Individual Support Plans for English Language Learner (ELL)

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Individual Support Plans for English Language Learner (ELL) students are plans to help students whose first language is not English.

Purpose

Individual Support Plans help students from non-English-speaking backgrounds as they begin their time at Bryan College of Health Sciences. These plans are:

  1. Individual: Each student’s plan is based on their unique needs. A Support Plan may consider the student’s level of English, any disability-related accommodations, and course or program requirements.
  2. Temporary: Students will take professional exams after graduating, and those exams do not offer support for ELL students. Because of this, the Support Plan will lessen over time to help students prepare.
  3. Positive: Speaking more than one language is a strength that helps students engage with a diverse, multicultural society.

Procedure

These are the steps to ask for an Individual Support Plan:

  1. The student meets with the Director of Academic Support Services to talk about how an Individual Support Plan can help them be successful. The student may also need to fill out a Request Form.
  2. The Director of Academic Support Services will work with the student to create an Individual Support Plan. The plan will explain:
    • The support needed. Some examples of possible supports are: extended exam time; private or semi-private exams; the use of a bilingual dictionary; closed captioning of videos; early access to class materials. If a dictionary is a part of the Support Plan, Academic Support Services will buy one and store it in the locked Testing Center cupboard between exams.
    • The plan and timeline for preparing the student for graduation and licensure exams.
  3. The Director of Academic Support Services may talk with professors, Deans, and others to make sure the plan is fair and reasonable.
  4. The Director of Academic Support Services will share the Support Plan with the student’s advisor and professors each semester.
  5. The student will need to renew the Support Plan each semester. This may involve meeting with the Director of Academic Support Services, filling out a new Request Form, and/or other steps sent to the student’s College email.
  6. The student should let the Director of Academic Support Services if the Support Plan is not meeting their needs.