Resources and Policies

Student Handbook (PDF)
Your all-in-one resource guide to being a student at ELI, with complete information on admissions, immigration, academics, Pace University, and life in New York City.

NYC Pre-Arrival Guide (PDF)
Our pre-arrival guide to help you with pre-arrival steps, transportation, safety, support , and more!

New Student Account Setup (PDF)
How to set up your student account.

Student Handbook (PDF)
Your all-in-one resource guide to being a student at ELI, with complete information on admissions, immigration, academics, Pace University, and life in Westchester.

Westchester Pre-Arrival Guide (PDF)
Our pre-arrival guide to help you with pre-arrival steps, transportation, safety, support , and more!

New Student Account Setup (PDF)
How to set up your student account.

Prepared by the ELI Academic Coordinator and Directors for your success at Pace!

Online Resources for English Language Learners (PDF)

17 websites organized by English Language Institute levels (050 Advanced Beginner-084 Pre-Graduate) for extra practice outside of the classroom!

The University reserves the right, at its sole discretion and with or without prior notice, to promulgate new academic and nonacademic rules, policies and practices, as well as to amend or rescind existing academic and nonacademic rules, policies and practices. By applying for enrollment and by enrolling each applicant and enrolled student, respectively, agrees to be bound by all of the University’s rules, policies, practices, including, without limitation, the Guiding Principles of Conduct. Applicants and enrolled students who fail to comply with the University’s rules, policies and practices are subject to discipline that may include but is not limited to, denial of admission, denial of academic credits or a degree, suspension and/or dismissal from the University.

Pace University ELI reserves the right to change details of its services at its discretion, including, but not limited to: accommodation, courses, dates, facilities, teachers, times, rooms, and combining class levels.

All courses are subject to demand, and Pace University ELI reserves the right to cancel course(s) when operation is not viable. Alternative courses will be offered where appropriate. Otherwise, course fees will be refunded in full.

Course Changes

For all programs 4-14 weeks in length, students may add one course, exchange one course for another, or change levels with instructor approval at no extra charge before the 5th business day of the session.

For all programs 2-3 weeks in length, students may add one course, exchange one course for another, or change levels with instructor approval at no extra charge before the 3rd business day of the session.

For all programs 1 week in length, students may add one course, exchange one course for another, or change levels with instructor approval at no extra charge before the 2nd business day of the session.

To change levels, please speak with your instructor. Your instructor will contact the Associate Director of Academics at your campus for final approval to change a level. To change or add courses within the same level, please contact the ELI Admission office. There is no fee for changing courses or levels. Any additional payment is required in full within 48 hours of the course change.

Cancellation And Withdrawal Policy

Notification of your intent to cancel (drop) or withdraw from a course must be submitted by email to the ELI. Depending on the course, you may also be required to submit a "Registration Action Form" to the Student Accounts Office. If the correct procedure is not followed, you will not receive a refund and you will receive an F for the course at the end of the term.

Tuition Fee Refund Calculation

Programs 1-14 Weeks

For all programs 1-14 weeks in length, refer to the university’s time of withdrawal to determine eligible refund.

When more than one session was pre-paid to take advantage of the long-term pricing discount, and one or more of the discounted sessions is subsequently canceled, the available refund amount will be calculated by applying the non-discounted rate to courses taken.

Unofficial withdrawals do not relieve the student of his or her financial obligation, or entitle the student to a refund. A student who registers for class and does not attend class remains fully responsible for all financial obligations.

