1. Mandatory Placement for English as a Second Language (ESL) Courses
Academic Governing Council
March 15, 2016
3/3

2. Team Members Colleen Becker (ESL Faculty, English)
Ashley Campanali (Faculty, Physical Sciences)
Lori Cook (Director of Enrollment)
Ann Isackson (Director of Financial Aid)
Alyssa Jewell (ESL Adjunct Faculty, English)
Patrick Kamau (Faculty and Counselor, Counseling and Career Center)
Susan Mowers (Faculty, English)
Sue VanderVeen (ESL Adjunct Faculty, English)

3. Summary
Students who place into ESL are not required to take ESL courses; can enroll in any course
Concerns re: safety, comprehension, success – compromising SAP, leading to possible dismissal from programs, failure of certification exams
Data shows lower success and persistence rates for students who place into but do not take ESL classes
Persistent lack of success can compromise Financial Aid eligibility(Pell, sub. loans) when students fail to progress through their programs
8 of 11 colleges benchmarked have mandatory placement; remaining 3 have enforced ESL prerequisites

4. ESL Program Overview Subject Area Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4
Next Course
Listening and
Speaking
ES 101
ES 102
ES 103
ES 104
Speaking and listening skills ready for college coursework
Writing and Grammar
ES 111
ES 112
ES 113
ES 114
Writing and grammar skills ready for EN 100 or 101 (do not need EN 097)
Reading and Vocabulary
ES 121
ES 122
ES 123
ES 124
Reading and vocabulary skills ready for college coursework (do not need RD 097)

5. Where are they in 4 years? FTIACs (FT/PT) placing into ESL and starting Fall 2009, 2010, or 2011
Graduated
Transferred
Still enrolled
Total
(persisted / completed)
Not found (did not graduate, transfer, or continue)
Completed 4th level
16%
15%
13%
44%
55%
Enrolled, did not finish 4th level 6% 8%
10%
24%
76%
Did not enroll in ESL
11%
37%
63%
All FTIACs (2012 start)
9.6%
16.6%
17%
43%
57%

6. Proposal
GRCC should require and enforce mandatory placement for ESL students.