METU Preparatory School Regulation

 

 

 

ARTICLE 1 – (1) The aim of this document is to regulate the procedures and principles governing the English language education offered to students newly admitted to undergraduate programs whose proficiency in English is not at a level adequate to follow their courses at the University.

 

ARTICLE 2 – (1) These rules and regulations comprise the provisions concerning education in the English Preparatory Program conducted by Middle East Technical University Northern Cyprus Campus School of Foreign Languages.

 

ARTICLE 3 – (1) This document has been drawn up based on the Articles 14 and 49 of the Higher Education Act 2547 dated November 4, 1981.

 

ARTICLE 4 – (1) Wherever the following terms appear in this document, they shall be taken to refer to:

a) Academic Year: Two semesters each of which comprises at least sixteen weeks,

b) IELTS:  International English Language Testing System,

c) EPE: Middle East Technical University School of Foreign Languages English Proficiency Exam,

d) Undergraduate Program: A higher education program consisting of a minimum of eight semesters,

e) RO: Middle East Technical University Northern Cyprus Campus Registrar’s Office,

f) President: The President of Middle East Technical University,

g) President’s Office:  The President’s Office of Middle East Technical University,

h) Senate:  The Senate of Middle East Technical University,

i) Placement Exam: The examination which determines the language levels of students who are to study in the Preparatory Class,

j) METU NCC SFL: Middle East Technical University Northern Cyprus Campus School of Foreign Languages,

k) EPP: Middle East Technical University Northern Cyprus Campus School of Foreign Languages English Preparatory Program

l) TOEFL:  Test of English as a Foreign Language,

m) University:  Middle East Technical University,

n) SFL:  Middle East Technical University School of Foreign Languages,

ifade eder.

 

 

ARTICLE 5 – (1) Of the academic boards constituted for the English Preparatory Program;

a) The SFL Academic Board is composed of the Director of the School of Foreign Languages, the Coordinator of the English Preparatory Program, the Coordinator of the Modern Languages Program, and two instructors who meet the criteria determined by the Campus Rectorate, elected for a three-year term by full time SFL staff. It is chaired by the Director of the School of Foreign Languages.

b) The SFL Board is a board composed of full-time SFL instructors. Chaired by the Director of the School of Foreign Languages, it reviews and makes suggestions on the preparation and implementation of the educational programs of the English Preparatory Program.

 

ARTICLE 6 – (1) The medium of instruction at the University is English. The English proficiency level of students newly admitted to undergraduate programs is assessed at the beginning of each academic year through EPE, which is prepared and administered by SFL. The minimum EPE score for exemption fr om the Preparatory Class for undergraduate students is 59.50 /100. Departmental differences in this score are indicated in the equivalences table set by the University Senate.

(2) The English proficiency of students who are nationals of English-speaking countries, or who have attended institutions of secondary education which nationals of those countries attend at least for the past three years, and graduated fr om those institutions, is evaluated by the SFL Academic Board.

(4) There is no make-up examination for those who do not sit the EPE for any reason.

 

ARTICLE 7 – (1) The level in which students are placed in the English Preparatory Program is determined by either their EPE score, or the score they obtain on the Placement Exam. The provisions concerning the weekly contact hours of levels and transfers between levels are determined by the SFL Board at the beginning of each academic year.

 

ARTICLE 8 – (1) In the English Preparatory Program, the normal duration of education is one academic year and the maximum duration is two academic years.

(2) The periods and dates of activities such as registration, courses, EPE are regulated through the academic calendar.

(3) In the English Preparatory Program, for students who are unsuccessful due to any reason at the end of their first academic year, provisions regarding their education in the second academic year are determined by the SFL Academic Board.

(4) Students who have previously attended but not completed the English Preparatory Program conducted by METU Northern Cyprus Campus School of Foreign Languages, and who have been admitted to the METU NCC undergraduate programs through the ÖSYS exam or overseas quotas, are subject to the regulations that apply to newly registered EPP students.

 

ARTICLE 9 – (1) Semester registrations of EPP students are done in accordance with the dates and manner announced at the official website of METU NCC.

(2) Students who fail to fulfill the announced registration requirements are deemed unregistered and cannot enjoy the rights of registered students.

(3) Students who fail to complete their registration for the concerned semester apply to the Directorate of SFL, by stating and documenting their excuse, latest by the end of the add-drop period of that semester. The registration of students who have fulfilled the required provisions for registration and whose excuse is deemed valid by the SFL Academic Board is renewed by the RO.

(4) Students who become unregistered because they have not completed the registration procedures lose their right to attend the English Preparatory Program.

 

ARTICLE 10 – (1) Attendance to courses is compulsory at the English Preparatory Program.

(2) Students are responsible for attending the courses in their classes in the proportion specified by the SFL Academic Board, which may be minimum 80% of class hours.

(3) Excuses are not accepted except for particular situations that are approved by the SFL Academic Board, or those that are documented through medical reports obtained within the framework of the regulation entitled Middle East Technical University Northern Cyprus Campus Regulation Governing Health Services and Medical Reports.

