Policies
Admission Policy
UCEDA International offers intensive and semi-intensive English language training as a non-credit postsecondary program for foreign-born adults. To be admitted, students must meet the following minimum criteria:
1. Be at least 18 years of age (or at least 16 years of age having terminated high school and obtained parental consent)
2. Have current or former permanent residence in a country or region where English is not the predominant language
3. Have a basic understanding of the English or Latin alphabet.
4. Demonstrate a communicative deficiency in English speaking, reading, writing, or listening skills relative to one’s stated goals
5. Be willing and able to attend either full-time classroom instruction (18 hours per week minimum, required for F1 visa students) or part-time classroom instruction (3 to 6 hours per week minimum)
6. Possess or demonstrate eligibility for a nonimmigrant visa category which requires or allows either full-time or part-time language study.
7. Satisfy eligibility requirements for issuance of Form I-20 (required for F-1 visa students only)
UCEDA International does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability or genetic information.
To apply to be admitted to UCEDA International, please complete the online Application Form. An international advisor will review your information to pre-qualify you for enrollment. There is no charge for this initial review and consultation.
Several colleges and universities offer conditional admission to UCEDA International students. If you meet the general admissions requirements for a degree program, and complete an advanced level Intensive English Program at UCEDA, you may be accepted without a TOEFL or IELTS score. UCEDA International makes no claim or warranty with respect to student eligibility for admission at other institutions.
Registration
To register at UCEDA International, students must please complete an application form, receive notification of acceptance by a school official, and pay a Registration Fee. Additional documentation will be requested for students who currently possess or will be applying for the F-1 student visa. Online applicants applying for initial status are charged a registration fee of $150. Students transferring from another institution who already possess F-1 visa status are charged only $100 at registration. All others, including change of status applicants, must pay the standard registration fee of $500 (effective 1/1/2021). All registration fees are non-refundable. Payment of registration fees to UCEDA INTERNATIONAL does not guarantee approval of F-1 visa status by the United States federal government.
By submitting payment of the Registration Fee, you are agreeing to enroll in a program of study at UCEDA International. Your enrollment is subject to the school policies, terms and conditions listed here.
Tuition and Fees
As a convenience for the sponsors of students who plan to study longer than three months, tuition payments may be divided into monthly installments. An Initial Tuition Deposit for the final month of your program must be received prior to your Program Start Date. Timely payment of tuition and fees is a requirement for maintaining Active student status. For students paying tuition on a monthly basis, tuition is due on the 1st calendar day of every month. Any tuition payment that is not received by the second day of the month may be subject to a Late Fee of $30, which can increase by $1 per day until full payment is received. Monthly lab fees or materials fees must also be paid on time or will result in late charges.
Students who are more than 30 days overdue may be suspended from classes until their account is paid in full. This can affect your academic progress, and can lead to termination of student status, so please keep your account in good standing and come to class every day.
Effective 1/1/2024: Tuition and fees may be paid by cash, check, credit card, debit card, or eCheck/ACH bank transfer. Where permissible by law, a transaction fee of 3% will be applied to all credit card payments.Withdrawal and Refunds
Due to the labor and systems involved in processing new student information and preparing required course materials, all registration fees and some fees related to course materials, field trips, program extensions, and graduation events, are non-refundable.
For full-time students enrolled in programs of study exceeding 300 total instructional hours, tuition is generally charged on an annual basis. Students who withdraw from or are terminated by the program will be eligible for a tuition refund based on the full program tuition (less any discounts received by the student) and the date of withdrawal as follows:
Withdrawal Date Refund Amount
During WEEK 1 90% of program tuition
During WEEK 2-3 80% of program tuition
During WEEK 4-12 55% of program tuition
During WEEK 13-26 25% of program tuition
For programs of study designed for less than 300 total instructional hours, early withdrawals will be eligible for a pro-rata portion of the tuition calculated on a weekly basis.
Refunds shall be made payable to the student or sponsor or governmental agency, depending on who paid tuition on behalf of the student. Refunds shall be issued by check or electronic transfer, not cash, within 10 business days of the date of withdrawal or termination. In the event that the full program tuition has not been paid, a credit will be applied to the remaining unpaid tuition balance.
In the event of an unannounced school closure, students enrolled at the time of the closure must contact the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development Training Evaluation Unit within ninety (90) calendar days of the closure. Failure to do so may exclude the student from any available form of assistance. Please contact the Training Evaluation Unit via email at trainingevaluationunit@dol.nj.gov
Conduct
- All forms of bias – racial, ethnic, gender, disability – as manifested by abusive physical acts or verbal/written communication
- Any sexual harassment or coercion
- All forms of dishonesty – cheating, plagiarism, fraud, etc.
- Intentional disruption of school activities
- Theft or damage to school premises
- Violation of any laws or other actions on school premises that conflict with educational objectives – alcohol consumption, smoking, etc.
