Dear IEP Students,

Wow! There are only about 6 days of class left before final exams. That's unbelievable! This semester has gone by so quickly.

I want to remind you of some important dates coming up. Deadline to turn in an application for the IEP Out-of-State Tuition Scholarship is Monday, December 2, at 3:00 p.m. If you plan to apply for this scholarship, please get an application form from me as soon as possible. In addition to filling out the form, applicants also need to write a one- or two-page essay on their improvement in and benefit from English and get a letter of recommendation from a teacher.

Final Exams.

As you know, final examinations for your IEP classes will be Thursday, December 5, and Friday, December 6, during your regular class times. By now your teachers should have informed you about what to expect on your final exams. I wish you all the best of luck with your exams. You are all smart students, so I know that you will do well.

End-of-Semester Reception.

Tuesday, December 10, is an important day because of our IEP End-of-Semester Reception. It will be at 11:00 a.m. in Student Center Room 213. During the reception, you will receive final evaluations for your IEP classes, certificates if you have earned them, and instructions on how to register for the Spring 2003 semester. Some awards will be presented, and the winner of the IEP scholarship will be announced. Some students like to dress up a little for this reception since everyone will be taking photographs. That's up to you, of course!

In the past we have always had this reception at 1:00 p.m. on the Tuesday of UCA final exam week. We noticed that students in College Algebra classes were always nervous and preoccupied because their final exam is always at 2:00 p.m. on that day, and they were worried about being late! This semester we have moved the reception up to 11:00 a.m. so that those students taking College Algebra can relax a little. The reception will not be more than an hour long, so they will have two hours to review their math skills before the test. Hopefully this arrangement will work better for everyone.

Placement Testing.

On Wednesday, December 11, from 9:00 a.m. to noon, there will be placement testing in math, reading, and writing for IEP students who are eligible to take additional classes or start their undergraduate degree programs next semester as a result of TOEFL scores or Level 3 grades. Registration for these classes will be from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. on December 11 and from 9:00 a.m. to noon on December 12.

Graduation.

Finally, UCA graduation is on Saturday, December 14. There are two ceremonies — one at 10:30 a.m. for students in Business, Education, Fine Arts, and Communication, and another at 3:00 p.m. for students in Health, Liberal Arts, Science, and Math. If you have friends who are graduating, just ask them when you should come and cheer them on!

Christmas Break Precaution.

One more important note: If you are planning to leave the U.S. during the Christmas break, please check with Lisa Shoemake in the Office of International Programs before you leave. You need to have your I-20 signed before leaving the country, and there are some other requirements that you need to know before you go.

Thank you all for making this semester go so smoothly! If you have any questions, please come see me. I will be here during finals week (December 9-13) and also the week after that (December 16-20). Have a great break and a happy New Year!

Sincerely,

Lynn Ramage Schaefer, Interim Coordinator
Intensive English Program
Department of World Languages, Literatures, & Cultures
Irby Hall #207J
University of Central Arkansas
Conway, AR 72035
tel: (501) 450-3671
fax: (501) 450-5185
LYNNR@mail.uca.edu