Message from Ian Collins, 2022 Commission Chair
As we reach the end of 2022, and having completed the last Commission meeting of the year this month, I’m pleased to report on the work of the Commission throughout the past 12 months.

Of particular note, CEA appeared before NACIQI (the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity) in February and was recommended for five years’ continued recognition by the US Secretary of Education. Additionally, based on work throughout the past two years, CEA updated and published various foundational documents, including the CEA Policies and Procedures and CEA Standards for English Language Programs and Institutions during the Spring. For the first time, CEA also organized a webinar to provide information on the changes for members of the Constituent Council. You may also like to note that, while the Section 23 Temporary Policy Adaptations adopted in response to the COVID-19 pandemic currently remain in place, CEA is aware that throughout 2022, there have been fewer hybrid site visits, fewer requests for extensions, and more sites leaving extended hiatus status and returning to operational status. These policies will be closely monitored over the next few months and any changes to these, or any other policies, will be published in advance of implementation of those changes to ensure that you have sufficient time to come into compliance. Finally, CEA has also been encouraged by the number of new initial accreditations and applications, which is testament to the resilience of the field in very difficult times.

As I reach the end of my term as Chair of the Commission, I would like to thank my Commission colleagues for their commitment to serving CEA, both in making accreditation decisions and in overseeing the work of the agency. I would also like to extend my heartfelt thanks to the committed and talented CEA staff, specialized contractors, and the cadre of volunteer peer reviewers who have all stepped up to complete in-person and hybrid site visits throughout 2022. CEA’s ability to continue to act as a high-functioning accreditor rests entirely on the work of these dedicated individuals.

On a personal note, I am also very grateful to have had the opportunity to work closely this year with CEA’s executive director, Heidi Vellenga. Heidi’s enthusiasm, deep knowledge, and nimble approach to anything thrown at her epitomizes what makes CEA so successful. Under such great leadership and with strong support from the staff, specialized contractors, volunteers, and the Constituent Council members, I’m confident that CEA will continue to promote excellence in the field of English language education.

I have been truly honored to lead the Commission this year and very happy to be continuing to serve for one further year on the Commission. I have been truly humbled by the experience and am looking forward to serving my final year under of the leadership of Nick Ferdinandt, 2023 Commission Chair. Having been involved with CEA as a self-study coordinator, peer reviewer and commissioner, I cannot put into words how much the experience has enriched my professional life. I strongly encourage all interested ESL faculty and administrators to stay engaged with CEA and consider applying to serve either as a peer reviewer or on the Commission. Not only is it one of the most rewarding professional development opportunities available, it will also help ensure that the field continues to be well-served by CEA.

I wish you all a very happy festive season and a prosperous new year.

Ian Collins
2022 Commission Chair

Commission activities

Recent accreditation decisions

The Commission met December 2-4, 2022 to make accreditation decisions and conduct other CEA business. Accreditation decisions are announced on the CEA website under “Recent Decisions” within 30 days of each meeting. In addition, information about other Commission activities is provided below.

Please contact Heidi Vellenga, CEA’s Executive Director at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with any questions you may have about the Commission actions, announcements and activities described below.

New Commissioners elected for 2023
We welcome four new commissioners to serve 2023-2025 terms: Trischa Duke, Anna Modzelewska, Didem Mutçalıoğlu, and Lisa Taglang. Elected commissioners are identified by the CEA Nominating Committee, which is charged with ensuring that the Commission profile maintains a balance of domains of expertise, types of experiences, and range of perspectives, as well as a mix of administrators and academics/educators/practitioners, from year to year. The Nominating Committee conducts a detailed process of soliciting applications, interviewing candidates and references, and determining the slate each year, which the Constituent Council then votes on each year. This year, CEA had the highest number of Constituent Council votes. Election results and appointments are formally ratified by the Commission in December. The 2023 Call for Nominations for commissioner applicants to serve three-year terms from 2024-2026 will be published March 1, 2023. 

2022 Officers
CEA’s officers are elected from among current Commission members. The Commission has elected Anna Modzelewska as 2023 chair-elect (and to subsequently serve as 2024 chair), and Mark Algren as 2023 treasurer. They will join Nick Ferdinandt, 2023 chair, and Heidi Vellenga, CEA’s Executive Director who serves as secretary, to comprise CEA’s 2023 Executive Committee. 

Reminders

Annual Report notices for 2023 were distributed to accredited sites in early December 2022, with a due date of February 15, 2023. Each accredited program or institution must submit an annual report in each year of accredited status. The annual report must be submitted through the CEA Annual Report Portal. For more information about the portal or how to file an annual report, see the CEA Resources page.

Post-Accreditation Workshop
New to CEA? New to your role? If you would like to learn more about accreditation requirements and maintaining accreditation, please consider attending CEA’s Post-Accreditation Webinar on January 10, 2023 at 2:00pm Eastern. Designed primarily for newly-accredited programs and institutions, this webinar provides an overview of the requirements presented in the accreditation decision letter and discusses requirements for maintaining accreditation. To attend, please email Emily Vandermade, Accreditation Coordinator at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

2023 Annual Constituent Council Meeting
CEA holds an annual business meeting in keeping with CEA policies and its status as a Virginia corporation. The meeting, which is delivered virtually, will be held on Friday, June 9, 2023 from 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm Eastern time.  Members of the Constituent Council, comprised of CEA’s accredited sites, will receive formal notice of meeting matters 60 days prior, along with specific instructions for joining the meeting.  Questions about the meeting should be directed to Heidi Vellenga, CEA’s Executive Director, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 

In-person Accreditation Workshop
CEA will deliver its first in-person accreditation workshop in three years in conjunction with the TESOL International Convention in Portland, Oregon on Monday and Tuesday March 20-21, 2023. CEA invites eligible programs and institutions to send one or more representatives to this mandatory workshop, which is also available to individuals from accredited programs and institutions for professional development. For more information about the workshop, or to register, please contact Rachel Herman, Accreditation Process and Technology Manager at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Reviewer Training and Recognition Event
CEA is able to carry out its mission thanks to the work of its trained peer reviewers, who come from the professional community, not only CEA-accredited schools. On Tuesday, March 21, 2023, staff will deliver an in-person Advanced Reviewer Training session in conjunction with the TESOL International Convention in Portland, Oregon. This optional training will be followed by a reviewer recognition event. If you are a member of CEA’s current active reviewer pool, you will receive additional information about this in-person Advanced Reviewer Training and Reviewer Recognition Event from Melissa Van De Wege, Accreditation Review Manager. In 2023, CEA will debut additional on-demand reviewer training modules to reinforce and refresh current reviewer knowledge and skills. Also in 2023, CEA will be training new peer reviewers in two virtual workshops planned in April and October 2023. CEA accepts new reviewer applications on an ongoing basis. For more information about becoming a reviewer, see the CEA website at Become a Reviewer.

CEA Logo and Accreditation Announcement
As the new year approaches, this is a good time to check your website and promotional materials for proper use of the CEA Logo, accreditation announcement, and required postings. All sites are required to publicly post the CEA Standards and Filing a complaint , along with the document “Filing a Complaint Against an Accredited Program”. Electronic posting is acceptable using links to specific webpages. Consult the CEA Resources page for more information about the logo and accreditation announcement requirements.