International Student Enrollment

Operational Standard/Purpose

The purpose of this Standard Operating Procedure is to outline the multiple measures opportunity for international students to enroll in college-level courses. Illinois Central College (ICC) is a certified participant in the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). Therefore, the college can enroll F-1 and M-1 international students intending to complete an associate degree or vocational/technical education program; students must meet the college's admission requirements to receive their I-20 "Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status.” 

Scope/Applicability

The standard applies to all international students with an F-1 or M-1 Visa seeking to complete an associate degree or vocational/technical education program.

Definitions

• DHS - Department of Homeland Security
• F-1 - The F-1 Visa (Academic Student) allows individuals to enter the United States as a full-time student at an accredited college, university, seminary, conservatory, academic high school, elementary school, or other academic institution or in a language training program. Students must be enrolled in a program or course of study that culminates in a degree, diploma, or certificate and the institution must be authorized by the U.S. government to accept international students.
• IELTS – International English Language Testing System 
• M-1 - The M-1 Visa (Vocational Student) category includes students in vocational or other nonacademic programs other than language training.
• SEVP – Student and Exchange Visitor Program
• TEP - Test of English Proficiency
• TOEFL – Test of English as a Foreign Language

Procedure(s)

Every five years, the International Students Coordinator benchmarks other community colleges to determine if the college’s TEP scores are comparable with other community colleges. The college permits international students to use their TEP score instead of the Accuplacer Next-Generation Reading score for placement into college-level courses.

Additional Provisions/Information

TOEFL iBT/IELTS

International F-1 and M-1 students attending ICC must complete a Test of English Proficiency (TEP). International students can demonstrate their English proficiencies through two different assessments. The first is the Internet-based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL iBT). The second is the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Both assessments are recognized for their fair and accurate English language proficiency and are used widely throughout colleges and universities in the United States.

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