Immigrant Student Admission

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Assessment

All students interested in admission to Hawkeye Community College are required to take the free ACCUPLACER assessment or equivalent. The ACCUPLACER assessment provides information about your academic skills in reading, writing, and math. This information is used to determine if and what preparatory coursework you will need before full acceptance into your program of study at Hawkeye.

Learn more about the ACCUPLACER assessment, testing locations and hours, and how to schedule your assessment.

If you took the ACCUPLACER and the English for Academic Purposes (EAP) test but did not place in any classes on Main Campus, contact the Hawkeye Adult Learning Center to take a test to see if you can take classes in the English Language Learning program at the Adult Learning Center.

Select a Track

Your assessment scores will help determine which track to choose.

If your assessment scores indicate that you are ready for transfer level courses, you are not required to select either track before enrolling in your program of study coursework, however, the kind of English needed to study and learn in college successfully is different and very formal. You may wish to improve your academic reading, writing, and listening in English skills by enrolling in English for Academic Purposes classes.

English for Academic Purposes Track

The English for Academic Purposes classes will help you to improve your academic reading, writing, and listening in English skills.

Developmental Coursework Track

College preparatory courses will help you improve your academic reading, writing, and math skills. Please keep in mind these classes are designed for students whose first language is English. You may wish to improve your academic reading, writing, and listening in English skills by completing the English for Academic Purposes classes before starting the Developmental Coursework Track.

Once you select a track, you must complete all coursework in the track before enrolling in coursework from another track.

What is English for Academic Purposes?

Academic English is different from everyday spoken English. Everyday spoken English is less formal and may be spoken with improper grammar, for example, when you are talking to your friends.

Academic English is used in school when:

• Reading to help you understand your study materials.
• Writing to complete your assignments.
• Listening to lectures and taking notes.
• Describing an object, situation, process, or how something works.
• Explaining something.

English for Academic Purposes classes will help improve your academic English and get you ready for college level classes. You will be able to practice your writing, listening, and speaking in English skills in a safe space with others that are learning along with you.

English for Academic Purposes (EAP) Test

If English is not your first language and you want to improve your academic reading, writing, and listening in English skills, you should take the free English for Academic Purposes test in addition to the ACCUPLACER assessment. The English for Academic Purposes test will help us determine which English for Academic Purposes course level you should begin with or if you should enroll in the English Language Learning program before beginning the English for Academic Purposes classes.

This paper and pencil test consists of three parts: Reading (70 minutes), Writing (90 minutes), and Listening (30 minutes). You can finish the three tests in one day, or finish one or two tests and come back for the rest on a different day.

Scheduling your English for Academic Purposes Test

To schedule your English for Academic Purposes test, email Yumiko Uchiyama-Hansen or call 319-296-4029.

English for Academic Purposes (EAP) Classes

English for Academic Purposes classes are different because they are designed for students whose first language is not English. Class sizes are kept small so you get more focused, individualized instruction.

Teachers in English for Academic Purposes classes:

• Are trained to help you with questions about English grammar and writing.
• Can help you read academic material, understand academic textbooks, and work with the words you do not know.
• Can answer your questions about the American classroom and culture.
• Are highly qualified to fill in the gaps of your understanding.

Study Skills Lab Course

The English for Academic Purposes study skills lab course, ESL-020, may be required before taking intermediate classes, but can also be taken independently while in your intermediate or advanced level English for Academic Purposes classes.

Intermediate Level Classes

• ESL-005 Reading I
• ESL-011 Writing I
• ESL-014 Listening and Speaking I

Advanced Level Classes

• ESL-084 Reading II
• ESL-083 Writing II
• ESL-081 Listening and Speaking II

Helpful Websites

• Foreign Diploma and Transcript Evaluation
• Ethnic Minorities of Burma Advocacy and Resource Center (EMBARC)
• Waterloo Catholics, Catholic Perspectives on Immigration
• Immigration Advocates, National Immigration Legal Services Directory
• IowaLegalAid.org, Food Stamps and Immigrants
• Federal Student Aid: Eligibility Requirements
• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services: Consideration of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)
• American Friends Service Committee
• United We Dream
• YWCA Latino and Multicultural Services