Background on Tertiary Literacy Programs.

Institutions of higher learning all around the world provide some form of support program for their students, both undergraduate and postgraduate, to enhance and/pr aid their academic performance and career development. Locally, each of the Public Institutions of Higher Learning offers an e-learning environment for their students to utilize. Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) manages an e-learning@UTM for all of their students, integrating e-learning into every lecture by allowing lecture notes, course outlines, assignment briefs etc to be downloaded. Students can also upload their assignments, journals and reports through the system and interact actively with their lecturers and friends online. However, UTM is not exclusive in this service, almost every Public Institutions of Higher Learning offer its own brand of e-learning service; UM's Student Portal (UMISISWeb), UniMAS's MORPHEUS, UPM's e-SPRINT, USM's elearn@USM and many more. Besides that, these varsities also provide a number of skill enhancement programs such as English language support programs, foreign language courses, academic advising and counseling, career development, skill development and enhancement and many more. The joint effort of MoHE and UTM to create an online resource platform for learning in English, MyLinE, is a testament of the ministry's efforts to enrich tertiary students' literacy, enhancing their marketability. UniMAS also offers an English language course called, English for Self-Expression which encourages students to use the English language as a creative outlet to express themselves. In this course, they integrated drama, music, improvisational comedy, poetry, etc to synergize language and the art of expression. Besides that, UniMAS also offers intensive language courses for international students. Each of these programs is individually unique and provides many benefits to their students such as enriching their linguistic repertoire, job opportunities, academic knowledge, research and overall literacy. On the international arena, the services provided by the local institutions of higher learning dwarfs the ones being provided by varsities around the world. In the United States, numerous support programs are provided to both undergraduates, postgraduates and even international students, especially in the field of writing. Purdue University's Online Writing Lab (OWL) is one such example. OWL is an online platform created by Purdue to introduce, enrich and enhance their student's academic writing skills. Extensive quality materials are available online it is even available for the public to access. The SSS/TRIO program is offered in almost every US university and is funded by the Department of Education. It aims to help students overcome financial barriers to higher education, TRIO programs help students overcome class, social and cultural barriers to higher education. University of Pennsylvania's international students' support programs are extensive. From intensive language courses to intercultural leadership programs. These programs are designed to promote racial diversity in the campus as well as to develop their skills as a University of Pennsylvania's graduate. Their international students service center is committed to provide the best possible support for international students so they are able to reach their academic and personal development goals while at University of Pennsylvania. University of Pennsylvania also provide numerous workshops to enrich the various skills of their students.

Harvard University adopted a more holistic approach in their support programs. Their 'beyond the classroom' programs are extensive, encompassing and empowering. Harvard students are provided an artistic outlet as they are able to join the various performing arts program provided by the university. They also have a strong sporting community and their community outreach program provides a chance for students to give back to the community (especially international students). Besides that, to promote cultural and racial diversity and understanding, Harvard also organized a number of cultural and ethnic activities. One of the most anticipated event is the Cultural Rhythms Festival, a festival that highlights the talents of Harvard students and offers ethnic foods from around the world. For those who are politically inclined, Harvard University's Institute of Politics seeks to unite and engage students which politicians, academics, policymakers on a non-partisan basis to stimulate and nurture their interest in public service and leadership. Their flagship activity is the John F. Kennedy Forum, an elite arena for political speeches. discussions and debates. Last but not least, Harvard University's co-curricular activities are exhaustive. Extracurricular and co-curricular activities are virtually in abundance in Harvard. They emphasized the value of knowledge beyond the classroom and inter-student relationships. In a nutshell, it has become a goal in every institutions of higher learning to provide their students with the best enhancement programs which will benefit their students. Programs to promote unity, diversity, sportsmanship, arts, research, academics, etc. are part and parcel of tertiary literacy and should be further explored and expanded .

Bibliography
Harvard University. (2001). Harvard College Admissions & About Haravrd: Beyond the Classroom. Retrieved November 30, 2011, from Beyond the Classroom: http://www.admissions.college.harvard.edu/about/beyond/index.html Harvard University. (2009). Harvard College Admissions & About Harvard: Athletics. Retrieved November 30, 2011, from Athlectics: http://www.admissions.college.harvard.edu/about/beyond/athletics.html Harvard University. (2009). Harvard College Admissions & About Harvard: Community Outreach. Retrieved November 30, 2011, from Community Outreach: http://www.admissions.college.harvard.edu/about/beyond/community.html Harvard University. (2009). Harvard College Admissions & About Harvard: Cultural and Ethnic Activities. Retrieved November 30, 2011, from Cultural and Ethnic Activities: http://www.admissions.college.harvard.edu/about/beyond/cultural.html Harvard University. (2009). Harvard College Admissions & About Harvard: Government and Politics. Retrieved November 30, 2011, from Government and Politics: http://www.admissions.college.harvard.edu/about/beyond/politics.html

Harvard University. (2009). Harvard College Admissions & About Harvard: Student Clubs. Retrieved November 30, 2011, from Student Clubs: http://www.admissions.college.harvard.edu/about/beyond/clubs.html Harvard University. (2009). Harvard College Admissions & About Harvard: The Arts. Retrieved November 30, 2011, from The Arts: http://www.admissions.college.harvard.edu/about/beyond/arts.html Purdue Universitty. (2011). Welcome to the Purdue University Online Writing Lab (OWL). Retrieved November 1, 2011, from The Purdue University Online Writing Lab (OWL): http://owl.english.purdue.edu/ U.S. Department of Education. (2011, November 18). TRIO Home Page. Retrieved November 22, 2011, from Federal TRIO Programs: http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/trio/index.html Universiti Malaysia Sarawak. (2011, November 15). Morpheus@UNIMAS. Retrieved November 15, 2011, from Morpheus@UNIMAS: http://odyssey.calm.unimas.my/ Universiti Malaysia Sarawak. (2011, November 2). PBI 1062 English for Self-Expression. Retrieved November 15, 2011, from Center for Language Studies: http://www.cls.unimas.my/course/english/pbi1062-english-for-self-expression.html Universiti Putra Malaysia. (2011, November 15). PUTRA LMS | Refreshing eLearning. Retrieved November 15, 2011, from Putra Learning Management System: http://www.lms.upm.edu.my/i3learn/www/index.php Universiti Sains Malaysia. (2011, November 15). eLearning@USM. Retrieved November 15, 2011, from eLearning@USM: http://elearning.usm.my/ Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. (2011, November 1). e-Learning@UTM. Retrieved November 1, 2011, from e-Learning@UTM: http://elearning.utm.my/ Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. (2011, November 1). MyLinE. Retrieved November 1, 2011, from MyLinE: Online Resources for Learning in English: http://myline.utm.my University of Malaya. (2011, November 15). Web UMISISWEB 2. Retrieved November 15, 2011, from Web UMISISWEB 2: http://umisisweb.um.edu.my/ University of Pennsylvania. (2011, September 6). Intercultural Leadership Program 2011-2012 | International Student and Scholar Services. Retrieved November 26, 2011, from Intercultural Leadership Program 2011-2012: http://www.upenn.edu/oip/isss/ilp University of Pennsylvania. (2011, August 26). International Partners Outreach Group | International Student and Scholar Services. Retrieved November 27, 2011, from International Partners Outreach Group.

University of Pennsylvania. (2010, September 16). ISSS Workshops and Events | International Student and Scholar Services. Retrieved November 24, 2011, from ISSS Workshops and Events: http://www.upenn.edu/oip/isss/events