Attendance
Come to class every day. For ultimate success in the program, students should take their attendance very seriously. In the event of an emergency, students are expected to notify the school by contacting the front desk before class. If absent or late for medical reasons, please make sure to bring or send a doctor’s note.
To qualify for student visa status (F-1), federal law requires that you must attend a full-time program of study, which is defined as 18 hours per week in an Intensive English Program. Federal law also allows tourists and certain other classes of nonimmigrants to enroll part-time in short courses of study. Where part-time or Semi-Intensive English Programs are offered, course schedules may vary.
F-1 visa students who expect to be absent for an extended period of time (multiple weeks) must notify and obtain authorization from a Designated School Official (DSO) in advance. In most cases, students may only be authorized to drop below a full-time course load for documented medical reasons. Students with less than 80% attendance will be placed on formal Probation. Students with unauthorized absences for 3 consecutive weeks, or less than 70% attendance over 3 months, may be automatically Terminated from the program. If your attendance is at risk, please meet with an Academic Adviser to resolve your attendance problem immediately. We offer a variety of flexible schedules, and we want you to have a positive experience living and studying in the United States.
Progression
Each course is 12-16 weeks in duration, depending on the level. Total program duration may range between 3 months for a single course, or up to 12 months or longer for multi-course programs. For details on programs available, visit https://uceda.edu/levels.
In the unfortunate event that a student fails a course level and needs to repeat it, an Academic Advisor will meet with the student to provide counsel, and a formal warning will be recorded according to the probation procedure outlined in the UCEDA International Student Handbook. The Academic Advisor will work closely with the student’s teacher to tailor lessons, workshops, and tutoring to address areas of concern, and to monitor his/her improvement. While in a state of probation, the student will meet with the Academic Advisor at least once per month to ensure that satisfactory progress resumes within the next term.
UCEDA International recognizes that the rate of language development may vary according to the learner’s educational background, first language, learning style, cognitive style, and other factors. Therefore, students and financial sponsors should understand that UCEDA does not set strict time limits on the length of English studies. Students may re-take any course if needed. However, repeated failure of any course may also lead to automatic termination from the program, and subsequent loss of student visa status, if applicable.
Vacation
With the exception of two weeks at the end of December, UCEDA International is open every week of the year to offer students the most value in their education. However, after completing a minimum of 6 months of continuous study in the Intensive English Program, a student in good academic standing may choose to take a vacation. Only students who intend to register for the following course session are eligible for vacation. A decision by the student not to attend a portion of the annual program does not excuse the student from timely payment of monthly tuition installments. Provided that the student is in compliance with these Policies, UCEDA International will maintain the active student’s I-20 record during the Vacation period. Remember when you’re on Vacation, practice your English!
To qualify for vacation with F-1 visa status:
- – Complete a minimum of 6 months of continuous study before vacation
- – Provide written advance notice that you plan to take vacation
- – Vacation can be authorized for 30 days, 60 days, or 90 days
- – Vacation from your program may be taken only once per year
- – Student must be in compliance with School Policies and tuition payments
Privacy
UCEDA International adheres to nationwide standards and regulations for the education industry related to the privacy of student records. As a policy, information from a student’s education record shall only be shared with the following parties, upon request:
- the student;
- the student’s sponsor;
- school officials with a legitimate educational interest;
- other schools to which a student is transferring;
- specific officials for audit or evaluation purposes;
- organizations conducting certain studies for or on behalf of the school;
- accrediting organizations;
- legal authorities in compliance with a judicial order or lawfully issued subpoena; and
- appropriate officials in cases of health and safety emergencies
The privacy policy for this website can be found at https://uceda.edu/privacypolicy
Complaint Resolution
We encourage students who have personal complaints or problems with any aspect of the program to address the source directly: the office staff, the instructor, or the Advisor. Usually this is the easiest way to resolve a conflict; however, we understand that students may feel uncomfortable doing so personally. If this is the case, you may submit a formal written complaint to the Intensive English Program Director. Formal complaints, problems or requests can be submitted by sending an email with the word “Complaint” in the Subject line, or by using the online form at https://uceda.edu/complaint.
After receiving a written statement of the complaint/grievance, the IEP Director will usually attempt to set a time to meet in person with you to discuss the issue. Some less complex issues may be resolved simply by a Reply email. However for more delicate matters of high importance to the student and/or the school, the IEP Director will work closely with students to find a solution that is suitable for students and/or to explore further options if students do not feel comfortable with options presented. All grievances and resolutions will remain confidential and will be kept on file by the IEP Director. All complaints and grievances submitted will only be accessible by those parties involved, unless otherwise required by law.
Reporting Requirements
Under federal law, F-1 visa students must report to the school regarding changes such as: changes to contact information; drop below full course of study; addition or loss of a dependent; enrollment in other institutions; applications for change of visa status; or early departure from the country. Federal law requires the school to report any violations of F-1 Student Visa regulations. F-1 students who are Terminated from their program of study also lose their eligibility for student visa status, and should depart from the United States within 15 days. To avoid this inconvenience, please discuss any concerns with a representative right away.
