Read and learn all about the fantastic people behind the scenes at the Tutorium. They work very hard to ensure your journey here is a great one. When you see them around campus, say hello. They would love to see you! 

Beata Keller

Associate Director

Tell us about yourself. 
I live in Crystal Lake, IL, a suburb about 50 miles from Chicago. Some of my friends (or people who can’t pronounce or remember my name!) call me Bea or just “B." I have a wonderful husband and two young boys who love sports, especially wrestling.

What do you do here at the Tutorium? 
I managed all day-to-day operations of the Tutorium and oversee our Admissions and Services Team and the Academic Team.

What do you love about your job? 
I enjoy all the challenges that the job brings. Every day is different, and I never know who I'm going to be able to help or what problem I'll get to solve. It's never a boring day at the office! I also love the people I work with. They are smart, hardworking, and truly care about our students! 

Where can students find you? 
The office! 

What is one piece of advice you have for students? 
Don’t worry about what you don’t know or understand, but use the English that you have to complete any task. Be confident!

All students that attend UIC and live in the U.S. must have health insurance.

If you have not shown us proof of your insurance or filled out the insurance waiver form, this is a reminder!

Be careful! Scammers try to scare international students. International Students will NEVER get a phone call from an official agency. If you get a phone call talking about immigration problems or money issues, it is a scam.

Scammers use technology to pretend that they are from official phone numbers. They also use psychology to make you scared. If you get a phone call, hang up the phone. Then, talk to someone from the Tutorium or the OIS office about the phone call if it is about immigration issues.

In the future, if you ever receive a phone call and feel unsure, please speak with a teacher or Tutorium staff member. To find more information about scams and phone calls, read more>>.

Are you shivering in the cold, waiting for the campus shuttle or your CTA bus? Then, add these two apps to your phone to help you track when your bus arrives: UIC Shuttle Tracker (Mobile view) and CTA Bus Tracker. To learn some tips for surviving winter in Chicago, read more>>. 

UIC requires all new students to show that they are vaccinated for the following diseases: 

Measles (Rubeola) – two (2) doses at least 28 days apart

Rubella (German Measles) – two (2) doses at least 28 days apart

Mumps – two (2) doses at least 28 days apart.

TD (Tetanus and Diphtheria) – at least  one (1) dose within past 10 years

Meningitis – Required for students under the age of 22 – Must be given on or after 16th birthday

COVID Vaccine and Booster (Not required but strongly encouraged)

If you are missing any of these, you should get them now. Make sure you have papers from your doctor showing you have these done. You will need to show them to UIC.

Have you checked out UIC's Student Recreation Facility. Here's your chance to visit and explore all the center has to offer at this year's Rec Live event.

Date: Tuesday, January 28th 

Time: 4:30PM  - 6:30PM

At Rec Live, you'll have the opportunity to: 

Grab a friend and plan to spend some time at Rec Live together. 

English Tip: At the event, try to learn a few new words and then use them in conversation. Also, be brave and ask a few questions in ENGLISH. Remember, this activity can count as a listening and speaking log assignment as long as you use English during your time there. 

We love hearing from our alumni (students who completed their studies here at the Tutorium). Here's some news from Nancy (Ngan Thuy Thuy Phan) who is currently in her last semester of UIC Global and will soon pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science at the College of Engineering.

Nancy loves reading books and dreaming of spending an entire days on a beanbag, surrounded by her favorite stories.

Enjoy Nancy's article written just for you, her friends at the Tutorium. 

Xin chào (Hello in Vietnamese)! I’m Nancy, and since finishing my program at TIE, I’ve questioned myself so many times whether to write this newsletter. But now that you’re reading it, I’ve made my decision: I should! As Chicago transitions into its icy season, adjusting to the cold can be challenging—especially for those experiencing it for the first time. Therefore, I want to share some advice to help you survive in this crazy weather: instead of wearing a single thick jacket, try layering thinner clothing. Each layer has a purpose: inner layer (Keeps you warm), middle layer (retains body heat) and outer layer (protects you from wind and snow). Also, don’t forget to keep your head and neck warm! These areas contain important blood vessels, and neglecting them can lead to discomfort or even strange sensations.

Moreover, I’d like to say, Happy Lunar New Year! For those unfamiliar, Lunar New Year is the most important celebration in many Asian cultures, marking the start of the year according to the lunar calendar which is this Wednesday. A key tradition is the reunion chances, where families gather to celebrate and share hopes for the coming year. During the festivities, we exchange lucky money and offer one another warm wishes. Here’s how to wish someone a Happy Lunar New Year in different languages:

· In Mandarin, say Gong xi fa cai (wishing you prosperity in the coming year).

· In Cantonese, say Gung hay fat choy (wishing you happiness and prosperity).

· In Vietnamese, my native language, we say Chúc mừng năm mới!

Thank you for taking the time to read my newsletter. Wishing you a fresh start this semester—may your energy light up this new chapter!

What if you run into trouble with your homework? How can you get help? Not sure where the homework is? Not sure when the homework is due? 
Read more for advice>>

Here are facts you should know: 

Did you know? 

To learn more about the differences between colleges, universities, and community colleges, read more>>. 

Although the semester has just begun, you might be wondering about your grades. Guess what? You can check the grades for your assignments, tests, projects, and homework in Blackboard. Here’s how to view them

1. In Blackboard, select your course.

2. Click “My Grades” on the navigation bar.

3. Review your scores.  Look for missing assignments.  Read comments from your teacher.

To learn more about viewing your grades, read more>>. 

Do you like to visit new restaurants? Do you like to take fun pictures of places or your friends? Do you like to tell jokes? Do you have something to share about your culture or life back home? Do you have something valuable to share that will help us all understand what is like being an international student here at UIC? If your answer is "yes," then you can write for the newsletter! 

The newsletter editorial team is looking for students like you to write for the Tutorium newsletter. If you are interested, fill out this google form or you can email Mrs. Nora to let her know (ntatina@uic.edu). 

Email questions to tutorium@uic.edu.
Or contact us to schedule a virtual or in-person meeting.