)

Insurance and Health Care

• Healthcare in the U.S. - Thank you to International Student Insurance for the use of this video
  • https://www.internationalstudentinsurance.com/explained/us-healthcare-system-video.php
• Insurance At South Dakota Mines
  • https://myhealth.sdbor.edu/internationalstudent/index.cfm
• Insurance Terminology
  • Insurance Terminology (pdf)
  Maintaining your Status

• Acronyms and Abbreviations: https://www.sdsmt.edu/Campus-Life/Ivanhoe-International-Center/Current-International-Students/Acronyms-and-Abbreviations/
• General Information:
  • F-1 Students: https://www.sdsmt.edu/Campus-Life/Ivanhoe-International-Center/Current-International-Students/F1-Status/
  • J-1 Students:  https://www.sdsmt.edu/Campus-Life/Ivanhoe-International-Center/Current-International-Students/J-Status/
• Working In General: https://www.sdsmt.edu/Campus-Life/Ivanhoe-International-Center/Current-International-Students/Employment-Authorization/
  • Curricular Practical Training (CPT): https://www.sdsmt.edu/Campus-Life/Ivanhoe-International-Center/Current-International-Students/Working-in-the-USA/Curricular-Practical-Training/
  • Optional Practical Training (OPT): https://www.sdsmt.edu/Campus-Life/Ivanhoe-International-Center/Current-International-Students/Working-in-the-USA/Optional-Practical-Training/
  
  

Safety/Scams 

• A Cup of Tea video: http://www.consentiseverything.com/#s...
• Thank you to International Student Insurance for these valuable videos
  • Sexual Assault Awareness for International Students: https://www.internationalstudentinsurance.com/explained/sexual-assault-awareness-video.php
  • Mental Health Awareness for International Students: https://www.internationalstudentinsurance.com/explained/mental-health-video.php
• Personal Safety Tips (pdf)
• Scams
  • South Dakota Mines Scam Prevention Page: https://www.sdsmt.edu/Campus-Life/Ivanhoe-International-Center/Scam-Prevention-Resources/
  • Money Mule Scams (pdf)
  • Phone Scams (pdf)
  • Scams and Identity Theft handout (pdf)
  • Common Scams Against International Students (pdf)