Statement of Mission:
The mission of the Language and Culture Center is to provide noncredit instruction in academic English as a Second Language (ESL) and cross cultural communication to international students, foreign-born professionals, and other non-native speakers by means of an intensive English program, several university service courses, and a variety of contract programs. The intensive English program serves international students who want to pursue undergraduate or graduate degrees at the University of Houston or who desire to improve their English to meet personal and/or professional goals. University service courses meet the English language needs of international students already enrolled in University of Houston degree programs. Contract programs are tailored to the specific ESL or English for Special Purposes needs of groups sponsored by international agencies and foundations, foreign governments, foreign educational institutions, and U.S. and foreign corporations. To achieve this mission, the Language and Culture Center has the following goals:
Goal 1:The Language and Culture Center will ensure that all programs are administered with excellence, responsiveness, and integrity. It will
- ensure quality in program administration, program curricula, teaching, and student services;
- maintain compliance with the highest professional standards;
- develop and support collaborative teaching curricula;
- support staff development;
- develop new programs/courses responsive to student need;
- provide and distribute student brochures with full disclosure of program descriptions, costs, and calendars; and
- provide and distribute staff, program assistant, and student handbooks with full disclosure of all policies.
The Language and Culture Center will support the related enrollment and academic priorities of the University of Houston. It will
- serve as a support program for the internationalization of teaching, research, and service at the University of Houston;
- prepare students linguistically and culturally for University of Houston graduate and undergraduate degree programs;
- maintain communication with the offices of International Admissions and International Student and Scholar Services;
- facilitate classroom visits and research by University of Houston professors, graduate students and other professionals; and
- support quality undergraduate teaching through LCC 6034 English for International Teaching Assistants and Faculty.
The Language and Culture Center will maintain an office and classroom environment that is positive, humane, service oriented, and friendly where all participants (staff, program assistants, students, and sponsors) feel welcome and want to return.
