We are delighted to announce that the University of Delaware English Language Institute (ELI) has been reaccredited by the Commission for English-Language Program Accreditation (CEA)!
After an exhaustive two-year process involving a detailed self-study and an on-site review of all aspects of the ELI’s operations, student services, curriculum, program planning, etc., the ELI has been granted the renewal of its CEA accreditation.
In addition, the ELI was, once again, granted accreditation for a duration of 10-years–the longest period awarded by the CEA. Being granted accreditation for this long period is an indicator of the ELI’s commitment to meeting CEA’s Standards, as well as the confidence that CEA has about the strength and quality of our curricula, programs, services, academics, and staff.
Specific areas of excellence
“The ELI is an institute with a wealth of strengths.” — CEA Team Report
The feedback from CEA indicated that, overall, the ELI is clearly a center for excellence in the field of Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL). In addition, CEA indicated that the ELI is particularly outstanding in four important areas:
- Curriculum – the quality and variety of programming, courses, lessons, materials, etc. that are made available to help students to improve their English skills in order to achieve their professional, academic, and personal goals;
- Student achievement – the framework put into place for students to achieve their objectives and to measure their success in the program;
- Student services – the quality and clarity of the services provided to students in terms of cultural programming, communications, admissions, academics, accommodations, finances, etc.; and
- Program development, planning, and review – the system put into place to ensure that the ELI is constantly in a state of renewal, always striving to improve the quality of curriculum, programming, and services that we offer to our students.
Why is this important?
Accreditation is most important for IEPs because of its impact on program quality and because of the legal implications that it has on the institution’s ability to accept international students.
Program quality
The accreditation process plays a significant role in ensuring quality in all aspects of the IEP’s curriculum, operations, administration, services, programming, and more. As an institution undergoes the self-study process, it identifies areas for improvement and creates a plan to address them.
After the self-study has been completed and submitted to CEA, it is reviewed closely by experts in the field; in addition, CEA sends its representatives and a team of TESL professionals to conduct an official visit of the site in order to verify the information that was submitted in the self-study.
When the institution participates in the self-study and the accreditation activities in good faith, the natural conclusion of the process is to create a culture of renewal within the institution that ultimately results in higher quality and a better experience for students.
Legal importance of accreditation
Finally, the accreditation process is considered to be so important for IEPs that, on December 14, 2010, the United States government enacted the Accreditation of English Language Training Programs Act, a law that requires all IEPs to be accredited. Without an accreditation by CEA (or one of the other approved accrediting organizations), an IEP will not be permitted to issue I-20 Forms for international students. This means that an unaccredited IEP cannot accept and enroll international students who come to the USA using F-1 visas. In this way, accreditation has a major impact on the IEP’s enrollment and revenue, as well.
Special thanks
The ELI Director, Dr. Scott Stevens, would like to express his gratitude to the faculty and staff of the ELI for their dedication and their efforts throughout this process, as well as to the colleagues in the field who who supported the ELI in this important endeavor. We are thankful to be a part of such an extraordinary team of professionals!
Here’s to another 10 years of leadership and excellence in English teaching!