Enrollment almost back to normal in IEP classes
The Intensive English Department will reimburse English as a second language students all of their tuition for IEP classes if they get an undergraduate degree at TCU.
By Jill Meninger
Staff Reporter

Enrollment in the intensive English program has nearly recovered after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks following marketing of a tuition reimbursement program begun this fall.

Kurk Gayle, director of ESL learning, said that last spring, the IEP program was down 23 percent in enrollment and this summer enrollment was down 47 percent. But this fall, enrollment is up 35 percent from this summer, he said. Thirty-one students are enrolled in IEP this fall out of 42 available spots.

Starting this fall, the Intensive English Department will reimburse any English as a second language student 100 percent of their tuition for IEP classes up to two semesters if they get their undergraduate degree at TCU. Gayle said ESL students could get back as much as $6,500 for the IEP classes. He said the chief academic officer approved the plan this summer and it is funded through financial aid.

“We are trying to respond to a post Sept. 11 phenomenon,” Gayle said.

Gayle said because of Sept. 11, more students want to study English outside of the United States because of the difficulty in getting a visa and economic reasons. He said if a student takes IEP classes and gets his or her undergraduate degree at the same school, his or her chances of getting a visa increases greatly.

Sarana Shrestha did not know about the reimbursement deal because it is so new and was just posted on the IEP Web site. Shrestha, who is from Nepal, said the refund motivates her to learn more so she can join TCU. She plans on getting her undergraduate degree here and will begin taking the classes in January.

“I think without English I could not learn anything,” Shrestha said.

Gayle said that in 10 years, out of 859 students that were in the IEP program, 500 of them got a degree at TCU. He said about a third of the students are taking the classes for personal or business reasons. He said now there are 67 percent of ESL students who are getting their undergraduate degree and graduate degrees at TCU.

Gayle said what was in place before the reimbursement deal was a very expensive boot camp to learn English. He said that a student would have a better chance of getting a visa if they are coming to the United States to get a degree, not just to take IEP classes.

“IEP is the gateway into the degree program at TCU,” Gayle said.

Ronald Gahimbare, from Burundi, Africa, said even though he was already planning on getting his degree at TCU, the reimbursement motivates him even more to learn. He is taking the IEP classes and a math course.

Gayle said starting this fall IEP will also buy the ESL student’s books and check them out to the students.