spanish-american institute

215 West 43 Street  ●  NYC, NY 10036  ●  212.840.7111  ●  fax: 212.719.5922  ●  www.sai2000.org  ●  info@sai2000.org   http://www.facebook.com/studentclub

 

 

To:       All Faculty and Staff - «FirstNAME» «LastNAME»

From:   Dante V. Ferraro, President

            Caryn T. Davis, Dean of Academic Affairs

RE:       Starting Week

·        Monday and Tuesday Focus Is:                  On-going Student Orientation and

·        Wednesday through Friday Focus Is:          MyLab Pre-Test Procedures

Date:    August 12, 2013

By:       Hand and E-mail

 

As discussed at recent faculty meetings and in memos and during one-on-one conversations we are asking all faculty and staff to focus on Starting Week Student Orientation on Monday and Tuesday and to focus on MyLab Pre-Test Procedures for the ESL-Plus Course of Study on Starting Week Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

 

New Student Orientation - Starting Week Monday and Tuesday Focus

Take a moment to review information on the school website:

"Ongoing Student Orientation" at http://www.sai2000.org/Handbooks/OrientationTOC.html

Foreign-student orientation activities at Spanish-American Institute are ongoing and comprehensive.   

These activities are initiated by the Faculty Student-Services Associates

  • at the time of pre-enrollment orientation,
  • at enrollment,
  • on starting day,
  • at the time of level and subject selection and change
  • during attendance counseling
  • during satisfactory progress conferencing
  • as part of visa status change, school transfer-in and transfer-out counseling
  • other immigration regulation and procedures
  • health and safety issues
  • surrounding culture and community

 

Faculty members and the administration reinforce and support these activities as described in this summary and in materials distributed to all faculty, made available on the Institute resource center, student lounge, chair offices, student lounge and on the Institute website.

"A Faculty Student-Services Associate's & Faculty On-Going Monthly Orientation Planner:  The Foreign Student's Guide to the Surrounding New York City Culture and Community" located at:

http://www.sai2000.org/Handbooks/StudentClubMonthlyOrientationGuidetoNYC.html.

The "Guide to Ongoing Student Orientation Procedures has also been distributed to all faculty and staff, has been place in the areas around the Institute listed above and posted tot he Institute website at:

http://www.sai2000.org/Handbooks/OngoingStudentOrientationGuide2012-2013.html

The focus is on creating a positive experience for its students.   This experience systematically introduces  students to school and extracurricular experiences which provide opportunities to meet and interact with other students, faculty, and staff and surrounding community and culture.  During the Institute’s ongoing orientation, students become involved in the scholastic, cultural, and social climate of our school and community.

After Starting Classes - Initial Period

Once a student is enrolled at the Institute and begins classes, the Faculty Student-Services Associates and the Faculty ensures there is a seamless transition for students to become comfortable with their classes.  The Faculty Student-Services Associates continue to mentor the students, and the Faculty begins their mentoring role during this initial period

Start Day

Students are asked to arrive 60 to 90 minutes before their classes begin. 

  • This gives a Faculty Student-Services Associates time to meet each student, review their schedule and give a brief tour to make sure they are familiar with the layout of the school.  The students are then escorted to their first class.
  • Teachers welcome their new students to their class.  Introductions are made and their names are added to the class rosters.  An ice-breaker exercise might be used to demonstrate that students are encouraged to share their experiences and participate in class. Teaches will review the required books and materials for their class, making sure students have purchased or will purchase the correct books.  

·        The importance of MyEnglishLab is emphasized.  Once students register they have access to many valuable tools, including additional exercises, all downloadable CDs, and the Listening and Speaking Exit Exam that must be passed in order to transition to the next level of English.  During the first week teachers will give students time during class to register for MyEnglishLab. 

Start Day plus Seven

One week after Start Day, all students who started the previous week will be contacted.  The Dean of Administrative Services will distribute a printout to the Faculty Student –Services Associates.  They will be assigned a number of students to contact.  Each student will be asked about their previous week’s experience at the Institute, and if they have any questions or concerns that they might like to discuss. If the Faculty Student-Services Associate can resolve the concern or answer the question, they will.  If not, they promise to find an answer and get back to the student within a day.  The Faculty Student-Services Associate will encourage the student to meet periodically to ensure a continued positive learning and social environment at the Institute. 

New Student MyLab Pre-Tests - Starting Week Wednesday to Friday Focus

Faculty should work together to assure that new students who have not yet taken the MyLab Pre-Test are referred for pre-testing in their level of CELSA placement.  Test proctors and technical assistants are available in the Room 20  "Testing and Assessment Center" from 9:15 am to 9:14 pm daily.