Official University Policy Manual

File Code: PRO.ORALEXAM.POL
Approval Date: 08/28/03
Approved By: President

Oral English Proficiency Assessment Program

Each public university governing board is required by Illinois statute to "establish a program to assess the oral English language proficiency of all persons providing classroom instruction to students" and to "ensure that each person who is not orally proficient in the English language attain such proficiency prior to providing any classroom instruction to students". The Western Illinois University Board of Trustees has established this program to comply with this statutory obligation.

  1. New Employees:
    1. Tenure Track and Temporary Teaching Faculty:
      All new faculty will complete an oral interview and/or presentation with the department chair, a faculty person, or a committee designated by the chair for the purpose of evaluating teaching effectiveness. Oral English proficiency will be certified by the department chair prior to providing classroom instruction.
    2. Teaching Assistants:
      A graduate teaching assistant will complete an oral interview and/or presentation with the department chair, a faculty person, or a committee designated by the chair for the purpose of evaluating teaching effectiveness. Oral English proficiency will be certified by the department chair prior to providing classroom instruction.
  2. Continuing Employees:
    Each member of the teaching faculty, including those with temporary and part-time appointments, shall have her/his teaching effectiveness evaluated per the requirements of the UPI Agreement.
  3. Student Complaints:
    The University shall develop a procedure for receiving student complaints concerning the oral English proficiency of faculty providing classroom instruction or shall process complaints under an existing complaint procedure. The University shall publish notice of such complaint procedure on the University web site and in the University catalog.

    Such complaints shall be investigated by the department chairperson by appropriate means, including but not limited to classroom visitation. If, upon completion of the investigation, the department chairperson finds the faculty member's oral English proficiency is satisfactory, the department chairperson will so notify the student, who may appeal the finding to the dean. Upon receipt of an appeal, the dean shall investigate the complaint and, if the dean finds the faculty member's oral English proficiency is satisfactory, the dean will so notify the student. In the event of such a finding the decision of the dean shall be final.

    If the department chairperson or the dean finds that the faculty member's oral English proficiency is unsatisfactory, he/she shall submit a recommendation to the Academic Vice President for consideration in accordance with Section 4 of this program. The Academic Vice President will notify the student of his/her decision.
  4. Unsatisfactory English Proficiency:
    If, as a result of the evaluation process or in response to a student complaint, the Academic Vice President determines that a faculty member's oral English proficiency is not satisfactory, the faculty member will be relieved of his/her teaching assignment and given an alternate assignment for the remainder of the academic term. The faculty member will develop an oral English proficiency improvement plan and submit it to the department chairperson and dean. Prior to the beginning of the next academic term the faculty member's oral English proficiency will be reevaluated. If the Academic Vice President determines that the faculty member has attained a satisfactory level of oral English proficiency, he/she may be given a teaching assignment. If the faculty member has not attained a satisfactory level of oral English proficiency, the Academic Vice President may:
    1. Extend the faculty member's alternate assignment;
    2. Recommend termination of the faculty member's employment per the requirements of the UPI Agreement.
  5. Oral English Proficiency Improvement Plans:
    Teaching faculty or teaching assistants whose oral English proficiency is determined to be unsatisfactory shall be personally responsible for achieving a satisfactory level of oral English proficiency. The time the faculty member spends participating in oral English proficiency improvement activities shall not be considered part of the faculty member's assignment.

Although the primary responsibility for improvement rests with the faculty member, the department chairperson, in consultation with other appropriate University personnel, will assist each such faculty member in the development of an oral English proficiency improvement plan. The plan will identify such improvement opportunities as clinical assistance and courses in English, speech communication, and communication disorders. The plan will also include specific goals, improvement activities, and a date for reevaluation of the faculty member's oral English proficiency. The faculty member will provide the department chairperson and the dean with copies of the plan.