Graduate Cohort program

One of the most unique aspects of the Graduate Conditional Admissions Program (Graduate CAP) is the Cohort program.

What is a cohort?

A “cohort” is a small number of students–in this case, usually 6-10 students–who are placed in a group together. These students will participate in the Cohort program together, building the academic, social, leadership and cultural skills necessary to be successful in an American university.

In Graduate CAP, the Cohort curriculum is adapted so that it meets the advanced needs of a student who plans to pursue a master’s or doctoral degree in the U.S.

Purpose of Cohort

The purpose of the Cohort is:

• To help students to develop strong bonds of trust among fellow cohort members
• To provide a more seamless transition to full-time university life
• To ensure that the linguistic, academic, and cross-cultural skills that are developed at the ELI will continue to be used by the students throughout their entire academic career

Who is part of Cohort?

• Students who have obtained a conditional admission to the University of Delaware or to any of our partner universities or colleges at graduate level;
• Students who have applied for conditional admission to the University of Delaware or to any of our partner universities or colleges at the graduate level; and
• Students who plan to attend university after completing their ESL coursework (optional).

Faculty Advisors & University Student Mentors

Each cohort is assigned a faculty advisor and a student mentor. They assist the students with developing the knowledge and characteristics that are necessary for university success–beyond language skills–such as:

• Developing an attitude that values the learning process as much as the learning product (grades, diploma)
• Building meaningful cross-cultural relationships
• Understanding the University’s institutional culture
• Using the University’s resources creatively and effectively
• Learning different facets of being a leader
• Developing a passion for volunteerism through service learning activities

Mentors help students with learning beyond the classroom environment. They will lead students through a series of progressively challenging academic, social, and service activities that increasingly immerse the students into all dimensions of university life.

For example, cohort members and their American mentor will join clubs, do community service, and discuss the content of interesting books together. They will develop close relationships that will become an important part of the Graduate CAP students’ educational experience.

Cohort Retreat

Developing strong bonds between members of each cohort is of critical importance for this program.

In order to help the students to begin that process, we organize an initial weekend getaway (i.e.,a retreat) during the students’ first session of study. This retreat will focus on team-building activities, helping the members of the cohort to get to know each other and to learn to support and encourage one another.

CAP Connect Course

Students will spend several hours each week working on a series of progressively challenging academic, social, and service tasks that increasingly immerse the students into all dimensions of university life.

These courses are given in collaboration with other departments at the University of Delaware (e.g., Admissions, Residence Life and Housing, the Center for Counseling and Student Development, Office for International Students and Scholars, Academic Enrichment, etc.).

Focus on personal, academic & team development

Each cohort will focus on activities for self-development, academic development, and team development. The students will undertake tasks that will:

• Require more intensive, extensive, and sustained reading with the outcome of greater student ability to analyze and synthesize information both in written and oral forms with active discussion involvement;
• Develop their awareness of self, abilities, interests, future goals and possible pathways;
• Develop their leadership and conflict management skills while experiencing cooperative learning and living with others;
• Create active, purposeful connections with the members of the university community, academic services, advisors, and professors;
• Create ELI partnerships across the campus and larger community of Newark and Delaware.

The focus of Cohort is to help the students with three different types of development: self-development, academic development, and team development. To that end, the program unfolds in phases:

• Phase 1: Upon arrival, as students enter beginner or intermediate levels of study at the ELI
• Phase 2: As students enter advanced levels of study

Phase 1

Students enter Phase 1 when they arrive at the ELI and enter the beginner or intermediate levels of study (Level 1 through Level 4). They will focus on developing the skills such as those below during approximately two hours, three days per week.

Phase 2

Students enter Phase 2 as they enter the advanced levels of study at the ELI (Levels 5 and 6). They will focus on developing the skills such as those below during approximately 1-2 hours, 3 days per week.