CONDITIONAL ADMISSION POLICY FOR UNDERGRADUATE INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
Proposal Submitted by:
Dana Atwell ESL Coordinator
Jonathan GoldbergBelle Director, International Programs
March 13, 2009
CONTENTS Advantages of Conditional Admission Conditional Admission Policies and Procedures Required Academic Coursework Assessment Ensuring English Proficiency ESL Program Completion Procedures Ensuring Policy and Program Success Coordinating the Support of Conditionally Admitted Students Policy Implementation 1 2 3 5 5 5 6 6 7
Appendix A: ESL Learning Outcomes
CONDITIONAL ADMISSION POLICY FOR UNDERGRADUATE INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
The University of Illinois at Springfield is in a unique position and in many respects is at the forefront of offering innovative programs, including interdisciplinary studies and applied study and research internships. At this moment, UIS is faced with an opportunity to enhance the overall campus climate and enrich the curriculum by diversifying the student body. Through interaction on a culturally diverse campus where diverse cultural perspectives are represented, domestic and international students’ lives are enriched. Global perspectives and interactions help domestic and international students engage in the world and better understand global concerns. We can achieve this goal without additional English as a Second Language (ESL) coursework1 and by utilizing existing academic and student support services. In consultation with academic departments and with support from the Senate Committee on Admission, Recruitment, and Retention (CARR) and student support departments, the Office of International Programs would like to propose a new policy for Conditional Admission for Undergraduate International Students. To balance the additional administrative responsibilities that accompany such a policy, the Provost has allocated funds for one ESL adjunct instructor per fall and spring semester, limiting the ESL Coordinator’s teaching load to two courses per semester. Advantages of Conditional Admission The primary advantage for expanding the existing policy to include conditional admission is that by increasing the number of international students at the university we would enhance the diversity of our curriculum, from the individual classroom environment to university-wide strategic goals. As many of our courses rely on the participation of students, a more diverse student body would lead to more diversity of thought and interaction. An influx of diversity encourages faculty to expand the interest in interdisciplinary studies with international affairs. A diversified student body would encourage cultural awareness and engagement in global citizenship. A conditional admission policy advances the University’s strategic plan in that it:2 Enriches Individual Lives by helping to create a culturally diverse campus with diverse cultural perspectives. Domestic students’ lives are enriched by the presence of international and intercultural students while intercultural students’ lives are enriched by interaction with the UIS community. Makes a Difference in the World. Global perspectives and interactions help domestic and international students engage in the world and better understand global concerns. Increases Enrollment & Retention. According to the Strategic Plan, UIS envisions 6,000 students on-campus by 2012. UIS also desires the student population to more fully represent cultural/ethnic/racial diversity. A conditional admission policy is attractive to those students who represent diversity. Students and faculty can be confident that students are receiving language learning opportunities which bolster academic success.
A conditional admission policy would not lower the quality of the student body, but it would broaden access by allowing qualified students the opportunity to demonstrate their readiness for university studies on a trial basis. The students will benefit from advancing through the conditional admission process because during the trial period, UIS faculty will ensure that conditionally admitted students would develop the knowledge and skills needed for a degree
1
The ESL Program Curriculum was approved by the Undergraduate Council on June 30, 2008 and reviewed by the Senate on August 29, 2008.
2
http://www.uis.edu/strategicplan/plan/index.html
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CONDITIONAL ADMISSION POLICY FOR UNDERGRADUATE INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
program by evaluating such students in relation to other fully admitted students in the curriculum.
