ELI Student Orientation (ESO)

The ELI Student Orientation (ESO) and the university’s New Student Orientation (NSO) ensures a smooth transition to student life for new ELI students, so they are prepared for their studies when the semester begins.

Why is ESO/NSO Required?

During ESO, new ELI students will attend required policy workshops, take placement test(s), get a mailbox at the Gallaudet University postal center, and do other activities designed to help new students get familiarized with each other, the ELI, the Gallaudet University campus, and the greater Washington, DC area.

Instructions for New ELI Students

All new ELI students are required to arrive on time for ESO/NSO, which runs for one week before each semester.

An email from the ELI office will be sent sometime in the last week of June (for fall semester) and by the end of December (for spring semester) for onboarding instructions and new student orientation details.

On ESO Arrival Day

For international students, your arrival day is at least two days earlier than the domestic students. You will have to check-in with the International Student and Scholarship Services (ISSS) once you arrive and also with ELI on the first day of your orientation.

For domestic/local students, check-in with ELI on the day of your arrival.

All new ELI students will be led by our ESO Bison student leaders. Refer to your ESO/NSO schedule for the day and time to meet them.

You will take required placement test(s). You will also attend mandatory policy workshops, follow Gallaudet University/ELI policies and procedures, and settle properly into your academic life as a new student.

The ELI administration will evaluate your test scores and assign your class levels to you. Please note that mathematics classes are optional but the mathematics placement test is required.

You will also be assigned to a Cross-Cultural Communication class, which is required for new ELI students. Classes will begin after the completion of the ESO program.

You will be attending business registration during ESO in order to officially register for classes. If you have any holds on your student account, you will need to do what is necessary to clear them.

When you have completed ELI Student Orientation (including business registration) and are officially registered for classes assigned to you, you can begin attending ELI classes for the semester.

The International Affairs Office will sponsor international students’ meals while the Office of Student Success will sponsor the domestic students’ meals during orientation week. When the semester starts, the meal plan goes into effect on the student ID cards.

ESO Schedule (Fall 2025)