Policies

ESL follows The New School Policies the content below is subject to change

The ESL + Certificate Program is academically challenging and demanding but also very rewarding. In order for all students to advance quickly in reading, writing, listening, speaking and grammar, we expect:

1. PARTICIPATION in CLASS  

Active student participation is a very important part of the U.S. classroom. The amount and type of interaction expected might be very different from your classroom experience in your home country.  In the United States, active participation is more than attending class and listening to the teacher.  It means:

• Arrive to class on time.

• Be prepared for class with completed assignments, and required class materials such as textbook, notebook, pen or pencil, etc.

• Speak in every class; offer ideas and ask questions.

• Listen attentively when others are speaking and respond to others’ ideas.

Active participation is part of your grade in ALL your ESL classes.

2. COLLABORATION (working together) with classmates

Group work is a common aspect of learning in U.S. universities and you will be expected to work well with classmates.

3. HOMEWORK

Plan for between approximately 8 hours of homework a week.

4. ATTENDANCE

- There are no excused absences. 

- You may not have more than 4 absences (in fall and spring) and 3 absences (in summer) in each course  or you will be at serious risk of failing the course.

- You must attend class on time.  If you are late to class 3 times, that will count as an absence. If you arrive 10 minutes after start of class will be marked late. 

5. NO TEXTING in class 

Unless your phone is part of a classroom activity, put it away in your bag or your pocket

6. USE YOUR NEW SCHOOL EMAIL ADDRESS 

Use your New School email address for all  communications with the teachers, staff and University offices. 

7. ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

Academic honesty is the responsibility of every student at The New School. Students are responsible for knowing and making use of proper procedures for writing papers, presenting and performing their work, taking examinations, and doing research.

(From the University Policies Governing Student Conduct)

“Academic honesty includes accurate use of quotations, as well as appropriate and explicit citation of sources in instances of paraphrasing and describing ideas, or reporting on research findings or any aspect of the work of others (including that of instructors and other students and AI-generated text). The standards of academic honesty and citation of sources apply to all forms of academic work (examinations, essay theses, dissertations, computer work, art and design work, oral presentations, and other projects).”

Academic dishonesty includes but is not limited to:

• cheating on examinations, either by copying another student’s work or by utilizing unauthorized materials

• ANY act of plagiarism, that is, the fraudulent presentation of the written, oral, or visual work of others (including ChatGPT or generative AI) as original

• theft of another student’s work

• purchase of another student’s work

• submitting the same work for more than one course

• destruction or defacement of the work of others aiding or abetting

• any act of dishonesty

• any attempt to gain academic advantage by presenting misleading information, making deceptive statements, or falsifying documents.

Warning:  Plagiarism may lead to serious consequences, including (but not limited to) one or more of the following: failure of the assignment, failure of the course, academic warning, disciplinary probation, suspension from the university, or dismissal from the university.  

University Policy on Using  AI  

Only expressly authorized use of artificial intelligence tools is permitted. Students unsure about acceptable use of any source, including generative artificial intelligence tools, in the context of a particular assignment, should consult the syllabus for a course or speak with the instructor.   Read Full University Academic Integrity Policy here. 

8. ESL Student Dismissal Policy

As always, every effort should be made to support students' success and avoid dismissal. Measures have long been in place to this end in every class as well as through our office, and they include:

• early warning by teachers concerned about students' academic performance

• recommendations to the University Learning Center

• offering access to mental health services

• where appropriate, offering accommodations to students with documented disabilities

However, in very rare cases, dismissal may be appropriate. On academic grounds, we would like to reserve the right to dismiss any student who:

• has failed the same course 3 times and/or

• has failed more than 5 courses of our program over the course of his/her time in the program

• has missed 20% or more of the courses in a single semester (20 or more classes, all together, in the fall and spring and 16 classes or more, all together, in the summer)