Using TOEFL as a guide and taking advantage of the existing language courses, the ESL Program has constructed a system of conditional admission:
English Exam Score TOEFL below 450/133/45 TOEFL 450-473/133-150/45-52 TOEFL 477-497/153-170/53-60 TOEFL 500/173/61 Current Policy Denied Denied Denied Admitted Proposed Policy Denied Conditionally Admitted * ISPEL required Conditionally Admitted * Academic Year ESL required Admitted
Conditional Admission Policies and Procedures This proposal seeks to extend UIS’ policy of regular admission to undergraduate international students and use the existing procedures and mechanisms. We propose that undergraduate students who score between 450-497 on the paper-based TOEFL (equivalent to 133-170 on the computer-based test and 45-60 on the internet-based test) or the equivalent on another UIS approved English proficiency exam would be admitted to UIS provided that they enroll in and successfully complete ESL courses, depending on the score received, as detailed below:
Students accepted to a fall semester with a TOEFL score between 450-473 (133-150/45-52) must complete the eight-week Intensive Summer Program for English Language (ISPEL) at UIS and enroll in the ESL sequence as outlined in the ESL Program Curriculum and discussed in the following two sections. Students accepted to a fall or spring semester with a TOEFL score between 477-497 (153170/ 53-60) must complete level-appropriate academic year ESL courses as determined by the Placement Test administered upon arrival.3
Conditional Admission to the University cannot be offered if the TOEFL score is below 450/133/45. Conditionally admitted students must demonstrate that they are making progress toward full admission by progressing smoothly through LNG 091, LNG 092, and LNG 101. If a conditionally admitted student fails one of these classes twice, the offer of conditional admission will be terminated and the student will be advised to concentrate fully on English language training and to apply to the degree program at a later date. While on conditionally admitted status, students would be required to maintain at least a 2.0 cumulative grade point average. Conditionally admitted students are subject to the same academic standards as regular students. Advising is an essential part of the Conditional Admission policy. Undergraduate Academic Advisors (UAA) will be trained to work with conditionally admitted students, but one advisor will specialize and serve as the main contact for administrators, faculty, and students.
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All fully admitted non-native English speaking students enrolled in undergraduate degree-programs who score below 600/250/100 on the TOEFL exam and/or who do not possess a degree from an accredited U.S. institution are required to take a placement exam upon arrival in order to determine if an ESL class is necessary.
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CONDITIONAL ADMISSION POLICY FOR UNDERGRADUATE INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
There are three paths to exit from conditional admission status: 1. The student completes both LNG 091 and LNG 092 with a C or better and passes the Exit Exam with a C or better. 2. The student completes LNG 101 with a C or better and passes the Exit Exam with a C or better. 3. The student meets UIS English Proficiency Admission Requirements by scoring above the minimum on a UIS approved proficiency exam. However, like other fully admitted students, this student would be required to take the ESL Placement Test and would be subject to its results. Required Academic Coursework To understand the Conditional Admission Policy, it is helpful to understand the three ESL curriculum levels: Intermediate, Bridge, and University.
Level Intermediate Bridge University Course Intensive Summer Program for English Language (ISPEL) LNG 091: ESL Reading & Writing & LNG 092: ESL Speaking & Listening LNG 101: ESL Advanced Oral & Written Communication
Conditionally admitted students move from Intermediate to Bridge by successfully completing ISPEL. In order to advance from Bridge to University level, students must pass both LNG 091 and LNG 092 with a C or better. Students who passed only one Bridge level course would be unable to progress to the University level (100). The student would repeat the ESL class and upon passing the course with a C or better would either advance to LNG 101 or pass the Exit Exam with C or better thus becoming a fully admitted student. In order to advance from University level to full admission, conditionally admitted students must complete LNG 101 with a C or better and pass the Exit Exam with a C or better. In order to allow conditionally admitted students sufficient resources to improve their academic English skills, they should be limited to no more than twelve semester hours of credit during the fall and spring semesters.4 If necessary, international students in their first semester may reduce this further to eight credits per semester allowable under current SEVIS5 regulations. Conditionally admitted students would balance ESL and General Education coursework. While enrolled in ESL classes, conditionally admitted students who have been through ISPEL or who have scored at least a 477/153/53 on TOEFL would take General Education courses which have been pre-approved by academic programs and faculty responsible for their delivery through consultation with the ESL Program. Academic Programs can request for their courses to be added, subtracted, or subject to consultation. Following is an approved list of courses for conditionally admitted students as of March, 2009.
