A representative from ELI will pick you up at the airport and take you to your apartment. When you arrive at the Missoula airport, look for a representative with a University of Montana sign. This team member will help you get settled in your new apartment and assist you in getting food or other necessities.

If your flight is delayed and your arrival time changes, please call 406-243-6149 and leave a message with your new arrival plan and details. This after-hours phone number will be checked before your arrival. Please, also contact ELI as soon as possible at (406) 243-5885 or at umeli@umontana.edu.

Missoula is served by Missoula International Airport and two long-distance bus companies, Greyhound and Intermountain bus lines. There is no train service directly to Missoula. All Humphrey Fellows will be picked up at the airport upon arrival and transported to the University of Montana campus.

Winter Clothing

Winters in Montana can change from blustery cold one day to pleasantly cool the next. Here is a quick guide on how to dress for the winter weather in Montana:

• Bring a warm winter coat— This is possibly the single most important piece of clothing you will need to protect you from the cold. A thin jacket is not enough to keep the cold out!
• Dress in layers— Wear loose, lightweight, warm clothes in layers under your winter coat. Wearing long underwear is highly recommended. Trapped air acts as an insulator to prevent heat loss.  Also, if the weather changes from cold to cool, you can remove layers as needed.
• Wear a hat— A warm hat that covers your ears is preferable.  Half of your body heat can be lost from your head.
• Wear a scarf or face mask— A scarf will protect your face. Breathe through your nose to warm inhaled air and protect your lungs.
• Wear mittens— When snug at the wrist, mittens provide more warmth to your hands than gloves, but a warm pair of gloves is acceptable as well.
• Wear boots— Wear warm, insulated, waterproof boots to keep your feet warm. Fashion boots will not keep your feet warm in the snow and cold temperatures.  Also, regular tennis shoes will not protect your feet from wet snow and slush.

Summer Clothing

Summers in Montana can change from hot one day to pleasantly cool the next.  Here is a quick guide on how to dress for the summer weather in Montana:

• Bring a light coat— When the sun isn’t shining, sometimes it can be a bit cold.  A light jacket will provide the warmth you need on a cloudy day, a cool summer evening, or on a mountain hike.
• Dress in layers—Wear loose, lightweight clothes in layers. If you dress in light layers, you can remove clothes as the day goes from cool in the morning to hot in the afternoon.  Dressing in layers will prepare you for all types of temperatures.
• Wear a hat—A light hat that covers your face and ears is preferable.  When the sun is shining, this will protect your head and face from sun burn.
• Wear comfortable, light shoes— It is important to wear comfortable shoes such as sandals or tennis. You will also need comfortable walking/hiking shoes for our excursions in places such as West Yellowstone. Comfortable shoes are one of the most important things you will need to bring.

In addition to the items listed above, here are a few more things that you might want to consider bringing with you:

• Large Tote Bag or Knapsack- Once you leave the Residence Halls, you will not return to your room until evening.  Bringing a large tote bag/knapsack with you is recommended so that you can keep all your necessities with you (class materials, change of shoes, camera, etc.).
• Gym Clothes- The Campus Fitness and Recreation Center is provided for your use.
• Swimwear-The Recreation Center also has a swimming pool that you can use.
• Laptop-This will make it very easy for you to complete your homework, get on the Internet, and use Skype to call your friends and family, etc. You will have internet access in your room and will also be able to use wireless internet on campus.  Please bring an Ethernet cord with you so you can access the internet in your room. There are also computers on campus for your use, but computer labs are often crowded and you might have to wait to use a computer.
• Wi-Fi USB Stick—If your computer doesn’t connect to Wi-Fi automatically (most new computers do), you will need a connection cable or Wi-Fi USB stick to connect to the Internet.
• Plug Adaptors- Some international plug adaptors (Type A-circle prongs) will not work in the U.S., where Type A adaptors are used.  Adaptors can be purchased in most international airports.
• Voltage Converters- The U.S. operates on 110 Volt/60 Hz, while some other electronics run on 220 Volt/50 Hz.  Please keep this in mind.
• Computer Headset with Microphone—If possible, you might want to bring a headset for class projects, calling home, etc.

At the beginning of your orientation, the ELI staff will help you to open a U.S. banking account, which allows fellows to receive funds electronically, complete international wire transfers and open a checking account with a debit card. Debit cards can be used at Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs) which are widely available throughout the US.

You will need a tax identifying number (TIN) to open a U.S. bank account. This is a number issued by your home country's government. It may be called a national identification number. Please have your TIN before you leave for the U.S.

