For Counselors and Admissions Officers

CLIP is open to ESL students who have been admitted to any CUNY college, and have not passed the CUNY ACT tests in reading and/or writing. It is offered on 9 CUNY campuses. (Locations.)

CLIP serves...

• entering freshmen who need to strengthen their English language skills before starting their first college semester
• matriculated students who have been academically dismissed from a four-year college, having failed the same ESL course twice
• matriculated students who are not succeeding in their ESL classes

Upon completion of a maximum of one year of study, CLIP students return to their home campuses for placement into the appropriate college level courses.

CLIP is an excellent option for ESL students who prefer a full-time immersion approach to their English language studies that does not draw upon their financial aid allocation. Students are also referred to CLIP by college Offices of Admissions, Freshman Year Programs, SEEK, and College Discovery. In addition, faculty in ESL and Developmental Skills departments refer students they believe will benefit from the CLIP instructional model.

CLIP is an intensive academic English Language program. Classes meet 25 hours a week (five hours per day, five days per week), in both day and evening sessions.

CLIP is low cost. Students do not use their financial aid while in CLIP. Instead, they pay a small fee and save their financial aid allocation for subsequent college coursework. There are reduced rates for students on public assistance and in SEEK and College Discovery programs, and higher fees for non-residents. (Calendars & Fees.)

CLIP uses a content-based curriculum. Students learn English through studying topics in American history, literature, environmental studies, and others. In this way, students build their knowledge base at the same time as they develop their reading, writing and oral communication skills in English. (Sample course descriptions.)

CLIP classes are offered at all English language skill levels. Students are placed according to an essay exam and an objective test for listening comprehension, reading, vocabulary and grammar. The students' CUNY ACT reading and writing scores are also factors in placement. Students can stay in the program for up to one full year (including a summer term). When they leave the program, students are retested on the CUNY ACT per university guidelines.

CLIP links students to college services such as academic and career counseling and financial aid. CLIP students attend campus events, meet with professors and sit in on classes in their prospective majors, and avail themselves of campus resources such as libraries and gyms. CLIP alumni, now successful college students and graduates, serve as mentors and advisors to current CLIP students. (CLIP students’ comments.)

CLIP is a demanding program. It is suitable only for those students who can participate in a class that meets five hours per day, five days per week (in day or evening sessions). Students must also devote time outside of class for reading and other homework assignments. To be successful in CLIP, students have to balance their work, family and CLIP obligations.

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