STUDENT HANDBOOK Table of Contents A message from the Director ................................................................................................................................ 5 Florida International University’s Mission Statement ............................................................................................ 6 The ELI’s Mission and Vision Statements ............................................................................................................... 7 SECTION 1: ELI ADMISSION ................................................................................................................................... 8 ELIGIBILITY FOR ADMISSION TO THE ELI .................................................................................................................... 8 ADMISSION TO THE ELI AND THE UNIVERSITY: THE BIG DIFFERENCE ....................................................................... 8 APPLICATION FEE POLICY ........................................................................................................................................... 8 GENERAL REFUND POLICY .......................................................................................................................................... 8 LATE ARRIVALS & ORIENTATION ................................................................................................................................ 9 DESCRIPTION OF FEES .............................................................................................................................................. 10 TRANSFERRING FROM ONE ELI PROGRAM TO ANOTHER ....................................................................................... 10 READMISSION ........................................................................................................................................................... 10 REGISTRATION HOLDS INFORMATION ..................................................................................................................... 11 MEDICAL INSURANCE AND IMMUNIZATION ........................................................................................................... 12 SECTION 2: UNIVERSITY SERVICES ....................................................................................................................... 13 THE HEALTH AND WELLNESS CENTER CLINIC .......................................................................................................... 13 PARKING SERVICES ................................................................................................................................................... 15 PUBLIC SAFETY.......................................................................................................................................................... 16 DISABILITY SERVICES ................................................................................................................................................ 16 SECTION 3: ELI SERVICES .................................................................................................................................... 18 University I.D. (University Identification card) and access to .................................................................................. 18 ORIENTATION DAY.................................................................................................................................................... 18 LATE ORIENTATION .................................................................................................................................................. 19 ADVISING .................................................................................................................................................................. 19 STUDENT ACTIVITIES ................................................................................................................................................ 20 REGISTERED STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS ................................................................................................................. 20 FINANCIAL AID .......................................................................................................................................................... 23 SECTION 4: IMMIGRATION: POLICIES & PROCEDURES FOR ELI STUDENTS ............................................................. 24 RECEIVING YOUR I-20 ............................................................................................................................................... 24 ARRIVING IN THE UNITED STATES ............................................................................................................................ 25 FIRST-TERM REGISTRATION ..................................................................................................................................... 25 ATTENDANCE/GRADES AND STATUS ALERT ............................................................................................................ 27 END OF CURRENT TERM AND THE BEGINNING OF THE FOLLOWING TERM ........................................................... 28 Vacation .................................................................................................................................................................... 28 I-20 STATUS EXPLANATION OF TERMS: INITIAL, CANCELED, AND TERMINATED..................................................... 30 EMPLOYMENT .......................................................................................................................................................... 31 SECTION 5: LEARNING ENGLISH .......................................................................................................................... 32 REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS ABOUT LEARNING ENGLISH ........................................................................................... 32 QUESTIONS ELI STUDENTS FREQUENTLY ASK .......................................................................................................... 33 THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN STUDENTS’ PERCEPTIONS AND REALITY ..................................................................... 34 SECTION 6: DESCRIPTION OF CLASSES ................................................................................................................. 37 The Intensive English Program (IEP) ......................................................................................................................... 37 University Bridge (IEP Level 7).................................................................................................................................. 38 Intensive Conversation Program (ICP) ..................................................................................................................... 39 STANDARDIZED TESTS .............................................................................................................................................. 40 SECTION 7: PROGRAM PLACEMENT AND RELATED ISSUES ................................................................................... 41 PLACEMENT TESTING: THE ELI PLACEMENT TESTS .................................................................................................. 41 LEVEL PLACEMENT AND PLACEMENT PROFILE ........................................................................................................ 41 LATE TESTING ........................................................................................................................................................... 41 PROFICIENCY LEVELS ................................................................................................................................................ 41 LEVEL CHANGES ........................................................................................................................................................ 41 DROP/ADD PERIOD ................................................................................................................................................... 41 POSSIBILITY OF CLASSES BEING DIVIDED ................................................................................................................. 41 SECTION 8: ELI POLICIES AND PROCEDURES ........................................................................................................ 42 GENERAL CLASSROOM POLICIES .............................................................................................................................. 42 LABORATORY INFORMATION AND POLICIES ........................................................................................................... 43 THE ELI ATTENDANCE POLICY................................................................................................................................... 45 ACHIEVEMENT TESTS ............................................................................................................................................... 48 MIDTERM AND FINAL EXAMS .................................................................................................................................. 48 GRADE REPORTS ....................................................................................................................................................... 48 PROGRESS REPORTS AND PROCEDURES .................................................................................................................. 48 UNIVERSITY GRADING SYSTEM ...............................................................................................................................