ELI Mission Statement
The overall mission of the Valdosta State University English Language Institute (ELI), which was established in 2001, is to provide high-quality instruction in English as a second language (ESL) and orientation in U.S. culture to international students who are nonnative speakers of English. Through its array of internal and external programs, the ELI seeks to accomplish the following specific goals:
- To teach English as a second language (ESL) to students enrolled in ELI programs;
- To provide students with the cultural knowledge and awareness which they will need to function satisfactorily, both academically and socially, in the United States;
- To prepare students who are studying ESL for academic purposes with the academic skills and strategies which will help them to be successful in their undergraduate or graduate studies;
- To inform students enrolled in ELI programs about options and opportunities for academic study at Valdosta State University and encourage them to consider applying for admission;
- To recruit international students to the VSU campus for the benefit of providing cross-cultural encounters and international education opportunities for both American and international students;
- To serve as a resource for international education to the faculty, staff, and students of Valdosta State University; and,
- To encourage cross-cultural understanding through student interaction.
