Attendance
Class attendance is very important for all students at Lane Community College, as it could affect your immigration status as well as your final grade. It is important to be on time to class every day. If you believe you qualify for an exception to the ESL attendance policy, please fill out this form.
ESL Students must:
- Attend each class at least once in the first week of term.
- Students who do not attend the first week, cannot add classes in the second week.
- This means that if you miss your first week of classes you must return to your home country or transfer to another school.
- If you miss too many classes or class time, your I-20 will be terminated and you will need to return home immediately.
- Once you reach 10% absence, you will get a warning email from an international advisor.
- Once you reach 20% absence, you will get a final warning that you are on attendance probation this term and the following term.
- If absences exceed 30% in the current term, your I-20 will be terminated and you will need to return home immediately. If in the second term or any other term absences exceed 20%, your I-20 will be immediately terminated.
- If you miss quizzes or activities, your grade may be lower and your teacher may not let you make up the work.
- Be present to take your final exam during finals week. Alternate final exam schedules will not be available.
- Students who miss final exams will need to repeat the level.
- Students with a medical emergency or other unavoidable circumstances may submit a request for exception with supporting documentation.
- Except in case of emergency, the appeal for an exception must be submitted at least 10 days in advance.
- For medical and unforeseeable emergencies the appeal must be submitted as soon as possible after the final.
- Students must include proof of the emergency or other issue.
- Sometimes during the term you might get sick or have an emergency. If this happens to you, please email or call your teacher and do not come to class.
Changing Level
Sometimes students will go to a class and think that it is too easy for them. You may want to request to change your level if this happens. DO NOT take the reading/writing Accuplacer placement test in counseling and advising. That does not allow you to test into credit programs. By taking the test and getting a low score, you may get a hold on your account that will create problems for your registration.
How to request a change of level for New students in levels A-E who have never taken classes at Lane before:
- Attend class in your assigned level on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of week 1.
- Ask your teachers if they think you should change your level on Tuesday or Wednesday at the teacher's office hours or after class.
- If your teacher agrees that you may need to change your level, your teacher will give you the time and location for the challenge exam.
- The challenge exams are held on Thursday of week 1 only.Go to the ESL office by the end of the day on Friday of week 1 to find out if you can change your level or not.
- If you are able to change level, you will be placed in a class based on which block of classes has space available and your preference.
- The bookstore will give students a refund only until 4 pm.
If your challenge exam places you in a level lower than where you currently are placed, you will be moved down to that level.
Students may not request to change their level after Thursday of week 1.
Students with a complaint about the process or a disagreement can ask to speak with the ESL Dean.
If a student retook the placement test at orientation due to special circumstances, they cannot take the placement test again during week 1.
How to request a change of level for New students in level F:
Requests to change level from Level F to credit must be made immediately after the testing session. If you test into ESL and think you are truly credit ready, please speak to an advisor right away. The deadline to complete any changes is generally the day after placement testing, and you may be required to take an additional test, retake the placement test, or another option.
Students should ask for the review with their International Programs Academic and Retention Advisor in Building 11, Room 235.
The advisor will work with the student and testing coordinator to review the placement.
If the placement is accepted, the student must be registered in 12 credits by the Friday before the term starts.
Currently Enrolled Students who want to Challenge their Level:
Students who are eligible to take the challenge exam must:
- Pass all of their current level classes, or
- Pass one of their classes with a B- or higher and received a D- or higher grade in the other class, or
- Pass 2 of their 3 classes with a B- or higher and received a D- or higher in the other class,
Students can sign up (call or in person) as a "prospect" until grades are available. It is the student's responsibility to contact the office after grades are available in Banner (Wednesday after grades are due) to verify if they meet the criteria and confirm their appointment for taking the challenge test. The office will verify the eligibility of the students on the sign-up sheet as soon as grades are available.
Challenge tests will determine the student’s next level so for example a student could go from Level D to level F. The challenge test may determine that students need a lower level. If this is the case, students will be moved to a lower level.
When students are in level F, if they feel they would like to challenge for a higher credit class, the student should meet with an academic advisor who will go over the process with them. The student does not use the Accuplacer ESL for this process.
International students who are failing one or both classes cannot use the challenge test to substitute for SEVIS grade and attendance policies and will still be subject to dismissal or success program based on their grades and attendance.
Completing a Level
ESL students must pass all classes in the level with a C or better before they can move up to the next level.
Students are NOT allowed to repeat the same level more than twice.
Taking Credit Classes while in ESL
Students taking ESL classes must take all 20 hours of class at every level except those enrolled in the Bridge program.
- Students in levels D, E and F may take a PE or Dance class in addition to their ESL classes if their advisor approves them to do so.
- Free and reduced price dance classes are available to ESL students! See the ESL advisor for more information.