English Language Bridge Program

New English Language Bridge (ELB) Students – Fall 2012

New ELB students must take an English Language Placement test during new student orientation on one of the following dates:  June 13 (Portland), June 18-19 (Gorham –for residential students living on campus) and August 1 (Portland).  Please choose one of these dates for your orientation and come prepared to take the 2-hour placement test which will determine which courses you will register for. To register for orientation call 780-4604 or click on the following link.   http://usm.maine.edu/success/orientation/

What is the English Language Bridge program?
The English Language Bridge (ELB) program is an academic support program, offered through the University of Southern Maine’s English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Department. Students in the ELB program are nonnative English speakers who have met USM’s admission requirements except that their TOEFL or SAT scores fall below the required level. All ELB students meet with an academic advisor to select courses which offer key elements to aid in that student’s academic success. Students in the ELB program take both ESOL and regular classes during their first semester or year at USM. Once students have achieved English proficiency they may declare their choice of major.

Am I Eligible to Receive Financial Aid?
ELB students are eligible to apply for federal financial aid as U.S. citizens/permanent residents.

What Happens after Admission to USM via the ELB?
Students will be invited to new student orientation where they will take the English Language Placement Test and meet with an advisor t to register for classes. 

Will I Receive College Credit for ESOL Courses?
Most ESOL courses offer 3.0 academic credits. Two courses (ESL 018 & ESL 016) are developmental-level courses and do not grant college credit towards graduation; the ELB program’s Placement Test and writing sample determines which level of ESOL an ELB student enrolls in. View the ESOL Courses for ELB Program here.

What is the ELB program Progression Standard?
The English Language Bridge program has specific academic requirements that must be followed and successfully completed in order for the student to remain admitted at USM. Therefore, a grade of “C” or better is required for students to progress to the next level of all ESOL courses. After completion of ESL 100C (College Writing), and other requirements outlined in each student's Academic Support Plan, students will have successfully fulfilled the ELB program requirements.

For more information, please contact:
Bart Weyand, Director
Phone: (207) 780-4419
Email: bartw@usm.maine.edu

IELP, University of Southern Maine, P.O. Box 9300, Portland, ME 04014-9300, USA
(207) 780-4419; Fax: (207) 780-4933; usmiep@usm.maine.edu