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University guidelines state that full-time students are enrolled for twelve or more semester hours during the fall and spring semesters. 5 The Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) is governed by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
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CONDITIONAL ADMISSION POLICY FOR UNDERGRADUATE INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
Approved Concurrent Coursework
ESL Level Course Number ART 102 ART 112 ART 113 ART 203 ART 236 ART 311 ART 315 MUS 101 MUS 105 MUS 181 MUS 301 MUS 305 UNI 101 UNI 103 Course Title Two Dimensional Design Three Dimensional Design Drawing I Introduction to Ceramics Introduction to Digital Media Painting I Photography I Music Instrumental Music Ensemble Introduction to Music Technology Vocal Musical Ensemble Instrumental Music Ensemble Mastering Life Time Learning Academic Success for 2nd Semester Probationary Students Any of the aforementioned courses Arts and Identity: Japan & U.S. Introduction to Theatre Arts and Identity: Japan & U.S. World Literature, East West: An Introduction Introduction to World Literature Introduction to British Literature Introduction to Literature Introduction to Poetry Introduction to Fiction Topics In English Students Consult with instructor. Arts and Identity: Japan & U.S. Credit Hours 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 1 1 3 1-2 1-2 1 2 General Education Requirement Visual, Creative, & Performing Arts Visual, Creative, & Performing Arts Visual, Creative, & Performing Arts Visual, Creative, & Performing Arts Visual, Creative, & Performing Arts Visual, Creative, & Performing Arts Visual, Creative, & Performing Arts Visual, Creative, & Performing Arts Visual, Creative, & Performing Arts Visual, Creative, & Performing Arts Visual, Creative, & Performing Arts Visual, Creative, & Performing Arts
Bridge 090 level
ART 151 COM 274 University 100 level MUS 151 ENG 151 ENG 152 ENG 236 ENG 237 ENG 251 ENG 252 ENG 360 MUS 151
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3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
Comparative Societies Humanities Humanities Visual, Creative, & Performing Arts Comparative Societies Humanities Comparative Societies Humanities Comparative Societies Humanities Humanities Humanities Humanities Humanities Humanities Comparative Societies Humanities
Conditionally admitted students will be advised by the ESL Program and UAA into the above list of preselected courses depending upon their interest and results of their ESL Placement Test. Conditionally admitted students are subject to the same placement policies as regular students. If any listed courses have prerequisites, the requirements will hold. Registration will be controlled and checked by UAA. Students will have academic holds lifted after consultation with and verification of approved enrollment by UAA. Faculty teaching conditionally admitted students will be made aware of conditionally admitted students’ status and will receive regular contact from the ESL Program. Based on their ESL level, conditionally admitted students will enroll in courses according to the following guidelines:
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CONDITIONAL ADMISSION POLICY FOR UNDERGRADUATE INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
Term of Enrollment
ESL Course
Maximum Number of Appropriate Concurrent General Education Courses 0 Intensive nature does not allow additional coursework 1 course or 4 credit hours from the Bridge level from the Approved Concurrent Coursework list 2 courses or 8 credit hours from the Approved Concurrent Coursework list
Summer Fall or Spring
ISPEL (0 credits) LNG 091 (4 credits) & LNG 092 (4 credits) taken concurrently LNG 101 (4 credits)
Fall or Spring
Conditionally admitted students experiencing difficulty in General Education coursework will be offered tutoring and other assistance coordinated by the ESL Program and including the Center for Teaching and Learning and the Center for First Year Students. The existing resources and procedures guiding support for struggling students extend to conditionally admitted students. Assessment Ensuring English Proficiency To complete their English language requirements and become fully admitted, conditionally admitted students would follow the program completion procedures beginning with a Placement Test and ending with an Exit Exam as detailed below. Students must successfully pass the Exit Exam in order to be granted full admission into the degree program. Students must demonstrate that they are making progress toward full admission by progressing smoothly through LNG 091, LNG 092, and LNG 101. If a conditionally admitted student fails one of these classes twice, the offer of conditional admission will be terminated and the student will be advised to concentrate fully on English language training and to apply to the degree program at a later date. ESL Program Completion Procedures Placement Test At the beginning of the fall or spring semester conditionally admitted students take the Placement Test to determine their appropriate ESL level, Bridge (090) or University (100). Conditionally admitted students are required to take at least one ESL class during their first semester. It is the view of the ESL Coordinator that the ESL Placement Test is the best way for UIS to determine a student’s readiness for UIS college-level courses. Classroom Measurements Individual student progress is very important in each of the ESL classes. To that goal, instructors regularly meet with individual students and discuss student progress. Every ESL class begins with a diagnostic test, which allows the instructor to assess the students’ abilities and make adjustments to the course content. The result of this diagnostic test is revisited during individual conferences. ESL courses assess students through typical measures, which include quizzes, tests, papers, participation, and projects. Exit Exam The Exit Exam is administered by the ESL Program, but developed in consultation with and scored by faculty in the Composition and Oral Communication departments. Conditionally
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CONDITIONAL ADMISSION POLICY FOR UNDERGRADUATE INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
