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WSU Policies and Procedures

3.09 / English Language Proficiency

Effective
July 1, 1997
Last revised
Jan. 30, 2024

  1. Initiating Authority

    1. Academic Affairs serves as the initiating authority for this policy.

  2. Purpose

    1. In an effort to assure that English Language Proficiency would not become an impediment to education, the Kansas Board of Regents (KBOR) has adopted policies affecting all applicants of whom teaching would be required. KBOR policy defines "faculty" and "teaching" in the following: "Faculty shall include all full-time or part-time personnel having classroom or laboratory instructional responsibilities and/or direct tutorial or advisement contact." Kansas Board of Regents Policy Manual, Chapter II, C.2.b.iii(1)(a).
    2. Wichita State University has adopted the following policies and procedures to comply with Regents requirements in this regard.

  3. Policy

    1. Faculty/Unclassified Professionals

      1. All candidates for a position with instructional duties that fit the preceding definition must have their spoken English assessed prior to employment through interviews with an Assessment Committee. Only a candidate who is part of a formal exchange agreement may be exempted from this requirement. Any exception must be approved by the Provost.
      2. The Assessment Committee (which may be the Search Committee) will be appointed by the department chair or director and will be composed of at least three members: two faculty members and one student. The Assessment Committee will judge the candidate's spoken English by means of an oral interview to be conducted face-to-face or by mediated means and will sign and submit the required form.
      3. Prospective faculty found to be potentially deficient in speaking ability shall be required to achieve a minimum score of twenty-two (22) on the Speaking section of the Test of English as a Foreign Language internet Based Test (TOEFL iBT) or a minimum score of fifty (50) on the Speaking Proficiency English Assessment Kit (SPEAK). The SPEAK is administered by the Intensive English Language Center while the TOEFL can be taken at any ETS-authorized testing center. A candidate is required to submit a TOEFL/SPEAK score consistent with Kansas Board of Regents requirements to be eligible for an appointment without spoken English remediation conditions.
      4. A report detailing the process for interviewing prospective faculty, including the composition of the Assessment Committee and scores from the TOEFL or SPEAK for each new hire will be submitted to KBOR every year.

    2. Graduate Assistants with Teaching Responsibilities

      All prospective graduate teaching assistants shall have their English competency assessed prior to being considered for any employment having classroom or laboratory instructional responsibility and/or direct tutorial responsibilities. The following shall be used to implement this policy:
      1. All prospective graduate teaching assistants must be interviewed by and have their competency in spoken English assessed by no fewer than three University personnel, one of whom shall be a student. An oral interview shall be conducted either face-to-face or by mediated means.
      2. Any prospective graduate teaching assistant whose first language is not English shall be required to achieve a minimum score of twenty-two (22) on the Speaking section of the TOEFL iBT or a minimum score of fifty (50) on the SPEAK or a minimum score of seven (7.0) on the Speaking section of the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) to be eligible for an appointment without spoken English language remediation.
      3. All prospective graduate teaching assistants who do not meet the above requirements shall not be assigned teaching responsibilities nor other tasks requiring direct instructional contact with students.
      4. An exception will be made for courses taught in sign language.
      5. A report detailing the process for interviewing graduate teaching assistants, whose first language is not English, including the composition of the interview team and scores from the TOEFL or SPEAK for each individual hired will be submitted to KBOR every other year.

  4. Applicable Laws And Additional Resources

    1. Kansas Board of Regents Policy Manual, Chapter II, C.2.b.iii
    2. WSU Policy 8.04 / Graduate Assistantships

  5. Revision Dates

    1. February 24, 1998
    2. September 22, 1998
    3. May 4, 2005
    4. July 14, 2012
    5. November 2, 2016
    6. January 30, 2024
About this policy version

New or Existing Policy

This is a change to an existing policy.

Last Revised Date of Policy

November 2, 2016

Initiating Authority

Academic Affairs

Summary of Policy or Policy Change

This policy is being revised to align with KBOR policy regarding minimum score requirements for spoken English competency for faculty and graduate assistants. In addition, minor updates were made to accurately reflect KBOR policy language and to comply with the University's standard policy format.

The following specific changes were made:

  • The minimum score on the speaking section of the Test of English as a Foreign Language internet Based Test (TOEFL iBT) was changed from 23 to 22.
  • Initiating authority was added.
  • The quote from KBOR policy at the beginning of the policy was updated to match the current KBOR language.
  • Minor changes to formatting were updated and a revisions section was added.

Reason or Need for Policy

Policy 3.09 sets forth the English Language Proficiency requirements for the University's faculty and graduate assistants. Since approximately 2012, Policy 3.09 has required a minimum score of 23 on the spoken section of the TOEFL iBT. The KBOR Policy Manual did not include a minimum score for the spoken section of the TOEFL iBT until approximately 2021, and when it was added, KBOR set the minimum at 22. The current revisions to Policy 3.09 were made to align with the minimum score set by KBOR for the spoken section of the TOEFL iBT.

We are moving these limited revisions forward quickly so that the minimum TOEFL score in the Graduate Catalog can be updated in February 2024.

Other Notes for Consideration

Policy 8.04 / Graduate Assistantships will also need to be updated regarding the TOEFL score, but this policy will come at a later date as additional changes are needed.

Date of Policy Request

January 30, 2024

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