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Institute Facilities
Housing
Dining
Health and Medical
Security
Mail
E-mail and Computer Accounts
Telephone
Libraries
Sports and Recreation
Entertainment
Getting Around

Institute Facilities

All of your classes and computer labs will take place in Weimer Hall, the College of Journalism and Communications building on campus. Weimer is located a short walk from your hotel in the Reitz Union.

We have reserved two classrooms and a computer lab with twenty terminals for your time here. You will have access to these rooms and they will be monitored or locked at all times. One room will have coffee, water, and snacks throughout the day, as well as copies of the day’s newspapers, daily events, optional recreational activities, personal mail folders, and more. The other will serve as the primary seminar room. You will be able to access e-mail and the Web throughout the day in the computer lab.

The Institute's administrative office is located in the same building as the Institute classrooms and computer lab:

State Department Institute on Journalism and Media
College of Journalism and Communications
University of Florida
P.O. Box 118400
Gainesville, FL 32611-8400

Phone: (352) 392-4211
Fax: (352) 392-3919 (Attention: Lauren Hertel)

To see where these buildings are on the University of Florida campus, you can view an interactive map. Type Weimer into the search button and then click Weimer Hall when it appears below the search box. “WEIM” is the abbreviation for Weimer on the campus map, and your hotel is located in the Reitz Union (or “REI” on the map).

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Housing

You will each have a private room in the Reitz Union Hotel, located directly across the quadrangle from Weimer Hall, during your stay in Gainesville. Each room is equipped with the following:

The hotel is conveniently located in the Reitz Student Union, where you will find the following services:

If you are bringing electrical appliances such as an electric shaver or laptop, the standard electrical power system in the U.S. is based on 60 cycles, 110 volts, alternating current.

More information about the hotel as well as photos of the rooms are available at the hotel’s website.

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Dining

You will have the opportunity to try many different foods during your time with us. During the week, most of your meals will be taken on campus, where there are many options for you to choose from. Each of you will receive a dining card that has been preloaded with enough money for you to eat in any establishment on campus you choose.

In the Reitz Union, adjacent to your hotel, you will find a mix of fast food restaurants including national chains (Wendy’s, Subway, Taco Bell) and other specialized cuisines (Italian, Asian, Southern) as well as coffee, ice cream and a pub. A full list including photos is available at the Union's dining page. Your dining card is also valid at a number of buffet-style restaurants around campus, which are open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. These restaurants cater to regular diners and those with special diets, such as vegetarian, low-sodium, and Kosher.

You will also have the opportunity to dine in unique restaurants in Gainesville and on our trips. We will explain the system of paying for individual and group meals in more detail upon your arrival.

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Health and Medical

Being in good health prior to your departure for the United States will help ensure that you benefit fully from the Institute and make the most of your visit here. We advise you to consult with your doctor if you are currently under regular treatment for any illnesses or medical conditions. If you are taking any medication on a regular basis, you should make sure to bring enough with you to last for the entire duration of your stay. Please note that you should bring any medication with you in your carry-on baggage in the plane, in the event that your checked luggage is temporarily lost or delayed in getting here. If you wear contact lenses or glasses, we recommend that you bring an extra pair.

Each Institute participant will have up to $50,000 in health insurance. There is a $25.00 deductible per illness. However, the insurance only covers problems that develop during the time you are in the U.S. on the program, such as accidents, appendicitis, etc. It does not cover doctor's visits or treatment for pre-existing conditions, such as pregnancy, diabetes, or other on-going health issues. You have the option of purchasing additional health insurance or extending your insurance when you arrive. It is also advisable to bring evidence of your own health insurance if it includes coverage within the U.S.

Should you require medical attention during your stay with us, we will provide you with transportation to the appropriate facility and assist you throughout this time.

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Security

Gainesville is a relatively safe, small American city. However, it is advisable to take certain precautions that you would take in any town or city with which you are not generally familiar. You will be taken on a tour of campus on your first day here and will visit other parts of Gainesville your first weekend to help orient you to the city.

While you are on campus, the University of Florida Police Department offers an escort service, the Student Nighttime Auxiliary Patrol (SNAP). This service is available from 6:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and from 6:30 p.m. to 3:30 a.m. Friday and Saturday. SNAP is available to students, staff, faculty, and visitors at no charge. SNAP can be reached from any campus phone by dialing 392-SNAP.

In the large cities we will be visiting, it is always wise to take the same general precautions that you would take in any big city throughout the world. These include not walking alone at night, avoiding parks and quiet streets after sunset, and keeping a close eye on your personal possessions.

