April 2023 News from CEA

Message from Nick Ferdinandt, 2023 Commission Chair

Greetings on behalf of CEA. I consider myself very privileged to give you this news as 2023 Commission chair.

CEA’s April Commission meeting was held in person in Alexandria, VA near CEA’s office. The Commission accomplished its planned work for the April Commission meeting, including an annual orientation of the full Commission, an accreditation decision-making session, guided discussions around potential changes that may affect sites in 2023, and team-building, in addition to committee meetings and the range of reports and updates that are delivered at every meeting.

Further below you’ll find a summary of CEA’s work, but I want to bring one important pending development to your attention. While the CEA Statement on COVID-19 issued in March of 2020 remains in place, the United States Federal Government has announced plans to lift the emergency declaration regarding the pandemic. As a result, the Commission will revisit the CEA Statement on COVID-19 allowing for temporary operational changes as well as the Section 23 Temporary Policy Adaptations allowing for hybrid site visits, extensions to terms of accreditation and permissions for extended operational hiatus. So, please stay tuned for announcements of how changes to these policies may impact your program or institution.

In keeping with past calls for service and participation with CEA, I encourage you to seriously consider service as a volunteer peer reviewer or as a member of the Commission, CEA’s accreditation decision-making body and nonprofit governing board. In its work, CEA strives to represent the field as a whole. It may surprise you to learn that for either peer reviewer service or Commission service, it is not a requirement to be from a CEA-accredited site. So, we encourage you to pass on this information to other colleagues in the field who have interest or expertise in accreditation or program evaluation. Peer reviewer applications are accepted on an ongoing basis, and the 2023 Call for Nominations to serve as a Commissioner has been posted (see also below). Applications are due July 1, 2023. Not only do both activities provide an opportunity to do valuable and challenging work with highly qualified and experienced colleagues, they also represent specific professional development opportunities in our field. CEA peer reviewers are professionals from the field who serve as the “eyes and ears” of the Commission during site visits. Commissioner qualifications are outlined in the call, and the current call encourages applicants from single-site or multi-site institutions, those with community college experience or those who have jobs which involve at least 50% teaching-related responsibilities. Having served as a peer reviewer and on the Commission myself, I can personally highly recommend it. We invite you to put yourself forward or encourage others to apply to join us in serving the field and helping CEA achieve its mission.

Nick Ferdinandt
2023 Commission Chair

Recent accreditation decisions
The Commission met March 31-April 2, 2023, 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, below I’ve provided information about other Commission actions and matters. 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.

Meeting reminder: 2023 Constituent Council meeting
The 2023 Constituent Council meeting, CEA’s annual business meeting, will be held virtually on Friday, June 9, 12:00 noon – 1:00 PM Eastern Time. The agenda and connection information will be issued no later than 30 days before the meeting as required by the CEA Policies and Procedures. Section 19 Constituent Council Governing Rules, describes the role of each accredited site’s primary contact.

Reminder: 2023 Call for Nominations
The 2023 Call for Nominations (for service January 2024 – December 2026) has been published and disseminated. CEA is seeking three new volunteers for service on the Commission, and applications are due July 1, 2023. The Call for Nominations is available on the CEA website at http://cea-accredit.org/about-cea/governance/the-commission/call-for-nominations-for-the-cea-commission. If you have questions about Commission service or the application process, please feel free to contact me directly.

Guidance remains in place
The CEA Statement on COVID-19 remains in place. All sites are required to notify CEA of any changes to aspects of operations as a result of, or in response to, COVID-19 by sending an email message to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Sites returning to fully in-person courses who have not previously notified CEA should do so. The CEA Policies and Procedures Section 23 Temporary Policy Adaptations allowing for Hybrid Site Visits, Extensions of term of accreditation and Extensions of eligibility remain in place until rescinded or revoked by the Commission.

Please contact staff at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with any questions about this News from CEA.

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.