Difficulty understanding English

The Language Center is a division of the Office of the Dean of the College in Arts, Sciences and Engineering at the University of Rochester.

The vision of the Language Center is to work with students, faculty, and staff to promote the current 18 languages offered on campus and raise intercultural awareness. The Language Center brings together in one space all languages offered by the several departments on campus, and works closely with the campus community to develop resources that complement and supplement language classes. The Language Center is a welcoming place where all members of the University of Rochester come together and engage in activities, events, and conversations that intent to promote, educate and raise multicultural awareness among the community. We sponsor several events on cultural and language-related topics (e.g., we have the Festival of Food, Film, and Cultures every year, and we are launching a new program entitled One Language, One Recipe).

In addition to classroom and study spaces, the center has a community kitchen that faculty can reserve for classes and special events. The center also has computers with language software, multilingual TV and radio stations, and video recording equipment.

The Writing, Speaking, and Argument Program, in concert with faculty across the college, builds a strong community of undergraduate and graduate writers, speakers, and researchers. Effective communication—including critical thinking, problem-solving, organization of ideas, and clarity, and power of expression—is of enormous importance both in academic and professional settings. Writing, speaking, and argument enables us to discover, develop, test, and share our ideas. Through communication, we see the truth, utility, or beauty of what we know, and make our knowledge have an impact on the world at large.

The Writing, Speaking, and Argument Program leads the effort to familiarize students with key principles and strategies for becoming successful communicators across different modes and contexts. For both undergraduates and graduates, the program fosters a culture of open, honest, and critical communication.

Program areas:

- The primary writing requirement (PWR)
- Undergraduate and graduate courses
- English for Academic Purposes Program (EAPP)
- Tutoring through the Writing and Speaking Center
- Upper-level writing support for faculty and instructors
- Graduate Writing Project (GWP)
- Annual Writing Colloquium Award
- Special writing events (UR Night to Write, Write-a-Thon, Inspiration Project)

ISO provide services to the University’s international students, scholars, employees, and other visitors, as well as the administrators and departments that support them.

ISO provides immigration sponsorship for thousands of international students, hundreds of international scholars and employees, as well as their dependent spouses and children. We also assist other foreign nationals at Rochester who may not require University visa sponsorship to pursue their program or activities here.

Learn more about our services and programming, including:

- Immigration advising
- Cross-cultural counseling
- Student and scholar advocacy
- Educational, cultural, and social programming
- Data reporting

River Campus Satellite Office:
213 Morey Hall, River Campus
University of Rochester
Rochester, NY 14627
USA

Eastman Satellite Office:
Room 506, Main Building
Eastman School of Music
26 Gibbs Street
Rochester, NY 14604
USA