Courses Less than 1 Week and Associated 20-hour Research Assignments

• Withdraw 24 hours or more before the start of the Intensive course, 100% refund
• Withdraw less than 24 hours before the start of the Intensive course or no show for the Intensive course, 0% refund

4- or 6-hour Independent Research Assignments

• 0% refund

Private And Semi-Private Lessons

• Withdraw 24 hours or more before the first scheduled lesson,100% refund
• Withdraw less than 24hours before the first scheduled lesson, forfeit the first lesson. Refund for remaining lessons.
• Withdraw after the first scheduled lesson but before 24 hours of the second scheduled lesson, 100% refund of the remaining unused lessons
• Withdraw after the second or subsequent scheduled lesson, forfeit 100% of remaining lessons (no refund given)
• Cancel a scheduled lesson less than 24 hours before a scheduled lesson or no show for a scheduled lesson, forfeit 100% of that lesson
• No show for the first lesson and do not withdraw within 5 business days after the first lesson, 100% forfeited (no refund given)

Definition of “No Show”: A no show is defined as a student who pays for and schedules a lesson and does not contact us to cancel or withdraw.

Non-Tuition Fees

The application, registration, technology, general institution, student activity, and university health care fees are non-refundable.

Registration Fee

The registration fee is non-refundable. F1 students whose visa is denied are eligible to receive a partial refund of $125.00 with proof of visa refusal. Refunds are available up to one (1) calendar year after visa denial.

ELI/Global Pathways Attendance Policy

Full attendance is crucial to your success and an important part of your academic experience. In addition, students with F-1 visas must be full-time (18 hours) and attend regularly to remain in status with the USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services). Failure to meet the guidelines of the attendance policy requirements may lead to withdrawal from classes and termination of F-1 visa status.

Minimum Attendance Rate

Students are required to maintain a minimum attendance rate of *85% in every English Language class in which they are enrolled.

(*The minimum attendance rate is 83% in 6-week ELI Summer courses.)

• In a 14-week Spring or Fall ELI or Global Pathways course that meets 28 times, students are required to attend a minimum of 24 times (85%). Four absences are permitted.
• In a 7-week Spring or Fall ELI course that meets 14 times, students are required to attend a minimum of 12 times (85%). Two absences are permitted.
• In a 12-week Summer ELI or Global Pathways course that meets 24 times, students are required to attend a minimum of 20 times (85%). Four absences are permitted.
• In a 6-week Summer ELI course that meets 12 times, students are required to attend a minimum of 10 times (83%). Two absences are permitted.
• In a 2-week Summer or Winter ELI course that meets 10 times, students are required to attend a minimum of 8 times (80%). Two absences are permitted.
• Students who miss between 5 and 30 minutes of a class will be marked “late”. Three “lates” in a course equals one absence.
• Students who miss more than 30 minutes of a class will be marked “absent”.
• No additional absence allotment shall be granted for any reason. Students who may require an extended absence due to extenuating circumstances (such as a personal, family or medical emergency) should meet with their Academic Advisor to discuss the possibility of withdrawal.

Meeting Attendance Standards

• Failure to maintain the minimum 85% attendance rate* in every English Language course will result in the student being placed on Attendance Probation for the following term.
• A student on Attendance Probation must maintain the 85% minimum attendance rate* in every English Language course or potentially face Attendance Dismissal at the end of the term.

Attendance Dismissal at the end of the term will be determined by the Administration for any student who does not maintain the minimum 85% attendance rate* in every English Language course for two semesters (consecutive or non-consecutive) during their enrollment in the English Language Institute / Global Pathways program. The Administration’s decision to dismiss a student is final and may not be appealed.

*The minimum attendance rate for 6-week ELI Summer courses is 83%.

*The minimum attendance rate for 2-week ELI Summer or Winter courses is 80%.

Enrollment Verification for Au Pairs fulfilling their mandatory education requirement

Please note we are a non-credit program. After finishing classes, au pair students will receive a certificate from Pace that confirms the number of hours they attended during the session. Minimum 85% attendance is required to receive a certificate for the full number of course hours. Any students who attend less than 85% will receive a certificate for the exact number of hours that they attended.

Homework is customary in all ELI classes. Typically, instructors assign a minimum of one assignment per class meeting that relates to the lessons of the week to provide students extra practice and an opportunity to retain the material. Some or all of the homework assignments will be submitted to instructors for grading, either in-person or through the Pace Classes learning management system. Instructors will communicate how to submit each assignment.