admitted students will be required to take the Exit Exam to ensure English proficiency. Students must receive a course grade of C or better in all courses of a level in order to be eligible to take the Exit Exam. A student must receive a grade of C or better on the Exit Exam to become a fully admitted student. If the student receives a D or below on the Exit Exam, the student will advance to LNG 101 (from LNG 091 and LNG 092) or re-take LNG 101. If a student who completes LNG 101 with a C or better and fails to pass the Exit Exam twice, the offer of conditional admission will be terminated. Ensuring Policy and Program Success The ESL Coordinator will oversee Conditional Admission for Undergraduate International Students. The ESL Coordinator must possess a Master’s degree in the field of Applied Linguistics, TESOL 6, or related field, have experience in teaching English at an institution of higher education, and experience in program development. Adjunct instructors for the ESL Program must possess a Master’s degree in the field of Applied Linguistics, TESOL, or related field or demonstrate qualification by significant experience teaching non-native English speakers at the university level or a combination of experience and a TESL 7 Certificate. In the initial phase of policy implementation, to ensure quality, the ESL Coordinator will teach the University level ESL course. The ESL Program will keep data on conditionally admitted students and will follow the academic progress of students up to one year out of the ESL Program. We will use final course grades and Exit Exam results as a measurement of success and improvement of the ESL Program including the Conditional Admission policy. At the end of the academic year and the summer program, the ESL Program will conduct a comprehensive review of the curriculum by analyzing results of the Placement Test; student performance as demonstrated in final course grades, promotion to next level, and Exit Exam scores; student evaluations; and instructors’ feedback. The results of the study will influence the following year’s curriculum by ensuring that student progress corresponds to the learning outcomes of each course, and that these are relevant to the wider goals of the program – to advance students’ ability to succeed at academic and professional levels. Please see Appendix A for a list of learning outcomes. The Conditional Admission policy should be considered during the ESL Program’s Review in 2011-12. Coordinating the Support of Conditionally Admitted Students During the initial phase of the Conditional Admission policy, the Provost has allocated funds for one ESL adjunct instructor per fall and spring semester. The Office of International Programs is in the process of restructuring some of its workflow so that the Staff Clerk will handle more of the day-to-day administrative functions of the ESL Program. Existing academic and student support services will be utilized, and the delivery of their services to the undergraduate international conditionally admitted student population will be coordinated by the ESL Program. The policies and programs that are already in place would be extended to conditionally admitted students. Conditionally admitted students will be immediately tracked for support services. The Admissions Office oversees correspondence with prospective students; the new International Recruiter serves as the primary contact for all international students. Admissions will code the applications of conditionally admitted students for easy tracking. The Admissions Office will issue an I-20 noting that English language
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Teaching of English to Speakers of Other Languages Teaching English as a Second Language
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CONDITIONAL ADMISSION POLICY FOR UNDERGRADUATE INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
instruction will be provided upon arrival. The Admissions Office will coordinate with the ESL Program and the Office of International Student Services so that the conditionally admitted student receives necessary information pre-departure. Prior to student arrival, the ESL Program is responsible for coordinating with Admissions, UAA, and International Student Services to identify undergraduate international conditionally admitted students and communicate necessary information. During orientation, the ESL Program will host a section for conditionally admitted students to clearly and personally communicate the University’s policy on Conditional Admission and the support that is available to them. After this initial meeting, they will meet with their UAA before registering for classes. Conditionally admitted students will be directed by the ESL Program to academic support services including the Center for Teaching and Learning, Center for First Year Students, and the Diversity Center. The ESL Program will inform faculty (who have pre-approved their courses) that a conditionally admitted student is enrolled in their section and will follow up as needed throughout the semester. Policy Implementation UIS must publicize the new policy on Conditional Admission for Undergraduate International Students on the website, in recruitment literature, and in the catalog. Prospective international students would be made aware of the new policy and how it may impact their academic career. The acceptance letter to the conditionally admitted student must clearly state that: (a) Conditional Admission is being offered, (b) ESL classes are required, (c) enrollment in ESL courses may delay their graduation date and (d) ESL costs are in addition to the regular university costs and are borne by the student. Implementing a conditional admission policy for undergraduate international students requires strategic planning. The Office of International Programs will provide information to and answer questions from faculty and administrators about the new policy. The ESL Program will orchestrate coordination among Admissions, UAA, and staff from the Center for Teaching and Learning, Center for First Year Students, and International Student Services so that a clear and consistent message is delivered.
