Questions from Designated School Officials is a blog series on Study in the States for designated school officials (DSOs). Each month, we will answer a question that will help you advise your F and/or M students. If you are a DSO and would like to submit a question, you can email us or ask us via social media, your Field Representative or the SEVP Response Center. We may edit questions for clarity and consistency and may not feature all submissions on Study in the States.

Question: What is new on Study in the States?

Answer: The academic community is at the forefront of our mission and an important partner to SEVP. Since you interact daily with the F and M students enrolled in SEVP‑certified schools across the United States, we trust you to help us ensure that only legitimate students enroll and they remain in compliance with the conditions of their status during their time of study in the United States. Study in the States is one tool that SEVP uses to help make your job easier. We recently launched some new features to help both you and your students:

• Interactive Glossary — Our glossary includes definitions of the most common terms in the international student process. You can use it to learn more about terms in the certification process, while your students can find information tailored towards their needs. You can also use your mouse to hover over any word displayed in green on the site for an instant definition.
• Ask a Question — This new feature can help you and your students quickly find the answer to commonly asked questions about school certification or studying in the United States.
• Enhanced School Search Page — Students can now find more information about your SEVP-certified school on this page, including what visa type you offer, where you are located and more.
• Mobile-ready — Now you can use Study in the States on your smartphone or tablet — perfect for finding information on the go.

Whether you are a veteran DSO or brand new to the international education community, we want to hear from you. Check our Contact Us page on Study in the States for information on how to get in touch with various SEVP subject matter experts. For general SEVP questions, you and your students can contact the SEVP Response Center at 703-603-3400 or sevp@ice.dhs.gov.