The ELI Weekly
Commencement Ceremony
Friday December 8th at 10:00am, University Auditorium
Congratulations on making it to the end of the semester! We hope you learned more English, made some wonderful friends and had some fun, as well. You should all be very proud of yourselves, and we’d like to celebrate your accomplishment at our Commencement Ceremony on Friday. At the ceremony, we will recognize our scholarship and award winners and reflect on this semester at the ELI.
Please invite your family and friends to join us for Commencement and help celebrate. All of your teachers and language assistants and ELI administration will be there too! Plan to park off-campus since there is no good parking close by. There isn’t always time to take photos after, so if you want photos of yourself onstage, you should come early at 9:30am.
Out and About: Thanksgiving Celebration
by Khalid Almohammadi, RW30
There are several nice things in thanksgiving activity. First, there were many people from many countries. For example, I met people from South Korea, South America and United States. Second, there were different foods from many countries. For example, I tasted some kinds of foods from many cultures and they were delicious. Last, the place was beautiful and convenient. For example, it is luxury place and close to Matherly Hall. In conclusion, the activity was a beautiful and fun and I hope to repeat that again in the next days.
Last day of ELI Classes
Thursday, December 7, is the final day of ELI classes this Fall. Teachers will be submitting final grades and attendance reports on Wednesday, December 6. If you are absent on Thursday, your absence will not be counted for immigration, class grades, or any petition you have submitted. All absences on December 4th, 5th, and 6th still count!!! You should not miss class these days!
We hope all ELI students will attend class on Thursday, December 7th. Your teachers and LAs have fun and interesting lessons and activities planned. However, we know many ELI students are preparing to leave Gainesville, so are very busy this last week. If you will not be attending class on Thursday, December 7th, please inform your teacher by Tuesday, December 5th. Your teachers and LAs need to know how many students to plan for.
Certificates and Grades
Semester certificates will be available immediately after the Commencement Ceremony at the University Auditorium, and grade reports will be available in my.ELI by Monday, December 11th. Certificates can also be picked up in the ELI Main Office after Commencement when the office re-opens at 2:30pm. If you would like a friend or family member to pick up your certificate for you, please stop by the ELI office by Thursday, December 7th to fill out a form so someone else can pick it up for you.
Leaving the ELI
If you are leaving the ELI, we hope you will share your experiences with your friends and family. Also, please keep your email updated with us. When the ELI travels internationally for conferences and events, we invite alumni to join us.
If you are interested in acting as an ELI Ambassador to assist future Gators in your country apply to the ELI, please let Lia Brenneman know (lia@ufl.edu, MAT 220A). If you are interested in becoming an Educational Consultant for the ELI, ask Lia for details. You are the best source of information about the ELI and Gainesville for new students. We appreciate our alumni! Also, the ELI’s 70th anniversary will be in 2024. We hope you will join us for a special homecoming celebration.
If you want to stay active with English study in your country, please contact our friends at EducationUSA (https://educationusa.state.gov/find-advising-center). They have centers all over the world where they advise students about studying in the USA. It is a great place for you to network, practice English, and help other students learn about your experience studying in Florida.
Notes from the Office
Class Photo: We will take a photo of everyone at the ELI on Monday, December 4th. Listening Speaking classes will meet at 1:45 at the Gator Globe.
Main Office Hours for Friday, December 8: The ELI main office will be closed in the morning for Commencement. After Commencement, the office will open at 2:30pm.
People Out: Here is a list of people out for the next few weeks:
- Iman’s last day is 12/08
- Christine and Daryl will be out 12/12
- Christine will also be on vacation 12/18 -01/03
- Daryl will also be on vacation 12/20 – 01/05
Holiday Office Hours: Please note the holiday office hours for the main office.
- The main office will be open from 9am – 4pm December 11- 15
- The main office will be open 10am – 3pm December 18 – 20
- The main office will be closed December 21 – January 2
- The main office will be open 10am-3pm January 3 – 5
Returning Student Check-In: All returning students must check in online using my.ELI between January 8-12, 2024. Check-in guarantees you a place in the class. By not checking in on time, you might not have a place in class, and you will have to pay late fees. If your plans have changed for the spring, you should email Daryl at studyenglish@eli.ufl.edu .
Gatorlink: If you are not returning to the ELI in the Spring semester, you will not be able to access your ufl.edu email address, one.uf.edu, Canvas, or other Gatorlink service after January 24th. You will need to download any emails, assignments, or information that you want to keep.
Charges Due: Every ELI student should log in to ONE.uf.edu and look at the “Campus Finances (Bursar)” tile to see if they owe any fees to the university. For example, you may need to pay for services you received at the Student Health Care Center or printing in a library. If you have a scholarship, it will not pay these charges.
Apartment Leases: As the semester draws to a close, keep in mind that your lease might be ending soon. It is important to know the exact date that your apartment lease ends so you can make plans. If you’re not sure when it ends, ask your apartment office.
If you need help finding a hotel to stay in short-term (you should ask your friends first!), someone to take over your lease, or a new apartment, talk to Christine in Matherly 223.
Check your I20s: If your I-20 is expiring soon, make an appointment with Daryl in MAT 223 to renew your I-20 before it expires.
Financial Guarantees for Spring: If you have a government scholarship, be aware when your financial guarantee expires. For some students, the guarantee expires in December, and you will need to request a new one if you plan on studying in the Spring semester. If you have any questions about when your financial guarantee expires, please email Iman Walford Vann at jvann@eli.ufl.edu before December 7th.
Birthdays!
Here are the birthdays for the rest of the month, plus one from last week.
