The University of Illinois Act (110 ILCS 305/7c) states, “The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois shall establish a program to assess the oral English language proficiency of all persons providing classroom instruction to students at each campus under the jurisdiction, governance or supervision of the Board, and shall ensure that each person who is not orally proficient in the English language attain such proficiency prior to providing any classroom instruction to students.” At UIS, evaluation procedures for the oral English proficiency requirements are administered by the Provost’s Office. The following information provides guidelines for employment of faculty and academic staff who wish to obtain employment involving teaching at the University of Illinois Springfield. This policy applies to all individuals who supply classroom instruction.

Pre-Employment Evaluation

An assessment of the effectiveness of the use of oral English is made during the process of hiring new faculty and academic staff who will provide classroom instruction by asking those who participate in hiring to assess candidates’ communications skills. This determination can be accomplished in a number of ways; e.g., formal interviews, assessment of candidates by colleagues within the academic unit, teaching demonstrations and/or research presentations. Deans or the equivalent hiring authority must provide an opinion, via the Assessment of Oral English Proficiency form, regarding oral English proficiency of newly-hired instructional staff at every rank (full-time faculty, adjunct faculty, and teaching academic professionals).This form, which will be maintained in the Provost’s Office, should follow approval of hire requests for all instructional staff.

Instructional staff members with questions about this policy should contact the dean of their college (or equivalent).