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CONDITIONAL ADMISSION POLICY FOR UNDERGRADUATE INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
Appendix A: ESL Learning Outcomes
ESL Course LNG 091: ESL Reading & Writing Learning Outcomes
Comprehend information in longer, structured prose on a variety of academic topics Apply reading strategies according to text type and reading purpose Increase reading speed by applying strategies of efficient readers Take notes on readings to improve comprehension, retention, and preparation for tests and papers Write paragraphs, summaries, responses, essays and reports which conform to U.S. organizational structures and grammatical rules Develop ideas in writing with depth and complexity o Support main ideas with relevant detail o Use cohesive elements such as transitions and pronouns o Combine sentences through coordination and subordination Recognize and produce standard parts of common university level texts and assignments Approach composing writing and presenting as a process and learn general tools surrounding brainstorming, drafting, revising, and self-evaluation Work with sources in a manner which conforms to U.S. academic standards o Use paraphrases and direct quotations with signal phrases to incorporate others’ ideas o Use MLA documentation to properly cite sources Comprehend and use a greater vocabulary base Speak more confidently, coherently and with more accurate pronunciation and intonation in academic and social environments Actively participate in classroom discussions by expressing opinions, discussing texts, and presenting information in order to challenge cultural assumptions Understand and speak about aspects of human behavior and crosscultural communication Analyze different speaking structures; recognize and produce standard parts of a presentation; organize typical oral in-class responses Develop and produce oral presentations of various purpose and length Comprehend interviews and lecture material by processing the important information Apply different listening strategies to different texts/situations and for different purposes in order to increase comprehension, retention, and preparation for tests and papers Engage in independent learner strategies to improve academic performance o Identify problems and improve accuracy in speaking, including production of English sounds, stress patterns, and intonation o Learn note-taking strategies to cope with class discussion, talks, and lectures Understand classroom assumptions surrounding participation, discussion, presentation and academic honesty Increase vocabulary including idiomatic expressions
LNG 092: ESL Speaking & Listening
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CONDITIONAL ADMISSION POLICY FOR UNDERGRADUATE INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
LNG 101: ESL Advanced Oral and Written Communication
Read and comprehend more sophisticated texts/more scholarly/less tightly structured, including a novel Produce thoughtful essays, summaries, syntheses, and reaction papers that conform to U.S. academic standards of organization and grammar Speak articulately on a range of issues that are of global concern Support main ideas with sufficient detail, example, and outside sources Lead student discussions and actively engage in classroom conversation Evaluate speakers’ main arguments/points and ask clarifying questions Critique and revise their own written and oral products and that of their peers Comprehend and use a greater vocabulary base. Apply strategies to cope with new vocabulary Complete a guided research project o Explore a topic of further interest and learn how to narrow the focus to a research question o Turn a research question into a thesis and support it using four to eight sources o Conduct library research by navigating Brookens’ system through keyword searches o Evaluate the relevance and credibility of outside sources o Write a proposal before beginning serious research o Create an outline for the research paper and amend it with the addition of new sources o Integrate sources into a paper so that the writer has a written dialog with the outside authors rather than letting the outside authors take over the paper o Write a five to seven page research paper Give a ten minute presentation including a question and answer period with a PowerPoint Learn how to take a large assignment and break it into manageable components Discover when to ask professor for assistance
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