The intensive English program at Arkansas State University currently is in the process of preparing its self-study in association with its desire to obtain accreditation from the Commission on English Language Program Accreditation (CEA). The process of working through all of the CEA criteria for accreditation has engaged actively all of the faculty and the administrative support team and has caused a great developmental opportunity for them as well as significant improvements to the intensive English program at the University. Among other things, a deeper and wider array of data are being collected, analyzed, and used as a foundation for making informed decisions about continuous quality improvement of the program. Careful documentation of all aspects of the program is now ongoing and has helped to keep the efforts focused and to ensure that appropriate follow-up occurs.

Both academic and administrative aspects of the program have undergone careful scrutiny and a number of shortcomings were revealed and corrective actions have been planned carefully and are being implemented. Importantly, this process has brought together faculty and support staff and has united them in a shared desire to work individually and collectively to achieve CEA accreditation for the intensive English program. Clearly, the ultimate beneficiaries of the process and the associated outcomes will be the international students enrolled in the intensive English program at ASU.

G. Daniel Howard, Ph.D.

Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost

Arkansas State University