Dear IEP Students,

We are already moving into the fourth full week of classes. Hard to believe, isn't it? I hope you all enjoyed the picnic on Sept. 11th. I thought it was a lot of fun. Thanks to Dr. Marshall and some of the Mongolian students, the burgers and hot dogs were great! (I really want to try Mongolian beef some day!)

I want to remind you of several opportunities for IEP students:

Credit for Level Three Students

Students who successfully complete Level Three can get three hours of foreign language or elective credit. To do this, you must meet several criteria:

»Have a GPA of 3.0 with no IEP grade below a B
»Get 500 or more on TOEFL (CBT or Institutional)
»Pass the transitional tests for math, reading, and writing
»Be admitted to UCA as an undergraduate student

Advance Registration

Level Three students who have As and Bs at the time of advance registration (early November) will be able to go through advance registration. First you will take the transitional tests in reading and writing as well as math, if you haven't already taken the math test. After testing, you will be able to register for your spring 2003 classes. Being able to advance register is a big advantage--you will get more of the classes you want at convenient times. Other students will have to wait until after final exams to register.

Taking Extra Classes Next Semester

If you are in Level One or Level Two and you get a TOEFL score above 450 this semester, you will be able to take one UCA class in addition to your IEP classes next semester.

If you are in Level One or Level Two and you get a TOEFL score above 475 (but under 500), you will be able to take two UCA classes if your GPA is 3.0 or above.

If you are in Level Two and you don't get a TOEFL score above 450, but your GPA is 3.5 or more, you will be able to take one extra class in addition to your IEP classes with my approval.

Remember--in order to do the three things listed above, you must be admitted to UCA as an "IEP/undergraduate student," not an "IEP only" student. Please see me or Lisa Shoemake to find out which type of classification you have.

IEP Scholarship

At least one IEP student will receive an out-of-state tuition scholarship for the Spring 2003 semester. To qualify for this scholarship, you must have a 3.5 GPA, good attendance, and a letter of recommendation from an instructor. Students will be able to apply for the scholarship in November, and a committee of UCA professors and staff members (not IEP teachers) will choose the winner in December.

Good Reasons to Study Hard

All of these opportunities--Level Three credit, advance registration, extra classes next semester, and the IEP scholarship--are good reasons for you to come to class every day and study hard. The best reason to study hard is to improve your English. If you improve your English, you will improve your score on TOEFL. But if you just "cram" for TOEFL, you will not necessarily improve your English.

Your IEP teachers know that most of you did not come here just to improve your English. Most of you are here to get a university degree in business, computer science, music, or some other field. Being able to speak, listen to, read, and write English well is a very important factor in getting your university degree. We want to help you achieve a "means to an end"--that means "a way that helps you reach your goal." Please take advantage of it!

Let me know if you have any questions about the opportunities I mentioned in this letter. Remember--my door is almost always open!

Sincerely,

Lynn Ramage Schaefer, Interim Coordinator
Intensive English Program
Department of World Languages, Literatures, & Cultures
Irby Hall #207J
University of Central Arkansas
Conway, AR 72035
tel: (501) 450-3671
fax: (501) 450-5185
LYNNR@mail.uca.edu