Students are expected to complete all homework assignments on time, and instructors will follow class policies stated in the course syllabus for late work and late assessments (if allowed). Please assume all assignments will be collected. Homework will be expected even when absent. It is your responsibility to obtain the homework assignment when you are absent (via Classes or from a classmate).

Students will be assessed formally in ELI courses as part of their course grades. Assessments may include homework assignments, quizzes, exams, short writing assignments, essays, research papers, journals, textbook exercises, presentations, portfolios, and other assessments as determined by instructors.

Students should make every effort to attend class on important assessment days. Make ups for quizzes, exams, and presentations may be permissible only with the prior approval of your instructor. Make-ups may receive a reduced grade.

Extra credit grading will not be included in any ELI course. If you would like additional practice, please speak to your instructor. Practice work is not included in final grade calculations.

Grades will be based on a standard university letter grade system. Students should attend class regularly, participate in class activities, complete all assignments, and demonstrate sufficient proficiency with a grade of B- (80%) or better.

Letter grades are determined by a series of formal graded assessments. Instructors are required to administer a minimum of one graded assessment per week. The graded assessments evaluate the student’s progress in relation to the learning outcomes for each course.

Assessments are a combination of in-class and at-home assessments to establish a baseline of student proficiency. The overall course grade is calculated by 60% major assessments (exams, presentations, essays, research papers, portfolios, projects) and 40% minor assessments (quizzes, homework, journals, discussion board, participation). Instructors customarily use scoring rubrics for graded assessments.

As a general principle, the instructor has sole authority to establish standards of performance and to exercise judgments on the quality of student performance, but in a manner that reflects reasonable and generally acceptable academic requirements. Grades assigned in this fashion are final except as the instructor may wish to review them. No faculty member, administrator, or other individual may substitute his judgment of the student’s performance for the reasonable judgment of the instructor.

Students who believe that a final grade received in a course was not determined in a manner consistent with the principle described above may challenge that grade by first arranging, within 2 school days from the time that the final course grades are posted, to meet informally with the instructor to establish a clear understanding of the method by which the grade was determined. Every effort should be made to resolve the matter at the level of the instructor and the student. Students who have difficulty arranging a meeting with the instructor should consult their program Associate Director of Academics (ADA).

If after meeting with the instructor, the student wishes to continue the grade challenge, the student may appeal in writing (with a copy to the instructor) to their program ADA within 2 school days from when the student knew the instructor would not change their grade. The statement should clearly state the basis for questioning the grade received in the course, such as, but not limited to, believed errors or miscalculation of grades or evidence of instructor bias or subjectivity. These details should clearly show how and why the student’s grade should be changed from the original grade posted.

The ADA’s decision to have a grade reviewed or not is final and should be completed within 2 school days of the submission of a student grade appeal. If the ADA decides that the method by which the student’s grade was not proper, they will apprise the instructor of the basis for questioning the grade and request that the instructor review the grade. If the instructor, for any reason, does not review the grade, the ADA will request that at least one other faculty member qualified to teach the course in question review the grade. In the process of such a review, the faculty member(s) is (are) authorized to assign a grade change and may, if necessary, require additional examination of the student’s performance as a basis for the grade change.

Students may, at any point in this appeal process, solicit the advice and assistance of an individual faculty or staff member. This individual’s authority in these matters is limited to mediating the relationship between the student and the instructor and/or Associate Director of Academics.

If a student is on probation, they should register for the next term and can pay for, enroll, and attend classes in the next term while in the appeal process. If the appeal is granted to the student, the registration is confirmed. If the appeal is not granted, the student’s enrollment will be cancelled, and their payment refunded; they will then be officially academically dismissed.
Note: Grade appeals are not limited to situations involving Academic Probation or Academic Dismissal; a student may utilize this policy to appeal a final grade at the end of any term.

Grade Appeal Steps

1. The student must first meet informally with the instructor to discuss the grade.
2. If the instructor does not think it is appropriate to change the grade and the student still wants to file an appeal, the student must present an official appeal in writing to the instructor and the ADA.
3. The ADA reviews grade appeal and makes final decision.

