AZ Hold
The AZ service indicator is placed on a student’s record by the Admissions Office if the student is admitted with an English proficiency score that is slightly lower than the exempt total score (scores below 79 iBT, 6.5 IELTS, 80 MN Battery, 180 CAE C1 Advanced, 59 PTE Academic, 115 Duolingo) or a low writing or reading subscore. Students who have an AZ hold will be required to take an English language course as one of their courses during their first semester. This course will support their ongoing language learning and adjustment to studying in the U.S.
Please note that the University of Minnesota does not use 'super scores' or iBT 'My Best' scores. A student must achieve the overall score and each subscore on the same test administration.
For more information on the AZ hold release process, see the AZ holds webpage.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the AZ hold removal process?
The Minnesota English Language Program (MELP) contacts each student to register and attend a webinar to temporarily release their AZ hold before their first orientation meeting. At this webinar, a MELP advisor will explain the English proficiency admissions policy. After the webinar, the student will:
- Receive via email a course recommendation, where they will choose their preferred course/section. Once they reply with their decision, they will get a permission number to register for the required English as a Second Language (ESL) course, and
- Be given the option to register to take the MN Battery Test to try to meet the English proficiency requirement if they choose
The student will then meet with their program advisor to discuss their required ESL class(es). At this time:
- The student and advisor will decide how to work the required ESL class(es) into the student’s schedule.
- The advisor or student will contact MELP for any additional permission number(s) by calling 612-624-1503 or emailing [email protected].
During their first semester, the student must pass the required English course with a grade of C- or better (or S). At the end of the semester, when they have passed the course, a MELP advisor will release their AZ hold permanently.
What if a graduate program has a TOEFL requirement that is higher than the University minimum?
AZ holds are only placed on records for students who have an English test score below the University minimum or in special cases where the department requests that the student be tested on arrival. If a student scores above the University’s requirement but below the department minimum, the department will decide whether the student should participate in additional English language support.
What if students do not comply with the AZ hold requirement?
If a student drops their required ESL class, both the student and their advisor will receive an email notification that the student is in non-compliance. In this case, the student will be required to submit official English proficiency scores before the AZ hold will be lifted and thus will not be able to register for future terms. See the Graduate Admissions website for a list of accepted English proficiency tests.
Support for Students Who Have Met the Minimum English Requirement
It is important to keep in mind that a test score is an indication of proficiency, but some students with high test scores might still benefit from language support, especially during their first year on campus. While these students are not required to take ESL classes, some may benefit from support in certain aspects of language. It is a natural process for any graduate student to continue to build their language skills while in a graduate program. There are various courses for graduate students wishing to polish their English skills for their discipline and preparing for future careers in their field.
Courses specifically designed for graduate students include:
- ESL 5302: Academic Writing (4 credits)
- ESL 5006: English for Business Interactions (2 credits)
- ESL 5008: Speaking for Professional Settings (2 credits)
- ESL 5009: Advanced Conversation Skills for Professionals (2 credits)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there additional English support for new students?
Student Writing Support offers face-to-face and online writing consultations for all University of Minnesota students, at all stages of the writing process.
There are also online resources for English language development available for students at esl.umn.edu. The website has self-study materials, practice quizzes, tips, videos, and links to provide English language practice with speaking, vocabulary, reading, U.S. culture, and more.
Are there resources for faculty and staff supporting multilingual students?
Yes, see the CCAPS page on supporting multilingual students, with online resources for faculty and staff who work with multilingual students and information on workshops and training.
Teaching Assistants
University of Minnesota policy states that to be employed as a teaching assistant or instructor, students whose home language growing up was not English are required to demonstrate spoken English Language Proficiency (ELP). This language requirement is different from the language requirement for admissions and is only relevant to teaching assistant positions. For more information, see Work Authorization or contact Alyssa Bonnac, ITA Program Coordinator, at [email protected].
