English Language Programs set to close Dec. 31

By Avery Slavin News Editor The English Language Programs (ELP) provided by FSU will be discontinued after Dec. 31, President Nancy Niemi wrote in an email Sept. 22. These programs assist students who speak English as a second language and students studying on visas. ELP extends to the community as well, offering intermediate and advanced courses in writing, pronunciation, and business English, as well as specialized tutoring, according to Framingham State’s website. Niemi stated in the email that the ELP has helped multilingual learners in the MetroWest area learn English for over 30 years. Niemi said when the program started, “There were fewer opportunities to learn English as a second language in the area. Our program was one of the few. It allowed some people the opportunity to learn.” The email, sent to faculty and staff, explained that declining enrollment numbers are the biggest reason the program is closing its doors. Associate Dean of Graduate and Continuing Education Elena Arranz Alonso said the enrollment numbers were “being monitored to ensure we were providing a service that was sizable and had an impact. When enrollment falls to a certain level, we are not having the intended impact on the community.” From 2022 to 2025, the CELP enrollment for evening fall classes declined by 65 percent, and the summer sessions declined by 70.5 percent from 2022 to 2026. Enrollment for the IEP fall and spring sessions declined 57.5 percent between 2024 to 2026. According to Arranz Alonso, ELP offers two options for multilingual learners: the Community English Language Program (CELP) and the Intensive English Program (IEP). The CELP offers English classes on Saturdays and evenings to accommodate work and family obligations. These classes help adults in the community learn and develop communication skills for employment opportunities and everyday situations. The IEP provides English instruction for individuals who would like to strengthen their English speaking for academic, business, and everyday purposes. International students and community members can enhance their reading, writing, listening and speaking skills through these classes, according to Arranz Alonso. Dan Magazu said the programs “had gotten to a point where they were no longer sustainable. There are other organizations within the community that are set up to serve this population at the moment.” Magazu said other running programs in the area can be found at MassBay, Keefe Tech, Salem State University, Clark University, and the cities of Marlborough and Worcester, as well as the Framingham Public Library. “Some of them are free - ours were not. Our best option was to support these other programs and help these students transfer to them to better serve the community,” Magazu added. Arranz Alonso said with the political climate over the last two years, it has been “difficult for the communities these programs serve, and that is probably another reason why we’re seeing such a decline in enrollment.” She said some people “are afraid of participating in life outside of their small communities, so that might have brought down some client enrollment if folks are scared of going into public spaces even if you’ve tried your best to adapt to this and reassure the community, there's folks that will always have that fear.” Arranz Alonso said this closure is not to save the University money, but to be able to support other programs and initiatives that have a more sizable impact. “I was an international student. I’m also the product of a program like the ELP. I completed it elsewhere, but I really see myself in the population. I was an immigrant, too, so I think our main goal right now is to ensure our students find a place to land where they feel comfortable and supported by us,” Arranz Alonso said. Niemi said FSU is “acutely aware of the need for multiple languages to serve our community,” and the school’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion is “rock solid.” “Our DEI commitment is deep and multifaceted in faculty, staff, programs, students, our curriculum, almost every way you can think of in the University. It was just this one particular slice of it wasn’t working for us,” Niemi said. Niemi said, “We can never, as a University community, rest that we’ve got it all figured out. The program was born of a time when the community needed some specific instruction in the English language, so we responded to that. Now that we need less of it in that way, what other ways are we responding as good community partners? Are we responding internally with our program’s curriculum, personnel, and all the ways we think of how we use education as a tool for equity?” Niemi said.