Letter to PLUS Grantees from the Director of SILC

Congratulations on being named a PLUS Grantee and being admitted to the SPRING INTERNATIONAL LANGUAGE CENTER at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Arkansas for your English and Pre-Academic Training Program. On behalf of the staff, I would like to welcome you to our institute. We are eager to introduce you to the lovely community of Fayetteville, the friendly campus of the University of Arkansas, and the beauty of the Ozark Mountains. The area offers students many outdoor recreational opportunities with its numerous lakes and hiking trails. Cultural and educational activities are presented through campus programs, the Fulbright Institute, and the city's new Walton Arts Center. We are certain you will enjoy the University and Fayetteville.

Jimmy Bowie, our Student Services Coordinator, has prepared an informative letter offering your housing options. In order for us to prepare for your arrival and plan for your housing needs, we will need you to complete the housing forms enclosed in your packet.

The climate in Arkansas has a wide range of temperatures. There are four distinct seasons: Winter temperatures (December-February) range from 20-60 degrees Fahrenheit and warm clothing is necessary (coat, gloves, scarf). Spring temperatures (March-May) range from 50-70 degrees Fahrenheit. Summer temperatures (June-September) range from 70-95 degrees Fahrenheit. Autumn temperatures (October-November) range from 40-70 degrees Fahrenheit (sweater weather). Arkansas' rainfall can be heavy at times, and you should bring appropriate clothing (shoes, umbrella, raincoat).

Enclosed you will find a flyer that describes your English and Pre-Academic Training Program at Spring International Language Center at the University of Arkansas. You will notice that you will have 25 hours of classroom instruction along with activities to enhance your learning experience. Our goal is to facilitate your English language acquisition in the quickest way possible.

encourage all participants to express their ideas, suggestions, needs, expectations, and interests as a group and as individuals
be responsive to professional and academic needs and goals of individuals and of the group
make use of interactive approach to teaching and learning
emphasize the use of state of the art technology in our computer lab
be interested in what you can teach us about you, your country and culture

PLUS Grantees will need to accept the following responsibilities for their learning:

We would like to make some suggestions that will make your trip to the United States easier. Before you fly to the United States, make sure that you have your passport in your carry-on luggage. On the plane, you will need to fill out an I-94 (a long white card). It is very important that you use the same spelling of your name that is on your passport. When you arrive in the United States, you will have to go through US Immigration. An American official will take your passport, look at your J-1 visa and your DS-2019 to check that they are valid. The official will then return your passport, your DS-2019 application, and the stamped I-94. Make sure you have these before you leave the immigration area.

On the first day of classes, there will be an orientation and needs analysis session. Please bring your passport, I-94, and DS-2019 to the orientation. At this time, you will need to show all of your documents to Spring International staff so that we can make sure your documents are in order.

Good luck with all of your travel plans. We look forward to meeting you. If you have any questions or problems, please feel free to contact our office.