Please note we are a non-credit program. After successfully completing a class (see above Course Completion Policy), students will receive a certificate from Pace that confirms the number of hours they attended during the session. Minimum 85% attendance is required to receive a certificate for the full number of course hours. Any students who attend less than 85% will receive a certificate for the exact number of hours that they attended. Students who receive a final grade below 60% in any 6-7 week course or who attend or participate in less than 60% of any (1-day, 2-day or 2-week) intensive course are considered to have failed the course and are not be eligible for a certificate and will forfeit any hours attended.

The English Language Institute (ELI) does not retain copies of certificates for non-credit programs; as such, it is the student’s responsibility to retain any certificates earned.

If the ELI Admission office is able to locate records for a noncredit program, it can supply a letter certifying enrollment. Please note, however, that the ELI Admission office can only certify enrollment and not successful completion of a program or provide a record of attendance.

Progression through the 040, 050, 060, 070, and 080 courses are based on a minimum B- (80%) final course grade. ELI students who do not meet this 80% standard in their courses may be placed on Academic Probation and may be given one chance to repeat the course(s) and pass. Students may not remain on Academic Probation for more than one term.

After the 080 level, a student may progress to the 090/091/092 Advanced levels, which comprise the Pre-Undergraduate and Pre-Graduate Academic English Programs at ELI. Acceptance into these programs is based on an 80% cumulative average of all 080-level courses weighted equally with no single course grade below 77%.

The University views students as responsible citizens who are integral members of the academic community. Policies and practices pertaining to student relations and services should reflect this point of view. All University officers will make every effort to ensure that this philosophy is implemented. It is recognized, however, that regardless of how well-intentioned people may be, complaints and misunderstandings are bound to arise. It is the purpose of the Student Grievance Procedures to ensure that these disagreements are expressed, explored, and resolved promptly and confidentially.

The Pace University Grievance Procedure states that “claims relating to academic standing, grading or discipline are within the jurisdiction of the Academic Standing Committees and the Deans of the Colleges/Schools.” In lieu of an Academic Standing Committee or Dean of the English Language Institute, academic grievances are within the jurisdiction of the Institute’s Directors.

Please see the ELI Student Handbook (PDF) for more information about Grievance Procedures.

Continuing students may advance to the next level if they have been recommended as ‘passing’ by their instructors. Most students will need to complete 14 weeks in Fall/Spring or 12 weeks in Summer to qualify for the next main level. Generally, students must Pass each course with an 80% (B-) or above to move up a level.

If continuing students who successfully complete a level choose to take a break, they can re-enter the next main level after one semester. If they choose to take more than one semester off, they must re-take a placement test.

Continuing students who did not successfully complete one or more courses and take a break may be required to re-take a placement test.

It is very important that students feel they are in the best level for their abilities. Any new or continuing student who, after attending one or two classes, believes they have been placed in the wrong level, should talk to the teacher to discuss releveling.

Releveling is up to the discretion of the ADA, with input from the instructor(s). If a student is inaccurately placed into a level, as determined by the instructor and approved by the ADA, they must be releveled before the add/drop period is complete for that term. If the appropriate level is not available in the current term, the student will be permitted to remain in the initially placed level until the next term. If the appropriate level is not available in the next term and the student does not maintain grades necessary for academic progression, they will not be permitted to continue in the program.

English Language Institute instructors have the authority to determine if and how personal electronic devices are allowed to be used in the classroom. An ELI instructor may restrict or prohibit the use of personal electronic devices in his or her classroom, lab, or any other instructional setting. Audio or video recordings of classroom lessons are strictly prohibited without prior written consent of the instructor. Any recordings that an instructor has authorized by written consent are to be used for educational purposes only and may not be disseminated by the student. If the student does not adhere to the Policy, they may be asked to leave the classroom.

The 050 Advanced Beginner level assumes a basic level of English and is not suitable for Beginners with no prior English training. However, a Beginner with no prior English training may choose to join the 050 level, but will be required to take the support course 050F Foundations of English.

