The ELI program provides two semesters of instruction, an early summer six-week session, and, depending on student needs, possibly a late summer six-week session. The ELI program provides 20 to 25 hours of instruction per week during the semester. For the summer programs, the ELI program provides 23 weekly hours of instruction per six-week session. International ELI students are required to be enrolled for 18 hours of instruction to be considered active students by Homeland Security regulations.

The English Language Institute follows the undergraduate schedule for the academic year with some exceptions, which are listed below.

  • Arrival Day
  • ELI Student Orientation (ESO is required for all new ELI students)
  • Testing Weeks

Fall Semester

The fall semester begins in late August and ends in mid-December. It consists of sixteen weeks with a Thanksgiving holiday break in mid or late November.

Spring Semester

The spring semester begins in mid to late January and ends in mid- May. It consists of sixteen weeks with a week long Spring Break in mid-March.

Summer Sessions

The ELI program may elect to provide English Summer School in mid-May through June.

2019-2020 ELI Academic Calendar

Fall 2019
Aug 13 Arrival Day For New ELI Students
Aug 14-23 ELI Student Orientation
Aug 25 All residence halls open at 10 a.m. for returning students
Aug 26 Classes begin
Aug 26 Deadline to waive health insurance charges
Sept 2 Labor Day Holiday (no classes)
Sept 27 Final payment for Fall 2019 charges due (charges must be paid in full in order to register for Spring 2020 courses)
Oct 8-12 Midterm week
Nov 25-29 Fall Break (No classes during the week. University open Monday-Wednesday)
Dec 9 Classes end
Dec 10 Study Day
Dec 11-14 Testing Week
Dec 15 All residence halls close at noon and Winter Break begins
Dec 25, 2018 - Jan 1, 2020 Winter Break (University closed)

Spring 2020
Jan 12 Arrival Day for New ELI Students
Jan 13-17 ELI Student Orientation
Jan 20 Martin Kuther King Jr. Holiday (no classes)
Jan 20 All residence halls open at 10 a.m. for returning students
Jan 21 Classes begin
Jan 21 Deadline to waive health insurance charges
Mar 2-6 Midterm Week
Mar 3 Final payment for Spring 2020 charges due (charges must be paid in full in order to register for Summer and Fall 2020 courses)
Mar 16-20 Spring Break
May 4 Classes end
May 5 Study Day
May 6-9 Testing Week
May 10 All residence halls close at noon

Summer 2020
May 13 - 15 Business Registration for English Summer School
May 18 - Jun 26 English Summer School

2020-2021 ELI Academic Calendar

Fall 2020

Aug 18

Arrival Day for New ELI Students

Aug 19-28

ELI Student Orientation (Required for all new ELI students)

Aug 29

All residence halls open at 10 a.m. for RETURNING students

Aug 31

Classes begin

Aug 31

Deadline to waive health insurance charges

Sept 7

Labor Day Holiday (no classes)

Oct 2

Final payment for Fall 2020 charges due (charges must be paid in full in order to register for Spring 2021 courses)

Oct 12-16

Midterm week

Nov 23–27

Fall Break (No classes during the week. University open Monday–Wednesday)

Dec 14

Classes end

Dec 15-18

Testing Week

Dec 20

All residence halls close at noon and Winter Break begins

Dec 25-Jan 1

Winter Break (University closed)

Spring 2021

Jan 10

Arrival Day for New ELI Students

Jan 11-15

ELI Student Orientation (Required for all new ELI students)

Jan 16

All residence halls open at 10 a.m. for RETURNING students

Jan 18

Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday (no classes)

Jan 19

Classes begin

Jan 19

Deadline to waive health insurance charges

Jan 20

Inauguration Day (no classes)

Mar 1-5

Midterm Week

Mar 8

Final payment for Spring 2021 charges due (charges must be paid in full in order to register for Summer and Fall 2021 courses)

Apr 5-9

Spring Break

May 4

Classes end (make-up day for Inauguration Day)

May 5 - 7

Testing Week

May 9

All residence halls close at noon