Full-time ESL students attend twenty hours of class each week. All VIU students are expected to purchase specified textbooks and supplies and to complete projects and homework assignments outside of class. They are also expected to participate in class discussions and activities and to come to class prepared. Students are bound by the VIU code of honor and are responsible for the integrity and originality of their own work.

F-1 student visa regulations and VIU's own attendance policy require students to attend at least 80% of their scheduled classes and to arrive to class on time. VIU maintains meticulous attendance records and will cancel students' I-20's if they cannot maintain their visa status.

VIU expects students to be respectful of all students' ethnic, religious, and language backgrounds. VIU is a diverse program, with as many as 50 nations represented in the student body. We value sharing those experiences in cooperative learning environments.