Classes begin on the hour (9 a.m., 10 a.m., and 11 a.m.)  If you arrive late, this may be counted against your class participation points.  If you arrive more than 10 minutes late to class or if you miss more than 10 minutes of class at any other time, you will be marked absent for that class hour.  

• This will affect class participation points and affect grades. 

A student will be allowed up to five (5) consecutive absences (class hours) if there is a death in their immediate family (spouse, parent, child, grandparent, sibling, spouse’s parent, spouse’s grandparent, spouse’s sibling).  The student must provide the CELCIS office with a copy of a death certification or obituary in English and contact their teachers about their class work.  

If you have a temporary illness or medical condition, you may be eligible for medical leave.  You must provide the CELCIS chair or assistant director with documentation from a licensed medical doctor or clinical psychologist.  The doctor’s note should specify dates and indicate the reason why you are unable to attend classes. 

Students on medical leave must complete all missed work according to the teachers' policies. 

Students may be allowed to miss up to a maximum of 14 consecutive class hours or 14 total class hours for the semester (per class). 

Pregnancy: In the case of pregnancy, women are eligible for medical leave with a doctor's note at time of birth or if complications occur. Fathers are eligible for up to 3 class hours of paternity medical leave at time of birth. 

International students in F-1 and J-1 status are required to maintain full-time enrollment during the academic year. If you cannot or will not meet this requirement, you must make an appointment with the CELCIS immigration advisor, (269) 387-5865, to request a reduced course load (RCL). 

It is university policy to permit students to fulfill obligations set aside by their faith. Students must let their instructors know that they will be missing class in advance. Students are responsible for completing all missed work according to the teachers' policies and within a reasonable time frame. 

Students will be marked absent if they are not in class. To avoid grade penalties, students should try to schedule appointments outside of class time. This includes personal appointments, court appearances, driver's license exams, etc. 

You are responsible for contacting your teachers when you are absent. You are also responsible for doing all homework, quizzes, tests, and assessment according to the teachers' policies. No work can be submitted after the last day of classes for the semester for Speaking/Listening, Grammar/Communication, and Reading/Writing 2. No work may be submitted after mid-term for Reading/Writing 1. 

• Keep in mind that CELCIS classes are participatory, and your success in each class will depend on your attendance and participation.
• Your instructor will explain the attendance/participation policy for his or her course and will include it on your class syllabus.
• You can expect that attendance and participation will count for approximately 20% of your final grade.
• Teachers will put the exact percentages (%) of attendance and participation of your final grade on their syllabi.
• Absences will affect your participation points. 

Tuition Refund Policy (excludes application fee)

CELCIS at Western Michigan University is authorized under Federal law to enroll nonimmigrant students. As an SEVP approved school, all CELCIS students who have F-1 or J-1 visas are required to enroll full-time during fall and spring semesters. Fall and Spring are mandatory semesters.

Summer Sessions

Summer I/summer II sessions are considered University break period for student enrollment. Students are not required to take CELCIS classes during the summer sessions. (This does not apply for new students whose first term of enrollment is summer).

However, CELCIS offers optional summer I/summer II classes. If you are receiving a financial scholarship by a sponsor, please follow their enrollment requirements for funding purposes. The CELCIS department recommends that students take summer semester classes. Taking long breaks may cause students to forget the English that they have learned.

ALL students who study during the Summer I session will be required to also study in the Summer II session.

If a new student receives a Summer I I-20, then by federal regulations, both summer sessions are mandatory enrollment periods (and the student will not be eligible for vacation until the summer session the following year). 

New students have the option to begin in the Summer II term if they have a Summer II I-20.  Students who begin in Summer II will not be eligible for a vacation period until the summer session the following year. Returning students will not be allowed to register for only summer II classes. 

New students will sign up for CELCIS classes before taking placement tests. 

Returning Student registration is scheduled mid-way through the previous semester. Students will be asked to complete an online Intent Form. This form lets CELCIS know student’s plans for the upcoming semester.

Students must resolve all holds.  Students will not be registered for classes until their holds have been cleared.

Students who wish to study in the Western Michigan University CELCIS program on an F-2 visa (dependent) are permitted to study as a part-time enrolled student. This means that an F-2 student is only permitted to take up to three class hours per day. Four class hours is considered full-time enrollment. A student who begins CELCIS as a part-time enrolled student, returns to his/her home country to apply for an F-1 visa, and resumes his/her studies on an F-1 visa (student), will be required to take the placement test the next semester before starting classes. 

A CELCIS student will be allowed to re-take a CELCIS class that the student has already passed ONLY IF by not taking the class, the student will be under-enrolled and consequently go out of status. Approval from the CELCIS chair and the CELCIS immigration advisor is required. In addition, the student will bear the cost of retaking the already-passed class. 

CELCIS at Western Michigan University is authorized under Federal law to enroll nonimmigrant students. As an SEVP approved school, all CELCIS students who have F-1 or J-1 status are required to enroll full-time during fall and spring semesters.

Summer I/summer II sessions are considered University break period for student enrollment. Students are not required to take CELCIS classes during the summer sessions. (This does not apply for new students whose first term of enrollment is summer). 

If you are receiving a financial scholarship by a sponsor, please follow their enrollment requirements for funding purposes. The CELCIS department recommends that students take summer semester classes. Taking long breaks may cause students to forget the English that they have learned.

NOTE: All students who study during the Summer I session will be required to also study in the Summer II session. 

If a new student receives a Summer I I-20, then by federal regulations, both summer sessions are mandatory enrollment periods (and the student will not be eligible for vacation until the summer session the following year).

New students have the option to begin in the Summer II term if they have a Summer II I-20.  Students who begin in Summer II will not be eligible for a vacation period until the summer session the following year. Returning students and Pathway students will not be allowed to register for only summer II classes.

• Oral evaluation—instructors interview student for three to five minutes.
• Writing test—timed writing sample on a given topic. Lasts approximately 25 minutes.
• Placement test—listening comprehension, grammar, vocabulary, reading comprehension. Lasts approximately 65 minutes.

You will be assigned to classes according to the results of your placement tests.

• Speaking/Listening class pretest—listening comprehension, speaking.
• Grammar/Communication class pretest—grammar, grammar test.
• Reading/Writing Class pretest—Reading comprehension, writing.

Instructors will determine if any students have demonstrated English proficiency ABOVE the level they are currently in. If it is decided that a student should be moved to a different level, the student will be notified by email to come to the office to pick up a new schedule.

• Students on Probation 2 are not eligible for level changes.
• To move to a higher level, a student must demonstrate English proficiency above the level he/she is currently in.
• Students on Probation 1 who are moved to a higher level will remain on Probation 1.
• Students who miss the first 3 days of class may not request a level change
• Changing sections (within the same level) is not permitted except in special circumstances:

1. If a student fails a class and is then placed in the same class with the same teacher the following semester, that student may request a section change.
2. If a student has a physical disability that requires a specific classroom building, that student may request a section change. However, the student needs to first bring to the CELCIS office 1) a letter from a physician that specifically describes the physical disability and 2) a letter of support from WMU’s Disability Services for Students Office. The CELCIS office must receive these documents before any change will be considered. 
   
   While CELCIS makes an effort to accommodate student requests, it is not always possible or desirable to do so. To request a level change, please complete the Level Change Form. CELCIS does not make changes after CENSUS because such a change would be detrimental to a student’s learning and progress through the program.