Policies — AEP at UNA
An AEP placement test is given remotely to students upon applying to UNA AEP. Students receive their personalized code and deadlines for the remote placement test via email, and they complete the 60-minute CAMLA English Placement Test using their personal computers. Upon arrival, students are invited to an interview and a writing test to ensure the accuracy of placement results. Online students complete this process via Zoom or Microsoft Teams.
For students unable to take the placement test online prior to arrival, a placement test as well as speaking tests and writing tests will be given before classes begin during the orientation week. In this case, it is especially important to arrive in the U.S. in advance so students can rest from travel and be prepared to do their best work on the tests. Orientation week is the only time when placement tests are given.
It is not common practice to alter placement decisions at AEP; however, in rare cases–especially if a classroom diagnostic test reveals that a student is misplaced–retesting becomes available on a case-by-case basis upon instructor recommendation. In addition, if a students’ ITP TOEFL score indicates a higher CEFR level than their current placement, CaMLA EPT can be repeated at the end of the term or the beginning of the consecutive term. In such cases, students' class performance, grades, and attendance along with TOEFL ITP scores are reviewed for eligibility for placement testing. Students may be eligible to be promoted if their EPT scores indicate a higher level. AEP will not, however, demote students, especially after they have earned a passing grade in a level/course.
Grading Scale
At the end of each eight-week term, students will be promoted to the next level or retained based on their grade in each class. Students with a final grade at 80% or above will be promoted to the next level. Students with a grade of 79% or lower will be retained in the same level.
Normal Progress
All F-1 students are required by US law to make Normal Progress in the Program of Study listed on the I-20. Students in the UNA AE program are expected to show Normal Progress by meeting attendance requirements and passing a minimum of 3 AEP classes per term. Students who fail to meeting this Normal Progress expectation will be informed in writing and through an in-person meeting of the failure and given specific expectations for improvement. Consistent violation of Normal Progress will result in the student's dismissal from the UNA AE program and termination of the student's Form I-20.
Students will receive a printed Normal Progress Policy and an oral presentation on this policy at the beginning of study in the UNA AE program.
Taking Academic classes while enrolled in AEP (Co-enrollment)
AEP students who take and successfully complete two or level 5 AEP courses but have not completed all AEP classes may be allowed to take academic classes while completing the remaining AEP courses. This request to "co-enroll" must be approved by the AEP faculty. Specific conditions are listed below.
- Students must be in all level 4 or 5 classes.
- Students must not have had excessive absences or tardies during previous terms.
- Students must have made adequate progress during previous semesters.
- Successful completion of an AEP class is demonstrated by achieving an "A" for graduate students or a "B" for undergraduate students.
- This option is only available for students registering in January, June, or August.
Students seeking undergraduate admission to the University of Â鶹Éç Alabama can meet the English proficiency requirement through one of the following:
- Completion of all level 5 classes with an 80% grade or better and a recommendation from each teacher
- 500 on the Institutional TOEFL
- 61 on the IBT TOEFL
- 5.5 on IELTS
- Completion of all level 5 classes with a 90% grade or better and a recommendation from each teacher
- 550 on the Institutional TOEFL
- 79 on the IBT TOEFL
- 6.0 on IELTS
* The Academic English Program at UNA welcomes all feedback. Please email any questions, comments, or concerns to aep@una.edu
Commission on English Language Program Accreditation
The Academic English Program at UNA is accredited by the Commission on English Language Program Accreditation for the period April 2023 through April 2028 and agrees to uphold the CEA Standards for English Language Programs and Institutions. CEA is recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education as a nationally recognized accrediting agency for English language programs and institutions in the U.S. For further information about this accreditation, please contact CEA, 1001 Â鶹Éç Fairfax Street, Suite 630, Alexandria, VA 22314, (703) 665-3400, .
Commission of English Language Program Accreditation information
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IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT
EFFECTIVE MAY 23, 2017: Students who are not actively enrolled in AEP for more than four weeks during an AEP term or semester, including summer vacation, will be required to take the AEP placement test upon return. Students will be placed in the appropriate AEP courses based upon their placement test scores.