Humphrey Fellows will be assigned a nine-digit student identification number. ELI Staff will assist the Fellows in obtaining a Griz Card in the University Center.

The Griz Card entitles students to use all campus services, including Student Health Services, the Mansfield Library, campus computer labs, the Grizzly Pool, and Campus Recreation facilities.

Fellows may be eligible for discounts in shops, restaurants, museums, or when buying airline tickets if they have their Griz Card.

Humphrey Fellows will be housed in UM Lewis and Clark Villages. It is very convenient, Fellows can take a 5 minute bus ride to campus for free. Fellows will live in 2-3 bedroom apartments with private bedrooms and shared kitchen, living room and bathroom between roommates. The apartment comes furnished with a couch, chair, full-size beds, desks, dressers, shelves, dishwasher, refrigerator, stove and microwave.

The English Language Institute will handle all housing preparations for the Fellows and applying to Lewis and Clark housing is not necessary. 

You will receive a monthly stipend for your food and expenses. You can use cash, credit, or debit card at most restaurants and cafe's on campus. Click here to learn more about the dining options on campus.

Missoula is a small, safe American city and most students have no problems with crime during their time here. According to the Missoula Police Department, alcohol-related violations are their most common problem. Nevertheless, as in any new place, it is important to learn the precautions to take to ensure safety and the security of one’s belongings.

Fellows should not walk alone in dark areas late at night.  If students like to study late in the library and have no one to walk back to their dorm with, they can call a person to walk them back to their dorm. Campus Security provides a free escort service (243-2777) from sunset to sunrise, 7 days a week. In addition, there are emergency phones located around campus (on brown posts that say “emergency” and have a green light on the top).  Students can call campus police immediately to report an emergency by pressing a button and speaking. Campus Security can also be reached at 243-6131, and the 24-hour emergency number is 243-4000.

Fellows should lock their dorm rooms, bicycles and cars at all times. Books, backpacks, and other items should never be left unattended.  If students forget something (a book or a jacket, for example) in a classroom, they should check the classroom first and then check a nearby “lost-and-found” location. Sometimes, however, their belongings will be gone.

Many Americans carry only $15 or $20 in cash to buy small items; they pay for larger items by check, debit or credit card. Once Humphrey Fellows arrive in Missoula, the ELI will help them to open a checking account at a local bank and learn how to use it.

University of Montana's campus provides low cost medical, dental, pharmaceutical and counseling services to all registered ELI and UM students. Appointments are recommended, but   students may drop by and wait for the first medical practitioner who is available. Visit the Curry Health Center website for more information.

Counseling and Psychological Services assists students by addressing their personal counseling and psychotherapy needs for the purpose of helping them gain the most from their time on campus. Call 243-4711 to make an appointment to talk with a counselor or if you have questions regarding Mental or Emotional Health. Services provided by CAPS include:

• Individual Counseling and Psychotherapy
• Topical Group Therapy
• Crisis Appointments Available
• Limited Psychological Assessments
• Psychiatric Consultation
• After hours urgent care (provided by the Curry Medical Clinic Staff)
• Consultation with concerned other

Counseling and Psychological Services provides brief therapy, a model that attempts to identify and address those problems and needs that can reasonably be considered within the time constraints of a semester or less. When a student’s mental health care needs are beyond the scope of our services, they will assist with referrals to community-based providers for specialized or longer-term care.

Campus Recreation Center:
Free weights, treadmills, bikes, stair machines, rowing machines, rock-climbing wall, racquetball courts, basketball courts, volleyball courts, indoor track, special outdoor programs and a variety of fitness classes. Some classes require additional payment and all outdoor programs require advance sign-up and additional fees.

Schreiber Gym:
Fitness equipment including free weights, treadmills, nautilus weights, stair machines, rowing machines, stationary bikes, basketball court, and indoor track.

McGill Gym:
Available for reservation M-F to play basketball or volleyball (during free times); Campus Recreation Office makes arrangements.

Grizzly Pool:
Swimming pool, sauna, weights, and lockers.

Rentals:
The University of Montana Outdoor Program rents outdoor equipment to the campus community, which includes UM students, employees, and current Campus Recreation members.  A valid Griz Card must be shown in order to rent equipment.  The Outdoor Program rents boating, camping, climbing, biking, cross-country ski, and snowshoe equipment.

All of these local numbers use (406) as the prefix.

All campus telephone numbers begin with the prefix 243-. If you are calling a campus number from a campus telephone, you only need to dial the last four numbers.

