By SHANNON O. WELLS
For an academic entity that not long ago appeared to be doomed, the English Language Institute’s Intensive English Program‘s future now is looking increasingly bright.
A one-year extension of the program, which in 2022 had been slated for permanent closure, concluded in June. However, the Office of the Provost recently announced that it will support the program for at least three additional years.
“The (provost’s office) has agreed to support the ELI Intensive English Program for the next three years as it focuses on rebuilding enrollments post-(COVID) pandemic,” said Amanda Godley, vice provost for graduate studies. “All ELI faculty on full-time contracts in the current academic year have received contract renewals.”
The Department of Linguistics will continue to offer credit-bearing English-language courses for international students, and the provost’s office will centrally support other services for enrolled international students, such as testing and preparation for international teaching assistants and fellows, Godley added.
Dawn McCormick, teaching professor in the School of Linguistics, who Godley said will continue to serve as ELI director, acknowledged the three-year program extension during the Faculty Assembly meeting on Sept. 11 at Posvar Hall.
“I just want to say how appreciative I am of all the work and support that has contributed to the Office of the Provost decision to allow the ELI to stay open for three more years,” she said. “I want to thank everyone who’s made contributions. Our Intensive English Program is in full gear this fall.
“We have students from 14 different countries,” she added, “and we welcome back a group from Yasuda Women’s University from Japan.”
In what McCormick called a “transition period,” ELI leaders and instructors will work with the provost’s office to focus on “restructuring operations and responsibilities.”
“We’re climbing a pretty steep hill at the moment, work-wise, but we think we’re going to get to the top,” she said. “We are also working to … restart our marketing and recruitment activities and reconnect with campus and community and global partners.”
As part of the program’s restructuring, Godley said a committee will form to review and update English language policies, regulations and processes for enrolled international graduate and undergraduate students, “many of which have not been updated for a decade or more.”
In December 2022, the Dietrich School of Arts & Sciences announced that the ELI would close in June 2023 because of declining enrollment and financial concerns. The announcement resulted in some measurable fallout for the University and a substantial outpouring of support throughout the Pitt community.
McCormick said then that the closure news had immediate consequences, including the need to turn away applicants for the summer term and the following academic year during peak recruitment time as well as possibly losing a contract with Yasuda Women’s University, which was poised to send 30 students to the ELI that fall.
In January 2023, Faculty Assembly voted to support a reconsideration of the closure decision. Explaining that subsequent discussions between the administration, the Union of Pitt Faculty and the ELI proved productive, Senate Council President Robin Kear announced during a March 2023 Faculty Assembly meeting that the ELI would remain open at least through June 30, 2024.
Kear provided an update of the situation on Sept. 11, at the first Faculty Assembly meeting of the 2024-25 academic year.
“(Godley and McCormick) have been meeting for the past year to chart a new path for ELI, working together, and I’m happy to report that there are positive directions to share for this and more consultation that is being built into the process,” Kear said. “I’m sure that we’ll have a shared governance component.”
Expressing enthusiasm for the Intensive English Program’s revival, McCormick encouraged those in attendance and listening to the meeting to get in touch if they’d like more information on the ELI.
“If you’re willing to share information about ELI programs with your colleagues overseas, or you would like to discuss how ELI programs can help you with marketing and recruitment, please contact me,” she said. “We look forward to continuing our mission to serve students, the University and our profession.”
Shannon O. Wells is a writer for the University Times. Reach him at shannonw@pitt.edu.
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