Course Syllabi
Students can access their course syllabi on Canvas or they will receive a copy from their Specialists on the first or second day of classes. The syllabus states the course policies, class requirements, learning outcomes, and grading procedures. The Specialist will also indicate his/her email address, office number, and office hours.
Skills Classes
Students who pass a skills class but fail another class in their level, will be required to retake Grammar, Listening/Speaking, Reading, and Writing, but may take a different skills class. Alternatively, if a student fails a skills class, the entire level must be repeated. Students cannot take classes in two different levels in the same term.
A copy of the final transcript will be sent to each student’s embassy or sponsor, where applicable.
Academic Progress
F-1 students are required to make academic progress in order to stay in status. Academic progress is defined as completing assigned work on-time; actively participating in class; and attending classes regularly. If a student does not meet any of the aforementioned requirements, s/he may be placed on Academic Probation. If a student is placed on probation for any reason, a Letter of Probation detailing the terms, length, details, and consequences of the probation will be given both to the student and to the student’s sponsor (if applicable). In addition, if a student fails one or more classes, s/he will be placed on Academic Probation and will have to retake all of the courses again; if the student fails to pass any class the second time, s/he will immediately be dismissed.
Academic Dismissal
If a student does not meet any of the requirements within the specified period of time during the academic probation period, s/he may be dismissed and unable to enroll in subsequent terms. Students who do not meet the objectives of the class the first time are eligible to repeat the same level once. If a student does not meet the class outcomes a second time, s/he will be dismissed from the ESL Academy.
New Students
During orientation days, students will be taken by a Student Assistant to the campus book store to purchase textbooks for the term. Books are required for the first day of classes. Students who have not purchased the required texts for class may be dismissed by their Specialists and not allowed to return until books have been bought.
Continuing Students
Returning or continuing students will receive a book list on the last day of classes (registration and graduation day) prior to the following term. Students must have all the required books on the first day of classes. Students who have not purchased the required texts for class may be dismissed by their Specialists and not allowed to return until books have been bought.
University of Colorado Denver
Academic integrity (honesty) means that cheating or plagiarizing homework, quizzes or exams is not permitted. A student must also not help others to cheat or plagiarize. In short, do not copy and paste text found on the Internet or any other source into written work without referencing the source. All students must write their own assignments. Only a Specialist should edit written work. If there are any questions or concerns about what constitutes plagiarism, speak to a Specialist or the Director. The Academy follows the university’s Academic Integrity Policy.
Penalties for Violation
If a student is caught unintentionally plagiarizing, s/he will be sent to the Director for a verbal warning. A second violation (intentionally plagiarizing) will result in the student being placed on Academic Probation. A third violation will result in immediate dismissal. If a student is caught cheating or intentionally plagiarizing, s/he will immediately be placed on Academic Probation. A second violation will result in immediate dismissal. If a student feels that s/he has been treated or evaluated unfairly by a Specialist, s/he should speak to the Director.
If a student is late 10 minutes or less to class, s/he will be considered tardy (late); three tardies equal one absence hour. If a student is 11 minutes or more late to class, one hour of absence will be marked. Specialists have the option of locking their door at the start of the hour so be sure to come to class on time. If a student leaves early, this will affect his/her attendance. If a student leaves in the middle of class for an extended period of time, this will affect his/her attendance as well.
Attendance is recorded daily. We use Engrade Pro to record attendance. Each student will receive an email with login information from Engrade at the beginning of the term. Students can then login and check their attendance for each class. P stands for present, T stands for tardy, and A stands for absent.
Students must attend class for the full 20 hours per week to maintain good standing and remain lawfully in F-1 status.
If a student misses more than 25 hours of class in any term, s/he will immediately be dismissed from the ESL Academy. Medical or emergency absences must be approved by the Director and require a note from a doctor.
- All new students will take a writing and speaking placement test along with the Accuplacer® test to determine initial placement at the ESL Academy
- No level promotions will be made until Friday of week 1.
- In the first week of classes diagnostic tests will be given to all student. Students who exceed the level objectives will be considered for a level promotion.
- A student may challenge his placement; however, s/he must demonstrate ability to function at the next level in all skill areas in order to be moved up.
- It is the policy of the ESL Academy that if a student fails one class, he or she must repeat the entire level. This is because the curriculum is criterion-based and a student will not be permitted to move to the next level if s/he lacks proficiency in a discreet skill area.
- Recommendations for promotion to the next level must be unanimous from the section Specialists.
- The Director or Academic Manager will avoid overriding promotion decisions.
- A student may submit an appeal in which case a committee will reevaluate the decision.