In the English Language Institute, the Humphrey Fellows will study English for 20 hours a week for 15 weeks during spring and summer. Their classes will include the study of all language skills (speaking, listening, reading, writing) as well as lessons in research, grammar, pronunciation, vocabulary development, and cross-cultural training.   Classes focus on developing students’ abilities to use English in an academic setting; therefore, emphasis is placed on discussion skills, library research, academic integrity, summarizing, skimming and scanning relevant readings for main ideas and key details, writing research papers, expanding academic vocabulary, and utilizing university resources such as the writing center.

In order to help the Humphrey Fellows transition into the new academic and cultural setting, they will begin their intensive English language training with two programs designed specifically for them; both have been designed to accommodate varying levels of proficiency. 

The first four-week session will focus on leadership and intercultural communication.  Fellows will read and listen to content related to the topic and participate in group discussions to debate issues raised in the readings and listening.  Fellows will also learn about communicating effectively through email and practice writing effective emails.  University of Montana faculty from the Department of Communication Studies and the Mansfield Center will provide seminars in leadership, international negotiation, conflict management, intercultural communication, and communication for social change.  Fellows will participate in a research project related to intercultural communication.

The second session will be three weeks and focus on service learning and presentation skills.  Fellows will be provided an overview of the service learning project including relevant readings and listening on the topic and participate in group discussions to debate issues raised.  Staff from the University of Montana’s Office of Civic Engagement will be guest speakers and provide information about local organizations where Fellows can complete the service learning component of the program.  Networking skills will be reviewed, and Fellows will begin to use those networking skills to contact local organizations.  Fellows will also strengthen their presentation skills and prepare professional presentations for the Jeannette Rankin Peace Center Dialogue Series.

For the summer session, the Fellows will be integrated into the regular ELI classes and placed into the appropriate level depending on their test scores where they will receive level-specific instruction with other ELI students.  In ELI, there are two core classes: Integrated Reading & Writing and Integrated Speaking, Listening & Note taking.  Both classes are 9 hours per week.  

The English Language Institute uses a content-based approach to our English language curriculum, as well as a skills-based methodology to ensure that students are able to attain identified student learning outcomes (SLOs) before progressing to the next level of instruction. Language skills are integrated at each level through thematic units of study. Technology skills are incorporated throughout all courses, and all instructors use the UM Moodle portal as a means of supporting students’ in-class learning experiences with online forums and computer assisted language learning opportunities. The ELI curriculum is aligned with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) to ensure consistency and logical progression of skills through the course of study.

ELI offers four levels of instruction ranging from intermediate to advanced (3-6).  Students in Level 3 are introduced to critical thinking, academic skills and to authentic texts. Levels 4 and 5 build upon critical thinking and academic skills through exploring academic and authentic texts. Accuracy in both written and spoke English is emphasized in these levels, and research skills are introduced. At level 6, accuracy in academic writing and speaking, as well as proficiency in research, is emphasized.

Upon arrival in Missoula, the Humphrey Fellows will have their English language skills evaluated when they take the computerized iTEP test.  This test gives them a score based on national averages in the skill areas in speaking, reading, writing and listening. The iTEP test will be used to place students into the appropriate level of instruction.

In late April, the Humphrey Fellows will take one institutional TOEFL PBT exam. This will give them a sense of their skill levels and progress in English compared to national norms for university entrance. The TOEFL PBT measures listening, reading and grammar skills.   Fellows will also have the opportunity to take a second institutional TOEFL exam at the end of the summer session.

At the end of the program, all Fellows will re-take the iTEP test to show gains made in the skill areas of speaking, reading, writing and listening over the length of the program.

All Fellows will receive written evaluations and grades from their ELI classes at the end of both spring and summer semesters. These narrative evaluations will outline the Fellows’ progress towards attaining the Student Learning Outcomes (SLO’s) and performance on classroom activities and assessments in each ELI course. In these reports, their instructors will identify their strengths, progress and set goals for future learning.

The combination of formal, formative and summative assessment of each Fellow’s progress in English will give a complete picture of both where the fellow began in the Long-term program, and where they have made significant development in their English skills. This information will be invaluable in evaluating both individual progress, as well as the program as a whole, to evaluate its efficacy.

English Language Institute Directory

All full-time ELI students take 20 hours per week of non-credit-bearing classes to be considered full-time students by the United States Department of Homeland Security. When students are not in class, they study independently, complete homework assignments and required readings, perform independent research, and take advantage of study groups and review sessions. All instructors are available to give extra, personalized help to students. At ELI, students are expected to study about one hour outside of class for every hour they spend in class each week.

