Faculty Handbook

ENGLISH PLACEMENT FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

Step One: ADMISSION

Admissions Requirements

1. Students may be admitted into the ESL program with a minimum TOEFL score of 475.
2. Students may be admitted into an undergraduate degree program with a minimum TOEFL score of 525.
3. Students may be admitted into a graduate degree program with a minimum TOEFL of 550.
4. Learners may be admitted for language study only via Continuing Education.

TOEFL Requirements

1. All students who are non-native speakers of English and seeking admission into undergraduate or graduate programs (exchange, transfer students, readmits, degree-seeking, WESLI, etc.) will provide a TOEFL score for consideration for admissions.
2. International students with a TOEFL score of 600 or above, or native speakers of English, may be admitted directly into the university's mainstream academic classes. These individuals are not required to take the ESL placement tests. International students with a TOEFL above a 600 may choose to take ESL courses if they wish to continue to improve their English skills.
3. All students admitted into the University of Wisconsin- Eau Claire who have below at 600 TOEFL score, and who are not considered part of the non-credit ESL program, must take ESL placement tests (Compass ESL Test or other as determined by the Credit ESL Director).

Degree-seeking Students

Degree-seeking students with a TOEFL scores between 475 and 600 may be admitted into the Integrated ESL Program, which allows them to take ESL courses along with other mainstream academic courses in the regular curriculum. These students must follow the placement guidelines for ESL course assignments. These students are required to take courses selected by the Director of Credit ESL based on their scores on placement testing.

Exchange Students

All exchange students admitted into the University of Wisconsin- Eau Claire must provide a TOEFL score. All exchange students admitted into the University of Wisconsin- Eau Claire who have below a 600 TOEFL score, must take ESL placement tests (Compass ESL Test or other as determined by the Credit ESL Director). Students are required to take ESL courses, based on the individual student's needs as determined by placementFebruary 24, 2006nsfers, or U.S. High School Diploma Holders (or other English speaking country)

International Transfers Students or U.S. High School diploma holders (or other English speaking country) are not required to submit a TOEFL score for admissions purposes if one year of study is completed in an English speaking school. These students must take placement tests upon arrival, and must follow the recommendations of the ESL Coordinator.

Step Two: ENGLISH PLACEMENT TESTING

Students scoring below 600 on the TOEFL take the Compass ESL Placement Test (Listening, Reading and Grammar/Usage) and a UWEC Composition test when they first arrive on campus. They are given a letter outlining ESL course requirements/recommendations.

Step Three: COURSE PLACEMENT

The ESL Coordinator places students into ESL courses based on a combination of factors, including the Compass ESL Placement Test, UWEC Composition Test, TOEFL scores, student status (e.g., degree seeking or exchange students), previous language work in other ESL programs, etc..

Placement recommendations and requirements for ESL coursework will be based on the following scoring policy effective Summer 2002.

Compass ESL Test Scores

Listening Test
Level	Score Range	Placement
Pre-level 1	1-41	ESL Level 1
Level 1	42-66	ESL Level 1
Level 2	67-81	ESL Level 2
Level 3	82-91	ESL Level 3
Level 4	92-99	Mainstream coursework
Reading Test
Level	Score Range	Placement
Pre-level 1	1-37	ESL Level 1
Level 1	38-64	ESL Level 1
Level 2	65-79	ESL Level 2
Level 3	80-91	ESL Level 3
Level 4	92-99	Mainstream coursework
Grammar/Usage Test
Level	Score Range	Placement
Pre-level 1	1-41	ESL Level 1
Level 1	42-62	ESL Level 1
Level 2	63-83	ESL Level 2
Level 3	84-93	ESL Level 3
Level 4	94-99	Mainstream coursework

UWEC Composition Test

1 = ESL 101 and 115. Either 150, 160, 175 or 275 as necessary.
2 = Either ESL 101 or 201. Other coursework as necessary (160, 230, 255 or 275)
3 = ESL 201. Other coursework as necessary (160, 230, 255 or 275)
4 = ESL 305 and/or 301
5 = May take English 110; mainstream coursework

Once placement has been assessed, and course change requests have been processed, it is the responsibility of the International Student Advisor to handle concerns about placement.