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Mail

While in residence at UF, mail should be addressed to you in the following manner:

[Your Name]
State Department Summer Institute
c/o Research Division, Weimer Hall
University of Florida
P.O. Box 118400
Gainesville, FL 32611-8400

Please use the address above to receive parcels. Parcels are often times returned to the sender or may be lost when addressed to the hotel.

Try to arrange to receive all mail by August 1, since you will depart for the tour on Saturday, August 2, early in the morning and will not be returning to UF. Since we will be traveling a great deal during the tour, it is not recommended that you have mail sent to any of the hotels listed on our itinerary. Most hotels will not accept mail for individuals who are not currently registered. Fax and telephone numbers will be provided. Should mail for you arrive after your departure, we will forward it to your home.

Personal mail will be placed in your mail folders in the seminar room daily by 4 p.m. Packages will be placed on the shelf below the folders.

Please ask the Institute staff for instructions on mailing letters and parcels. We may be able to assist you or may need to direct you to a local post office.

International faxes may be shipped from the Institute office (see above address). The cost is $3 for the first page and $1 for each additional page. We will try to bring faxes that have been received at the office to the morning sessions. The office fax number is (352) 392-1794. Please make sure that each fax sent to you has “State Department Summer Institute” and your name clearly marked on the cover sheet or the first page.

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E-mail and Computer Accounts

You will each be assigned a UF computer account at the first Internet and e-mail session. You will be able to use computers in the computer lab at Weimer Hall, other computing facilities on campus and in all libraries. You will need your university identification card (Gator 1) to use these facilities. Our staff will assist you with obtaining these cards on your first day at the Institute.

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Telephone

The telephone system in the United States is different from that used in most of your countries. In addition, the phone system utilized by the University is unique. To help you navigate through the maze of trying to communicate via the telephone, below are instructions you will need to follow. Please, do not hesitate to ask any of the staff for assistance. This may be the most challenging aspect of your stay in the U.S.

You can receive unlimited phone calls in your room at no charge, so it may work best to have your family call you. There is no charge for local calls you make. However, you will incur a charge for long distance calls you make. It is best to use a pre-paid telephone card. We will provide you with a pre-paid telephone card with a $10 value on your day of arrival. You may purchase additional cards at most any supermarket or drugstore.

To make an on-campus call: Enter the last five digits of the number. For example, if the campus number you are calling is 392-4211, you would dial only 2-4211.

Making international calls: If you do not insist on the privacy of calling from your own room, making a call from a public pay phone is much easier. The easiest way is to use a pre-paid telephone card - you will not need the university access code. We will provide more detailed instructions on this and other communications matters at your orientation here.

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Libraries

With your Gator 1 you will have full access to the University libraries. You may wish to visit their web site before your arrival to get an idea of the holdings and resources available to you during your stay. In fact, you could probably spend your entire stay in our library system and still have missed things! To help you get oriented, we have arranged a tour of the main library and of our College’s library for you in your first week. You will also find the first week’s sessions helpful in navigating the electronic resources available to you through the library system.

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Sports and Recreation

In addition to the library and bus system, your Gator 1 card can also be used to access the vast network of campus sports and recreation facilities. You can view complete details, including equipment, schedules, and more, at the Recreational Facilities web page.

You will be living just a few minutes’ walk from an Olympic-sized lap pool, campus running routes, Lake Alice, soccer fields, dozens of fitness classes and much more. Although the weather will be hot and humid, many of the gyms offer air conditioned fitness and weight rooms for your convenience and comfort.

Please let us know before you arrive which activities interest you most so that we can personalize your welcome packages and help you hit the ground running—literally!

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Entertainment

We have planned a variety of entertainment opportunities for you both here in Gainesville and on the road, but you also have plenty of free time to explore your own personal interests. Although Gainesville is a relatively small town, we have a diverse entertainment scene thanks to the University and our proximity to larger cities.

We will be posting entertainment listings daily in the Institute lounge, and will do our best to accommodate special requests made in advance.

The Gainesville Sun, our local newspaper, provides a comprehensive look at the opporunities both on campus and around town on their website.

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Getting Around

Public buses leave directly from the Reitz Union and your hotel for destinations all over Gainesville. Your campus ID card will get you unlimited free rides on the local bus sytem. We will provide you with maps and schedules of the public routes upon your arrival. These common destinations are within 20 minutes of your hotel:

We will be using the bus system extensively to go shopping, attend films and concerts, and more.

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