News from CEA, August 2007

This memo highlights items from the July 2007 meeting of the Commission on English Language Program Accreditation and other information of interest from CEA.

Accreditation decisions
As required by CEA and U.S. Department of Education policy, accreditation decisions must be made public. The following decisions were made at the July 2007 Commission meeting. For a complete list of CEA accredited programs and schools, visit the CEA web site at www.cea-accredit.org.

Granted 10-year accreditation through July 2017
American Language Institute, California State Long Beach
English Language Center, Michigan State University
English Language Institute, University of Alabama

Granted 1-year re-accreditation through July 2008
English Language Center, Drexel University
Intensive English Language Institute, Utah State University

Granted 9-year continued accreditation through July 2016
American English Institute, University of Oregon
Intensive English Program, Hawaii Community College
Intensive English Program, University of Washington
International English Institute, Nashville TN

Granted 4-year continued accreditation through July 2011
Center for English Language Learning, University of North Alabama

Denied re-accreditation
St Giles San Francisco
University Language Institute, Tulsa OK

Denied accreditation
SOLEX Language Academy

Commission projects
Task Force on Review of Foreign Language Programs
CEA accredits both independent English language schools and programs within universities and colleges. When CEA reviews an independent school, any program it offers must be included in the review. Such schools sometimes offer foreign language programs, which must also undergo a self study and review. To guide the school through the self-study, the task force has drafted a new document, Self-study Guide for Foreign Language Programs and Courses, which includes suggestions for how to respond to specific standards that must be addressed by the foreign language program.

TOEFL Grant
Interest in CEA accreditation outside the U.S. continues to grow. The current document CEA Standards for English Language Programs and Institutions was written with a U.S. audience in mind so that the context and discussion of the standards is very US-focused. In late 2006 CEA applied for a received a grant from the TOEFL Board to revise the document to make it more applicable for the review of non-U.S. programs.

In June, with the funds from the grant, CEA brought together six TEFL professionals who were either working outside the U.S. or had extensive international experience. They spent 2 days at the CEA office reviewing the standards document and making suggestion for deletions where there was a direct U.S. reference (reference to DHS for example) and for revisions or additions where clarifications were needed. The new document, Self-study Guide for International Reviewsis currently being reviewed by the Commission for approval.

CEA publicly thanks the TOEFL Board for its on-going support of CEA through the TOEFL grant process.

A great professional development opportunity—call for CEA reviewers
There are currently 56 sites accredited by CEA. An addition, 42 sites are currently in the process of seeking accreditation. These include 16 independent language schools, 22 university or college programs, and 4 international sites. At the same time, 20 sites are in the process of seeking re-accreditation. These numbers indicate that in the next few years CEA will have a need for increased numbers of reviewers. There is a specific need for reviewers with experience working in independent language schools.

CEA reviewers have a great opportunity for professional development and service to the profession. Reviewers serve as the "eyes and ears" of the Commission, as they read self-study reports and carry out on-site reviews, which are usually held Thursday through Sunday afternoons. All expenses are paid. Reviewers are trained in a one and a half day workshop (at the TESOL Convention). CEA schedules site visits three times a year, and reviewers may volunteer for one or more reviews a year.

If you have an advanced degree and have broad experience teaching or administering language programs, you are encouraged to apply. For more information and for an application form, go to the CEA web site and click on "Application forms" on the left side of the home page.

2007 & 2008 Accreditation Workshops
CEA offers regularly scheduled workshops as well as customized workshops at school site. Regularly scheduled workshops are held at the CEA office and at annual TESOL conventions. Customized workshops are offered at the school site. The benefit of this the customized workshop is that all faculty, administrators, and staff can attend in order to be fully informed about the self-study and review process.

The next scheduled 2007 Accreditation Workshop will be at the CEA office in Alexandria VA Friday, October 19, from 3-6 & Saturday, October 20, from 9–3. For 2008, workshops will be held at the TESOL '08 Convention in New York City and at the CEA office. Times to be announced.

To attend or schedule a workshop, a site must submit an eligibility application. For information about CEA or for an eligibility form, go to the CEA web site or contact Kristen Wyckoff, Accreditation Manager at 703.519.2074.