At its meeting in Washington, D.C., this week, the Commission on English Language Program Accreditation granted accreditation to Eastern s ELI along with the intensive English language programs at Georgetown University and the University of South Carolina. This is the first time a national accrediting body has formed for the purpose of accrediting programs which historically prepare non-English speakers to enter American colleges and universities through intensive study of English. Edmund Yarwood, executive director of Eastern s ELI, said this accreditation will have a large impact on overseas recruitment, as students seeking intensive language education will be drawn to sanctioned and accredited programs. Also, it provides prestige within our own country.
International students tend to flock to institutions in large coastal cities.
This accreditation will help our visibility greatly. Brooks said there has been a growing desire in most of the nation s 1,000 intensive English language programs, as well by the federal Immigration and Naturalization Service, to establish criteria for the programs and to provide accreditation when those criteria are met. This week s meeting of the Commission on English Language Program Accreditation is the first in which accreditation is being granted to any of the nation s English language programs. We are among the first Brooks said, because we have an excellent program, and we are very pleased that it is being recognized internationally. Eastern s ELI has been providing intensive language instruction for 20 years, serving approximately 100 students each quarter.