During the first week of classes, all teachers give students a course description. This description tells students exactly what is expected of them to succeed in their classes. The teachers expect that students know, understand and follow the class requirements without being reminded. Students should feel free to ask questions or to share their opinion in class. Their teachers welcome questions both in and out of class.

The webpage designed and managed for Humphrey Fellows at UM will play an integral role in their pre-departure social and cultural orientation. It will be available to the Fellows prior to their arrival in Missoula, and will contain important information about The University of Montana, the city of Missoula, how Fellows can best prepare to come to Montana and the US, and what will happen when they arrive.  In the Pre-departure checklist, information about housing, health, banking, and the contact information of program staff will be clearly posted.  The page will also contain initial information the schedule and components of the academic program.

During their first several weeks at the University of Montana, Humphrey Fellows will receive an initial orientation and ongoing orientation sessions to campus facilities and services, including banking options, mental and physical health services, transportation, security and recreational facilities. The Fellows will be given a program-specific handbook that outlines the academic content, program schedule, and university services and facilities.  The Fellows will also have special sessions focusing on an introduction to American culture, cultural integration, their rights as non-US citizens, drug and alcohol use and abuse in the US and its legal implications, sexual harassment, time and stress management, and personal safety.   We will also provide workshops on culture shock and cultural adjustment.

Throughout their ELI courses, Humphrey Fellows will have numerous opportunities to explore issues relevant to global and North American culture, and to reflect upon their own cultural habits and beliefs through a comparison of American customs and those in their home countries. The program will introduce the Fellows to a variety of local community members and cultural events with the aim to broaden their existing paradigms about life in the United States and what it means to be an American in the world today. Special attention will be made to introduce the Humphrey Fellows to local Native American culture and traditions, drawing from the many resources found in our specific location in the US. Another focus will be on introducing the Fellows the specific natural beauty and wildlife found in Montana, as well as the unique history of the western expansion and life in the American west.

In order to foster relationships between the Humphreys and the local community, each fellow will be paired up with a local family or community member in a Community Partner program. We will organize an opportunity for the Fellows and their Community Partners to meet first in a large group.  After that, Community Partners and Fellows will organize their own activities such as meeting for dinner, outings and possible weekend getaways. 

Another way we will connect the Humphreys to the local community is through the Jeannette Rankin Peace Center Dialogue Series. This non-profit community-run organization is founded on the principles of fostering peace through cultural understanding and communication. Each Humphrey Fellow will speak in an open forum about issues facing their countries and their professions. The public will be invited to come and in addition to giving presentations, the Humphreys will engage the audience in dialogue about important issues. This will provide a means for the Humphreys to share their work and cultural backgrounds with the Missoula community.

Beginning with the second session, the Fellows will participate in a Service Learning experience. Fellows will receive an orientation and introduction to local non-profit organizations through the University of Montana’s Office of Academic Enrichment and Civic Engagement. This program will pair each fellow with a local non-profit organization where they will volunteer throughout the late spring and summer, meeting periodically with the service learning coordinator to discuss their experience and address any issues.  At the end of the program, each Fellow will present on their volunteer experience to other Fellows, faculty, and community partners in a poster presentation session.

There are many beautiful locations in and near Missoula for the Humphrey Fellows to continue their learning beyond the classroom. Integrated into this program will be organized off campus weekend experiences that will enrich the Fellows’ understanding and appreciation of American culture and leisure activities. Two trips will be planned specifically for the Humphrey Fellows: an overnight trip to Glacier National Park and a day excursion (e.g. a white-water rafting trip on the Clark Fork River, horseback riding in the Mission Mountains, or a trip to Garnett Ghost Town).  Optional cultural events may include excursions to the local summer farmer’s market and art walks, a trip to the Flathead Salish and Kootenai Tribal Council and Reservation, wilderness hikes, fly fishing lessons, an excursion to an Osprey semi-professional Baseball Game and Barbeque, an Independence Day celebration at Fort Missoula, and an overnight trip to Yellowstone National Park.

The University of Montana has a comprehensive emergency preparedness plan. Please visit the University of Montana Public Safety Policies page for more information on UM Emergency plans.

Included below are links to important areas from this site. Please open the hyperlinks to the respective documents:

Bomb Threat Procedure

Emergency Notification Procedure

Emergency Response Procedure

Fire Evacuation Procedure

Violence on Campus Procedure

Who to call in case of an emergency

If a Fellow has a special need or disability, please contact ELI or (406-243-6141) as soon as possible so that arrangements can be made.