Student Resources

New students are provided an overview of public safety each year at orientation. Everyone in the Curtis community is encouraged to educate themselves about the local crime statistics and to report crime incidents. Safety is a shared responsibility and everyone on campus is expected to exercise good safety habits. A Curtis photo ID is issued to all Curtis students, faculty, and staff. Everyone is expected to carry their Curtis ID at all times.

The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, originally known as the Campus Security Act, is the landmark federal law that requires colleges and universities across the United States to disclose information about crime on and around their campuses. Learn more about the Clery Act.

Curtis is committed to ensuring a safe and healthy environment for students and seeks to provide services or advocacy for victims of sexual assault. These services may be provided on- or off-campus by a member of our counseling team, University of Pennsylvania Student Health Service, or the Victims Support and Assistance Unit of the Philadelphia Police Department. These services are invaluable to survivors of sexual assault; they can help ensure future physical safety, as well as mitigate the mental and emotional harm caused by sexual assault.

Learn more about campus safety at Curtis and the programs and measures that have been put into place to ensure student’s well-being.

Deciding to study in another country can be both exciting and overwhelming. How do I start the process? Will I make friends? What forms do I need? Richard McGovern, manager of student life & international student affairs, provides advice and counsel to international students on matters related to non-immigrant study in the U.S., English language acquisition, and American customs and culture. He aims to provide immigration assistance as well as a sense of community for the international population at Curtis.

When a student who is not a U.S. citizen has been admitted to Curtis and has confirmed his or her intent to enroll, Richard McGovern will provide detailed instructions on assessing visa needs.

The most popular student visa for Curtis students is the F-1 student visa, which allows the bearer to enter the U.S. as a full-time student in a degree-granting program. This visa status allows students to remain in the U.S. until the completion of their program. Newly accepted international students may refer to this document to learn more about preparation required to apply for an F1 visa to study in the United States.

F-1 students regularly receive comprehensive information on travel advisories, curricular practical training (CPT), optional practical training (OPT), employment eligibility, regulations, and more. Richard McGovern meets with all international students regularly to assist them in remaining compliant with all non-immigrant requirements mandated by the U.S. Department of State.

For additional information on remaining in compliance with U.S. Department of Homeland Security rules and regulations, international students may refer to Study in the States. Language translations are available on the site.

International students must follow additional rules and regulations during their time in the United States.

F-1 students are required to make normal progress in the course of study. Students are expected to complete their work with the highest degree of academic integrity and in line with Curtis’s academic honesty policy. International students must have a cultural understanding of the American classroom, interaction with instructors, and the meaning of academic integrity. For help and better understanding of plagiarism, international students may refer to Understanding and Preventing Plagiarism.

Wellness reaches far beyond the physical. At Curtis we are committed to supporting our students in all areas of wellness. Wellness resources include:

• Primary routine clinical care provided by University of Pennsylvania Student Health Service
• Partial reimbursement of membership fees at local fitness centers of students’ choosing
• Counseling with licensed psychologists
• Workshops and lectures
• Annual wellness day and health fair
• Annual Student Wellness Survey
• Musician injury recovery and prevention – case management and oversight
• Annual flu vaccines administered on campus to all Curtis students (at no cost)
• Alexander Technique instruction
• Student Wellness Guide
• Guidance to access specialists and alternative therapies
• Support for localized health needs for noninvasive pain-relief therapies
• Dedicated space for mindfulness meditation
• LGBTQ support – Curtis is a Safe Zone community and provides information and resources related to sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression.
• Intercultural competencies training
• Curtis welcomes students with disabilities and provides reasonable accommodations to those who self-identify in compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act. Academic accommodations, auxiliary services, and technology are made available to students who meet established documentation guidelines.

For more information contact Richard McGovern, manager of student life & international student affairs