At the start of this semester, we were informed that Furman University dismissed the only English as a second language (ESL) specialist, Dr. Betsy Craig, who had been working in the Center of Academic Success (CAS) for more than three years. Dr. Craig had professional training in ESL education and helped ESL students at Furman tremendously with their writing and academic skills.

This dismissal disappointed the international student community at Furman because it would eliminate the already limited resources set aside for ESL students, in addition to impeding their academic growth and potential. Under the request of students and multiple faculty, some big discussions involving several important figures at Furman have been scheduled. Now, after six weeks of advocacy to bring back ESL support, there is no affirmative answer as to whether or not, or when the university will hire another ESL specialist. 

The ESL writing specialist was a helpful resource open to ALL students, not only ESL students, but ESL students need it the most. Many ESL students are facing challenges with their academics: spending at least twice as much time doing readings compared to native English speakers, devoting time and energy writing down and remembering every sentence they plan to say to prepare for presentations, struggling to clarify and express their ideas when writing countless papers, etc. If you are not an ESL student, you can recall your experience learning and practicing a foreign language or studying away in a foreign country. That struggle is what ESL students have to face and overcome every day. There is no end to the struggle of applying a foreign language, like the way you can get out of that fifty-minute language class.

Meanwhile, The Center for Academic Success’s (CAS) webpage still writes:

 “The mission of The Center for Academic Success at Furman University is to support ALL students in achieving their academic potential and goals through individual and campus-wide initiatives that foster self-regulation and self-advocacy in academic and personal growth.” 

With the resource of ESL support being deprived, we no longer feel the CAS supports all Furman students, especially those who urgently need the support. It directly opposes CAS’s mission statement and Furman University’s commitment to diversity and inclusion. 

There is no writing specialist at the CAS right now, not of any kind. The only resource is student writing consultants working at the Writing and Media lab, who can provide some assistance in writing. However, their training mainly focuses on the aspects of consulting and content-based brainstorming rather than explaining grammar, sentence structure, punctuation, and other non-intuitive questions that only ESL students would ask.

ESL specialists are specifically trained to work with and help non-native English speakers. For ESL students immersed in an English environment for the very first time, it is challenging to adapt to a new culture and thrive in the rigorous academic environment at Furman without any ESL support.

Note that compared to other 30 similar liberal art colleges, which ranked No.25 to No.55 on “U.S. News Best Liberal Art College Ranking”, Furman University (ranked No.46) is one of the only two colleges that have no available ESL resource.

As international students, we regard Furman as our second home away from home. Having ESL resource would help us integrate into the Furman community, and not having this resource puts us at a disadvantage for our academic and social life. The purpose of initiating this petition is not to accuse anyone or any organization, but to suggest a solution to a brighter future for Furman, where all students, faculty, and staff would feel welcomed being here, where inclusion, justice and equity are put into practice. 

Henceforth, we petition the Center for Academic Success at Furman University to supplement its ESL resource, specifically through hiring an ESL writing specialist. Considering there are only 50ish international students, which consists less than 2% of the whole Furman population, we need your support to amplify our voice. 

Please support our petition by signing. Thank you for your time.