Intensive English Language Institute

Director: Ann E. Roemer
Location: Main 071
Phone: (435) 797-2051
FAX: (435) 797-4050
E-mail: ann.roemer@usu.edu
WWW: http://www.usu.edu/ieli/

IELI Undergraduate and Graduate Advisor:

Margaret Garr, Main 069A, (435) 797-2081, m.garr@usu.edu

Objectives

The Intensive English Language Institute (IELI) is an academic program contained in the Department of Languages, Philosophy and Communication Studies in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. IELI teaches international students, residents, and refugees the English skills and cultural knowledge they need to be successful university students. IELI also trains international teaching assistants (ITAs) for USU. Information about the ITA training is available through the School of Graduate Studies.

The IELI program accepts students seeking a degree at Utah State University, as well as students who want to study English for personal or professional reasons. Students may enroll to study only English.

Undergraduate students who apply to USU without a TOEFL score of at least 525 paper/pencil, 71 iBT (internet-based test), or IELTS score of 6.0 (with a minimum of 5.0 on each sub-scale); and graduate students applying without a minimum TOEFL score of 550 paper/pencil, 79-80 on the iBT, or IELTS score of 6.0 must take the IELI Placement Examination, given the first day of each semester, including the first day of the IELI summer session. Based on the examination results, students will be required to study in the IELI or be exempted from further study and permitted to take classes in their major fields. 

Curriculum

Four levels of study are offered each semester. The ability levels of classes range from high-beginning through advanced. Students enterring IELI must have a basic knowledge of English in listening, speaking, reading and writing. Several of the level 1 and 2 classes are combined into multilevel classes. Classes focus on listening, speaking, reading, writing, and cultural skills. In addition, there are topics courses, covering topics ranging from current events and the environment to academic literacy and the cultures of the U.S. Students must complete one topics course for every level they study in the IELI program.

Students advance from one level of a class to the next higher level by obtaining a grade of C- or higher in the lower-level class. Students who do not obtain a C- or higher in a class must repeat the class. Students who complete all level 4 classes with a C- or higher may begin taking courses outside of IELI. Students at level 4, who have less than a full course load remaining in IELI, must take other University credits sufficient to stay in status with visa requirements. Exceptions to this policy must be approved by the director of IELI in consultation with students’ major field advisors and the Office of International Students and Scholars.

Credit for Intensive English Study

Classes in IELI carry academic credit. Full-time students at each level take 18 credits per semester. A student who begins IELI at level 1 and progresses to level 4 may earn a total of 72 undergraduate elective credits. While all the credits will appear on a student’s transcript, a maximum of 18 can be counted toward graduation. Application of the 18 credits will be determined by the student’s college and major department. Students must, therefore, meet with their departmental advisors to determine the role of IELI credits in their graduation requirements. IELI 2470 and IELI 2475 count toward the General Education Breadth Social Science (BSS) requirement. 

Services

New students in IELI take the Placement Examination and attend an orientation meeting prior to the beginning of each semester. All students are assigned an advisor in IELI who helps them with various difficulties they may encounter. In addition, all the services and privileges offered to students on campus are available to IELI students. These services include health care, clubs, recreational opportunities, and numerous special programs for international students.

Intensive English Language Institute Faculty

Associate Professors
Franklin I. Bacheller
James E. Bame
Ann E. Roemer
James R. Rogers II
Thomas J. Schroeder
Nolan Weil

Associate Professors Emeritus
Susan J. Carkin
Glenda R. Cole
Lee Ann Rawley

Academic Advisor
Margaret Garr