CCLS HOUSTON SATISFACTORY PROGRESS POLICY FOR NON-INTENSIVE PROGRAMS
This policy guides the procedures for determining satisfactory progress of CCLS Houston students and ensures it is consistently monitored, assessed, and recorded in alignment with our educational goals.
This policy applies to in-person and IDL students enrolling in non-intensive language programs.
CCLS Houston is committed to student success and satisfaction by providing high-quality instruction and maintaining a learning environment where student progress and attendance are regularly assessed, individual learning needs are identified, and appropriate support is offered to ensure meaningful progress.
PROGRAM LENGTH:
Students enrolled in non-intensive language programs sign up for less than 300 clock hours within each enrollment period.
EVALUATION
Student progress is monitored using both qualitative and quantitative measures, including:
- Class participation, listening and speaking activities, practice exercises, and ongoing instructional feedback, which are not graded but used to support learning.
- Final evaluation, administered at the end of the course, used to determine satisfactory academic progress.
ACADEMIC PROGRESS REQUIREMENTS
ENGLISH FOR EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION, SPANISH INTERNATIONAL, AND BRAZILIAN PORTUGUESE
To maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress, students must:
- Achieve a minimum score of 70% on the final exam, and
- Maintain at least 80% attendance
ACCENT REDUCTION AND TAILORED PROGRAMS
To maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress, students must:
- Deliver a final presentation reflecting skill improvement, evaluated by instructor feedback on student progress (no minimum grade required), and
- Maintain at least 80% attendance
| PROGRAMS AND LEVELS English For Effective Communication 12 levels | Accent Reduction & Conversation 4 sections | Spanish International 9 levels | Brazilian Portuguese 4 levels | Tailored Programs all languages |
| 720 clock hours | 120 clock hours | 540 clock hours | 210 clock hours | Hours vary |
| 60 hours/level | 30 hours/section | 60 hours/level | 60 hours/levels 1-3 30 hours/level 4 | English For Business Professionals 100 clock hours |
| Levels 1-4 (Beginners) Levels 5-8 (Intermediate) Level 9 (Advanced) | Section 1 Section 2 Section 3 Section 4 | Levels 1-3 (Beginners) Levels 4-6 (Intermediate) Level 7 (Advanced) | Levels 1-2 (Beginners) Sections A-B: 30 hr/ section Level 3 (Intermediate) Sections A-B: 30 hr/ section Level 4 (Advanced) 30hr | |
| Advanced Communication Skills Levels 10-12 (Advanced) | Comunicación Avanzada Levels 8-9 (Advanced) | Spanish for Business Professionals 60 clock hours |
COURSE PROGRESSION
- Students progress sequentially through levels by achieving the performance outcomes of each level.
- Students may repeat a level if they do not meet the academic requirements.
- Students with unsatisfactory final exam scores by up to ten points (60%) may request to retake it. If the Academic Coordinator approves the request, a different test will be applied.
- Students who do not meet the minimum attendance requirement but achieve a passing score on the final exam may be promoted to the next level at the discretion of the Academic Coordinator.
- CCLS Houston will administratively withdraw a student who misses 30% of the course hours consecutively (not counting school breaks), unless a Leave of Absence has been requested.
MONITORING PROGRESS AND ATTENDANCE
- Instructors monitor and assess students’ class participation, engagement, skill development, and attendance throughout the course using a standardized class log and attendance sheet.
- Instructors notify the Academic Coordinator if a student is falling behind academically, not attending regularly, or in need of support.
- The Academic Coordinator contacts these students to offer individualized support measures, which are documented in the student’s academic file.
- The President/CEO ensures this policy is applied fairly and consistently across all programs.
RECORDING AND DOCUMENTING STUDENT PROGRESS AND ATTENDANCE
- The Academic Coordinator is responsible for tracking attendance, final evaluation, and documenting student academic files.
- Final exam scores or final presentation performance will be recorded and stored in the student’s academic file.
- The Academic Operations Specialist ensures that records are accurately maintained and accessible for review.
- IDL students taking exams must keep cameras and microphones on throughout the live session to verify identity and ensure integrity.
COMMUNICATION
- This policy is communicated to students in the registration form (at enrollment) and is posted on our website. The grade system is included in each syllabus, which is explained in the first class.
- Instructors and staff communicate with students about progress throughout the course verbally and by email. Written communications and support actions are documented in the student’s academic file when related to academic progress and attendance concerns.
CORPORATE TRAINING PROGRAMS
Corporate students enrolled under business-to-business (B2B) agreements are not subject to this policy. These training programs are customized based on employer requirements, and progress evaluation is conducted in accordance with the terms established in the corporate training agreement.
This policy becomes effective during the second semester of 2025.
This policy is subject to periodic review and may be updated as necessary. Any updates must be approved by the President as specified in CCLS Houston’s Policy for Institutional Policy Development.
Updated 06/24/25