The ELI strives to run every course every semester. However, course offerings are determined by student enrollment. If a 050 level does not have enough student enrollment, 050 Advanced Beginner students have the option of joining the 060 (Pre-Intermediate ) level. However, the 060 level will not be available for Beginners with no prior English training.

Designated school officials (DSOs) are required to keep records containing specific information and documents for each F-1 and M-1 student they enroll. According to SEVP regulations, schools must keep a student’s records for at least three (3) years after the student is no longer pursuing a full course of study.

The ELI DSOs will retain copies of the non-immigrant Form I-20 for the duration of this three year requirement. Copies of the non-immigrant Form I-20 that exceed this requirement will not be retained. Students are strongly encouraged to retain copies of all their non-immigrant Form I-20(s) should they need them at any point.

All students enrolled in the English Language Institute (ELI) will be placed automatically on academic probation after the first semester/session of study if certain conditions occur. These conditions include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Did not actively participate in every class (includes purchasing and bringing the required textbook to class, being an active member of group assignments).
• Did not turn in required work on time (homework, papers, etc).
• Did not pass all required assignments (exams, papers, presentations)
• Not making normal academic progress in the ELI program (i.e. maintaining greater than 80% for each class.
• Did not pass all ELI classes.
• Did not meet ELI attendance requirements:
  • In a 14-week Spring or Fall course (85%)
  • In a 7-week Spring or Fall course (85%).
  • In a 12-week Summer course (85%).
  • In a 6-week Summer course (83%).
  • In a 2-week Summer or Winter course (80%).

Students will receive a written notification at the end of the first semester or session from the Office of the English Language Institute. However, academic probation is automatic if any one or more of the above-listed conditions is met and therefore not based upon receipt of a written notification. It is the student’s responsibility to verify his or her academic standing before each semester or session by checking the Pace portal for final grades, and to contact the Office of the English Language Institute with questions. Academic Probation may lead to Academic Dismissal if a student does not meet the conditions of Academic Probation.

A student has the right to appeal the grades leading to their probation. As a general principle, the instructor has sole authority to establish standards of performance and to exercise judgments on the quality of student performance, but in a manner that reflects reasonable and generally acceptable academic requirements. Grades assigned in this fashion are final except as the instructor may wish to review them. No faculty member, administrator, or other individual may substitute his judgment of the student’s performance for the reasonable judgment of the instructor. Please see above-listed Grade Appeal policy.

Conditions of Academic Probation

A student who is placed on academic probation will be required to meet certain conditions in order to be restored to the status of good academic standing and to be eligible to continue his or her enrollment in the ELI. Students must satisfy the conditions of academic probation within one semester or session if enrolled in one 12/14-week session (Academic English Program), one 6/7-week session (Intensive English program) if enrolled in 6/7-week courses, or one 2-week session (Summer School or Special programs) if enrolled in a 2-week course. This session is the “Probationary Semester”.

The conditions of academic probation that must be satisfied by the end of the Probationary Semester include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Meet ELI attendance requirements (for absences per meeting and percentages please see Minimum Attendance Rate).
• Actively participate in every class (includes purchasing and bringing the required textbook to class, being an active member of group assignments).
• Turn in required work on time (homework, papers, etc).
• Pass all required assignments (exams, papers, presentations)
• Pass all ELI classes with an 80% (B-) or better.

*Please note that performing all of these requirements does not guarantee that you will move up a level.

Academic Dismissal

If a student fails to satisfy the conditions of academic probation within the time period permitted, they may be academically dismissed from the ELI program.

If academically dismissed, the student will have the following two (2) options:

1. Depart the United States – The student must depart the United States immediately. The student’s SEVIS record will be terminated for Expulsion.
2. Transfer to another School – The student is advised they must transfer immediately to another school. Please note that the student's I-20 will be transferred in terminated status. The 60-day grace period does not apply. .

Students will not be placed on Academic Probation a second time. If a student meets the conditions for academic probation a second time, they will have to choose one of the above (2) options.