The English Language Program (ELP) is intensive and designed to advance your English skills. These program policies provide information and guidance for students attending the program.
It is to your advantage to communicate as much as possible in English; therefore, classes are taught entirely in English.
Maintaining Your Status
It is important for F-1 students to be “in status” during their time in the United States. Your
signed I-20 is a contract between you and the U.S. government and you must follow the regulations. You must be registered for a minimum of 12 credits (undergraduate), 6 credits (graduate), or full time ELP during the fall and winter semesters.
To maintain your visa status you must attend classes regularly and successfully complete your courses according to the following immigration guidelines:
(i) General . The student is considered to be maintaining status if he or she is making normal progress toward completing a course of studies.
Attendance Policy
Coming to class everyday is important for your learning success. At the end of the semester, your grade is based on everyday attendance, participation, and work, not one test.
Your Responsibility If Absent
1. Tell the instructor the reason for the absence* (in person, via email or phone).
2. Request, from the instructor, the class work and homework assignments.
3. Complete the class work and homework within two days of the missed class.
Lateness
Students must arrive on time, stay for the entire class period, and return from break on time.
If you arrive late to class or after break three times, it is counted as one absence.
*Students with a verifiable health problem or emergency must discuss their circumstances with their instructor and/or the ELP Director. Documentation may be requested.
Preparation for Class
Bring your textbooks, notebooks, homework, dictionary, and any other class material to every class.
Classroom Conduct Cell phone courtesy: please turn your cell phone off during class time. Computer use: please do not check email or use instant message during class time.
Participation
You will work independently, in pairs, in small groups, and with the whole class. In US universities, it is expected that students will ask questions and share their opinion during classroom discussions. In the ELP it is expected that you will practice those skills, so participation counts as part of your grade and lack of participation will lower your final grade.
Homework
Doing homework is necessary to improve your English and make progress in the course. You must turn in your homework complete and on-time. If you do not understand the homework tell your instructor as soon as possible. Missing assignments will result in a lowered final grade.
Mid-term Conference
Each semester you will have a mid-term conference, lasting about 20 minutes. Come to the conference prepared to discuss your progress with your instructor(s).
Plagiarism
Academic honesty is expected of all students. Plagiarism is taking credit for someone else’s writing or ideas. This is a serious offense and may result in a failing grade for the particular assignment. Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to, using someone else’s ideas, copying someone else’s paper or copying parts of what someone else wrote without giving them credit.
Course Descriptions
Listed in your course description / syllabus are the tentative dates, material, homework assignments, field trips, and social events for the semester. The ELP and / or instructor can modify, in any way, the texts, assignments, course materials, policies, and course outline.
University of Michigan- Flint Academic Policy Students who fail to maintain a C (2.0) average are considered academically deficient. All students must be familiar with the academic requirements and rules of their own school or college. At the end of each term, transcripts of all students are reviewed. Students showing evidence of academic difficulty according to the policies set by the committees on academic standards will receive notice following the University’s action policy: Warning, Up-or-Out, and Dismissal. Warning – issued to students whose cumulative grade point average falls below 2.0 for the first time, but does not drop severely enough to warrant dismissal. Up-or-Out –when a student on previous warning fails to obtain a 2.0 grade point average in the next term of enrollment or drops severely in one semester, an up-or-out warning is issued. Dismissal – students who fail to improve their grade point average will be at risk of violating their student visa status.
Grading Criteria
ELP courses will be graded based on the following criteria:
Attendance, participation, quizzes, homework, presentations, final exam
* Individual courses will have their own requirements. Your instructor will have their specific requirements listed on their syllabus.
Grades % Honor Points
A+ 100-97 4.0
A 96-93 3.9
A- 92-90 3.7
B+ 89-87 3.3
B 86-83 3.0
B- 82-80 2.7
C+ 79-77 2.3
C 76-73 2.0
C- 72-70 1.7
D+ 69-67 1.3
D 66-63 1.0
D- 62-60 .7
E 59- 0 0.0
Non-credit Program
The ELP is designed to improve your English proficiency level to satisfy the university proficiency requirement. The ELP courses do not have credit value that you can transfer to institutes of higher education including the University of Michigan-Flint. However, you can request the University of Michigan-Flint Registrar’s Office to provide a transcript of your enrollment in the ELP that shows course titles and grades you have received.
Please contact any instructor or the Director of the ELP if you have any questions.
University of Michigan-Flint English Language Program
Mr. Daniel Adams, Director, International Center, dadams@umflint.edu
Ms. Kathy Cornman, Director, English Language Program, kjcornm@umflint.edu 219 University Center 303 East Kearsley Street Flint, MI 48502-1950 USA Tel: 810.762.0867 Fax: 810.762.0006 www.umflint.edu/ic
