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

Refunds are calculated as follows:

Programs 1-14 Weeks

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

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.

Students with credit balances on their student account, resulting from tuition cancellations, etc., are issued refunds to their Pace University HigherOne Card. Payments made by credit card are issued refunds to the credit card. Student refunds take a withdrawal and does 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.

One- And Two-Day Courses

• 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, 100% forfeited (no refund given)

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.

12-Hour Online IELTS Preparation Course

• Students have full access to all course materials within 2 business days of registration. As a result of having full access to the course materials, this course is non-refundable and subject to a 0% tuition cancellation.

Non-Tuition Fees

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

Institution Fee

Please note that in addition to the course tuition fees, the University charges a General Institution Fee (GIF) each time a student registers. All Pace students (except au pairs) must pay the GIF. This fee is for the use of Pace facilities, including the library, the computer labs, the multi-media labs, etc.

Payment Options

Payment in full for tuition and fees is due at the time you register before classes begin. There is no partial payment or payment plan available. Pace University accepts cash, check, money order (drawn on a US bank), VISA, MasterCard, Discover/Novus, or American Express. Make checks and money orders payable to Pace University. Write your Pace ID number (U00xxxx) and your address on the check or money order. We also accept online payment through Flywire.com. Please speak with an ELI Staff member for instructions to use Flywire for an online tuition payment.

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 in order 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 26 times, students are required to attend a minimum of 22 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 3-week Winter course that meets daily, students are expected to attend 85% of classes (2 absences allowed).
• 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 inconsecutive) 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%.

Attendance Verification for Au Pairs fulfilling their manadtory 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.

Within the first two weeks of each term, late homework may be accepted by your instructor if the assignment is submitted by the start of the next class. Starting in Week 3 of the term, late homework may only be accepted in extenuating circumstances with the prior approval of your instructor. Late homework submissions may receive a reduced grade.

Students will take an in-class cumulative midterm and final exams, based on the work covered in class.

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, pass the final exam and demonstrate sufficient proficiency with a grade of B- (80%) or better.

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 a reasonable period of time (approximately 5 school days from the time that the student knew or should have known of the final course grade), 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, Lisa Kraft, Director of the English Language Institute.

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 and academic advisor) to the ELI Director within a reasonable amount of time. The statement should clearly state the basis for questioning the grade received in the course.

The Director’s decision to have a grade reviewed or not is final. If the Director decides that the method by which the student’s grade was not proper, the Director 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 Director 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 Director.

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 050 Advanced-Beginner, 060 Low-Intermediate, 070 High-Intermediate, and 080 Advanced courses are based on a minimum B- (80%) final course grade and a level recommendation from course instructors. 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 Advanced level, a student may apply to progress to the 090,091/084 levels, which comprise the Pre-Undergraduate and Pre-Graduate 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 a 77%. Students must also pass a Writing Exam and be recommended for Pre-Undergraduate and Pre-Graduate study by their 080-level instructors.

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 view the English Language Institute Student Grievance Policy and Procedure (PDF) for detailed instructions on filing your grievance and ELI Staff contacts.

Level recommendations are made by the instructor towards the end of the term. ELI instructors fill out a level recommendation form to recommend that a student continues at the same level or move up to the next level. Typically, students who have been at one level for 7 weeks will continue in the same level, even if they have passed the 7-week course. Most students take one level for 14 weeks. Only those students with outstanding improvement and demonstrated proficiency can move to the next level in 7 weeks.

Level recommendations are made usually in the 5th or 6th week of classes. Regardless of the recommendation made by the instructor, students must complete the rest of the 7-week course.

Being recommended to the next level does not guarantee passing the class. If a student fails the class, they will need to repeat the course.

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, he/she may be asked to leave the classroom.

The English Language Institute Policy on Electronic Devices is based on Sections 1 and 25 of Pace University’s Guiding Principles of Conduct. The complete Guiding Principles of Conduct are available within Pace University’s Student Handbook.

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.