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St. Cloud State University
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Grant assists E.S.L. students
By Christine Hunter
Published:
Monday, September 22, 2003
Money from parents, reimbursement from an employer, or getting a grant from a foundation are some ways students lighten the financial burden of college.
The first semester curriculum for immigrants and refugees grant is a new opportunity for immigrant and refugee students to successfully advance.
SCSU received a grant in October 2002 from the Otto Bremer Foundation for $30,000, which was enough to provide assistance through the spring and fall semesters of 2003.
The grant was allocated to help provide money to English as a second language students (E.S.L). Unlike other grants, it is not distributed to the students or applied to their tuition; it is applied directly to the salaries and benefits of the E.S.L. instructors.
The grant money is also used to assist students with the administration process, registration for classes, financial aid and basic understanding of the school system, such as dropping or withdrawing from a class.
Julie Condon, the coordinator of the E.S.L. said that students can have trouble in class. "The students have fallen through the cracks of the system and later realize that they don't understand the curriculum because English is a second language to them," she said.
With the help and understanding of teachers, students will be more prepared to step into a college classroom. Condon adds that SCSU does not require the student's primary language on the admission application, compared to the University of Minnesota which offers a question indicating the student's primary language. This is one of the reasons why some students do not start as easily as others do.
"(The program is to) get them through the first semester and make a community where they feel safe," Condon said.
She also said that the program also develops and builds better college survival skills.
The grant has helped approximately 56 students succeed in higher education. The grant allows many students of different nationalities to benefit because there are a wide variety of students who speak English as a second language.
Condon said that she works with students from areas including Somalia, Sudan, Russia, Philippines, Sierra Leone, Congo, India, Colombia and Vietnam as well.
This grant, however, will not be offered after the completion of this semester unless Condon, John Grether and Elizabeth Brunsvold find the funds for the program for next year. Condon, Grether and Brunsvold have been focused on finding the funds and recruiting students for the following year.
At the end of this semester, the grant will not be able to employ enough staff to keep the program running. The grant allows E.S.L. classes to be available to those students who qualify for this grant, but without funding for this program there will be no classes to ease E.S.L. students into the college education setting in the spring.
The three dedicated staff members are informing other departments of the conflict so they become aware that this will affect the student body and they are looking for support for their program.
The departments can show their support by referring students to the E.S.L. program. Condon plans to meet with the school board to discuss the topic of funding for the E.S.L. program sometime soon.
If you have any questions regarding this grant or the E.S.L. program, you can contact Julie Condon at her office in Eastman Hall.
"We won't turn anyone away for an interview or for advice," Condon said.
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