Academic Policies

Learning to communicate in another language is hard work. Your program performance will be assessed through exams and speaking assignments. We monitor each student’s progress very closely and you will regularly receive feedback and suggestions to improve your performance. Although students will not be given a grade for homework, students are expected to complete homework every day as it is an important part of the learning process.

Course Grade Breakdown: 

12 Unit Quizzes                      65%

12 Speaking Evaluations    15%

Midterm Exam                      10%

Final Exam                             10%

Total:                                      100%  

You must have a passing final grade to move to the next level. 

Grading: 

A   Excellent       90-100%

B   Good             80-89%

C   Low               75-79% (75% required for passing grade) 

F   Failing           74% and below

Students will be given access to Classe365, which allows students to access their student profile and view their grades and attendance. If students have trouble accessing or need a new password, they should contact the Administrative Office.

Students must make satisfactory academic progress in order to maintain their legal immigration status. The minimum standard acceptable grade for an IEP course at the Philadelphia English Language Institute is 75%. If a student’s cumulative grade falls below a 75% at the end of a trimester, the student will be placed on Academic Probation for the following trimester and must repeat the level they failed. Students cannot repeat a level more than once. PELI expects that students will make every effort to improve their grades during this trimester of Academic Probation. 

Students will receive a written warning if their average is below 75% at the midterm point. If the student’s average is below 75% at the time of the final exam, the student will receive an official letter of Academic Probation.

If at the end of the Academic Probation the student has not met the minimum standard acceptable grade, the student will be dismissed on account of not making satisfactory academic progress. 

Students have the right to appeal an academic dismissal if they feel that their situations merit individual attention due to unusual circumstances and contributed to their failure of the course(s). The students who wish to appeal must write to the Program Director stating the reason for the appeal prior to the start of the next course. The written appeal must be received within 3 business days of the notification of termination. The letter must state the following:

• The unusual circumstances the student feels caused the failure.
• What she or he has done or plans to do to alleviate the problems she or he had in academic performance.

The Program Director may request additional information or documentation in support of the student’s appeal of the termination. The appeal will be reviewed by the Program Director, an Academic Coordinator, and the student’s instructor. If the Violation Decision is upheld, an F-1 student will have fifteen (15) days from the date of notification to transfer to another institution or be terminated from PELI and in SEVIS.