Missouri University of Science and Technology has earned four-year reaccreditation of its Intensive English Program by a national accrediting agency for English language programs and institutions.

Missouri S&T’s Intensive English Program, part of the university’s international and cultural affairs office, received the distinction from the Commission on English Language Program Accreditation (CEA). Founded in 1999, CEA provides accreditation to programs that satisfy 44 individual quality standards in 11 areas that related to U.S. Department of Education requirements for accreditation. The individual standards reflect what is considered best practice in the field of English language teaching and administration.

At its April 2016 meeting, the CEA reviewed Missouri S&T’s application and granted a four-year reaccreditation for the period of April 2016 through April 2020. This ensures that the university can admit international students who need to receive English language instruction prior to taking other courses.

“Our team has worked hard to meet the standards of CEA,” says Roberta Morgan, program director for S&T’s Intensive English Program and president of MIDTESOL (Mid-America Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages). “This recognition is important not just for the university, but it also allows us to advise other universities seeking help on the road to accreditation.”

The CEA standards form the basis for all accreditation requirements. To qualify, universities must be reviewed on the basis of the commission standards. Universities then conduct and submit a self-study report, with prompts for evaluation in each individual standard. Universities are then reviewed during a commission site visit and the decision is based on a university’s compliance with the standards.

The CEA standards can also serve as standards of good practice for English language professionals and organizations interested in program improvement, and to anyone in the initial stages of developing a new English language program or institution.

For more information about the CEA, visit cea-accredit.org.