(4) Students who exceed the absenteeism lim it specified by the SFL Academic Board lose their right to attend the program.

 

ARTICLE 11 – (1) Provisions concerning success and assessment are as follows:

a) The principles concerning success and assessment in the English Preparatory Program, which are determined by the SFL Academic Board, are announced at the beginning of each academic year at the official SFL website.

b) The success of students attending the English Preparatory Program is determined through the score they obtain on EPE. Requirements for eligibility to take EPE are determined by the SFL Academic Board.

c) Provisions concerning registration to Summer School and eligibility to take the Summer School EPE for students who are unsuccessful at the end of one academic year are determined by the SFL Academic Board.

 

ARTICLE 12 – (1) The procedures to be implemented for students who have been unsuccessful due to absenteeism during their first or second year in the English Preparatory Program are as follows:

a) On condition that they satisfy the criteria  determined by the SFL Academic Board before the end of their maximum duration, such students are granted the right to attend the English Proficiency Program, which was put into effect upon Decision No. 2011/4-6 of the METU Senate. They are also granted the right to take the EPE administered at the beginning of the academic year, or submit an equivalent document as approved by the Senate before the end of their maximum duration. Students within this context should apply for the EPE in order to sit the exam.

b) Students who fail to document their English proficiency by the end of their maximum duration are dismissed from the University.

c) Of such students, those who fail to attend the English Proficiency Program lose all their rights as a student such as to register, take exams, etc.

 

ARTICLE 13 – (1) The procedures to be implemented for students who have been unsuccessful due to academic reasons during their first or second year in the English Preparatory Class are as follows:

a) Such students are granted the right to take the EPE administered at the beginning of the academic year, or submit an equivalent document as approved by the Senate before the end of their maximum duration. Students within this context should apply for the EPE in order to sit the exam.

b) Students who fail to document their English proficiency by the end of their maximum duration are dismissed from the University.

c) Students who have been dismissed upon the completion of their maximum duration are granted the right to take the EPE administered at the beginning of the academic year for three consecutive years, or submit an equivalent document as approved by the Senate within the same period. Students within this context should apply for the EPE in order to sit the exam. Students taking these exams cannot enjoy the rights of being a student in any manner. Those who fail to document their proficiency in English within this period lose all their rights.

 

ARTICLE 14 – (1) Students may be granted a leave of absence for only one academic year with the decision of the SFL Academic Board. In compelling circumstances, this period may be extended, each time, for at most one academic year based on the decision of the SFL Academic Board. Students who fail to attain the required level of English language proficiency that is necessary for success in undergraduate level courses may be granted a leave of absence.

(2) Students may obtain a leave of absence based on:

a) obligations related to health

b) obligations related  to military service

c) financial and family related obligations

ç) educational reasons

d) the desire to improve their proficiency in English through their own means

(3) Students who wish to be granted a leave of absence must apply to the Directorate of SFL with a petition stating valid grounds for the request and the necessary documents latest by the end of the add-drop week of the related semester. There is no limitation to making an application if the reason is related to health, family or unexpected circumstances.

(4) The Director of SFL submits the student’s leave of absence request to the SFL Academic Board.

(5) The SFL Academic Board’s decision is sent to the RO, which processes the decision and notifies the student and the concerned academic and administrative units.

(6) The leave period is not included in the duration of education.

(7) Students whose leave periods have ended may renew their registration at the English Preparatory Program for the following academic year, or they may enroll in their undergraduate program on condition that they obtain a valid score on the EPE administered at the beginning of the academic year or on an international language exam whose equivalence has been approved by the Senate.

 

 

ARTICLE 15 – (1) The procedures and principles regarding the implementation of these rules and regulations at the Northern Cyprus Campus School of Foreign Languages are determined by the Senate.

 

 

ARTICLE 16 – (1) EPP students are transferred to Turkish medium institutions within the framework of the provisions specified by the Higher Education Council.

 

ARTICLE 17 – (1) The regulation published in the Official Gazette No. 28457 dated November 4, 2012 entitled Middle East Technical University Academic Rules and Regulations Governing the School of Foreign Languages Department of Basic English Preparatory Class  is no longer valid.

 

ARTICLE 18 – (1) For situations wh ere an applicable provision is non-existent in this document, the provisions in the regulations, directives and other legislation of Middle East Technical University as well as the decisions of the University Senate apply.

 

GEÇİCİ ARTICLE 1 – (1) The maximum duration re-starts as of the 2015-2016 academic year for students who enrolled in the English Preparatory Program in the 2014-2015 academic year or before. Such students have the rights stated in Articles 12  and 13 of this regulation depending on their causes of failure.

 

ARTICLE 19 – (1) This regulation, which is effective from the beginning of the 2015-2016 academic year, was published in the Official Gazette No. 29447 dated August 16, 2015 and came into force as of that date.

 

ARTICLE 20 – (1) The provisions of this regulation are implemented by the Rector of the Middle East Technical University.