Rules & Policies

Below are the rules and policies for ESL / ELA. For more information, please contact ELA Student Orientation or ELA.

NEWS UPDATE!

Students who enroll in the Spring semester will be required to attend the following Summer semester before becoming eligible for a summer break in the next academic year.

ATTENDANCE

In order to complete the course successfully, students are required to attend class. The ability to complete the ESL program and advance to the next level depends on daily attendance. Students who do not meet the required number of hours will be dropped from the class and/or dismissed from the program.

Specific warning levels for students:

• 2 days (8 hours) – Verbal warning
• 4 days (16 hours) – Written warning from the ELA Director
• 5 days (20 hours) – One letter grade deducted from the final grade
• 7 days (28 hours) – Dismissal from the program

TARDINESS

Every student is expected to arrive on time, including at the start of class and after breaks. Arriving 5-10 minutes late will be marked as tardy. Three instances of tardiness equal one hour of absence.

ABSENCES

Failure to attend class, or arriving more than 10 minutes late, will be recorded as an absence.

ELA maintains strict attendance policies, along with disciplinary measures for students who do not comply. Students who fail to follow attendance policies will be dismissed from the program, which will result in the cancellation of their I-20.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

The ESL/ELA program strictly enforces the University's Academic Integrity Policy. Cheating, plagiarism, or assisting other students in such behavior will not be tolerated. Students found in violation will be subject to the penalties set forth by policy.

Below are the university's definitions of cheating and plagiarism:

• Cheating is dishonest conduct with the intent to obtain or use information for the purpose of gaining an unfair advantage in an exam.
• Plagiarism is the act of using or taking another person's ideas, work, or writing and presenting them as one's own.

Students found cheating or plagiarizing will receive an “F” (failing grade) on the assignment for a first offense, and may not be allowed to redo that assignment. For a second offense, the student will fail the course/level and will be reported to the ELA Director. Repeat offenses will be handled according to policy. Detailed information about the Academic Integrity Policy can be found in the Student Handbook.

CLASSROOM CONDUCT 

ESL/ELA students come from many places around the world, with diverse cultural and social backgrounds. We expect students to interact and communicate with empathy and mutual respect. Classes, extracurricular activities, and interactions among students encourage the exchange of ideas and viewpoints, but this exchange must be grounded in respect for culture, religion, race, and gender.

Cell phone use is strictly prohibited in class. Please turn off your phone before entering the classroom. Electronic devices such as electronic dictionaries may be used with the teacher's permission. However, all devices must be set to silent mode to avoid distracting other students—for example, keyboard sounds and pronunciation devices must be muted.

FEEDBACK, SUGGESTIONS, AND APPRECIATION

The faculty and staff of the ESL/ELA program are committed to providing students with the most valuable guidance and experience possible at A-State. We welcome all feedback, suggestions, or questions aimed at improving the ESL/ELA program. We also welcome positive comments or notes of appreciation about the Center and the ESL/ELA program.

If you would like to leave a comment, suggestion, or note of appreciation, please complete the Comment/Suggestion/Appreciation form, then email it to the ESL/ELA Director, or download the form and submit it to the "Suggestion Box" next to the bulletin board on the 2nd floor of the university's International Student Center.

COMMUNICATION AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Important announcements and general information for students at Arkansas State University will be sent by email. All students are required to activate their student email accounts and check them regularly. Student services such as the library and student account information will only be communicated via email. Students are responsible for staying informed.

In addition, the IEP/ESL Program at ELA also uses a bulletin board to communicate with students. The bulletin board is located on the 2nd floor of the International Student Center, between rooms 301 and 307. Students are encouraged to make it a habit to check the board regularly, 2-3 times per week.

FEEDBACK/GRIEVANCES

Providing quality guidance for each student's personal development and social success at Arkansas State University is one of ELA's top priorities. The Center Director, faculty, and staff want students to feel comfortable and confident, gaining the most valuable experience possible in a friendly, caring environment. To ensure that student needs are being met, students should submit a feedback form regarding areas of the program that need improvement.

IEP/ESL GRADING SCALE

Students must complete all assignments and course requirements, maintaining an average score of 80% or higher on all essays, oral exams, and tests. Students will receive feedback and comments from their teachers throughout the learning process. In addition, grade reports will be sent to students at midterm and at the end of the semester. If you have questions or concerns about your grades, speak with your teacher first before contacting the TICE Director if the issue remains unresolved.

PASSING IEP/ESL

Advancing to higher levels within the IEP/ESL Program, or graduating from the program, depends on the following factors:

• Completion of 4 classes – Listening/Speaking (Oral Communication), Reading, Writing, and Grammar. Students must achieve a minimum of 80% in each class, on all tests, oral exams, and attendance records.
• After completing Level 5, students may enroll in undergraduate or graduate programs without needing any English proficiency certificates (TOEFL, IELTS, etc.), provided they meet the following requirements:
  • Completion of Level 5 of the IEP/ESL program with a minimum score of 80% for undergraduate programs
  • Completion of Level 5 of the IEP/ESL program with a minimum score of 90% for graduate programs, and passing the International Graduate Bridge course

Students must also meet any other admission requirements specific to their program of choice.

ENGLISH-ONLY POLICY

Speak as much English as possible! This is very important, as students spend the majority of their study time in the IEP/ESL program. Don't waste this practice opportunity. You have a wonderful chance to live in the US, communicating with native speakers and people from all over the world. This also means that if you rely on your native language, it is as if you had never come to the US at all. Take advantage of this opportunity, and speak English as much as possible, wherever you are. In addition, English is the only language permitted in IEP/ESL classes.