From the director's desk . . .

For the past two years, the ELI administration and faculty worked feverishly to prepare for re-accreditation by our international professional organization, CEA (Commission on English Program Accreditation). The process involved a thorough self-study of all aspects of the Institute in light of CEA standards for best practice, an amassing of documentation to verify our claims for having met the standards anda comprehensive site visit by CEA representatives to interview students, faculty and staff; examine records and data; and inspect University and ELI facilities. After holding our collective breath for two months following the site visit, we celebrated with a toast, lifting our glasses of champagne after reading the official letter from the chairperson of CEA, “I am pleased to inform you that the Commission has granted accreditation for 10 years, through August 2016.”

	Director Scott G. Stevens

Although anxiety-inducing, the accreditation process was, in reality, one of affirmation. All of those associated with ELI were given the opportunity to reflect on the qualities of our program that translate into excellence.

The value of accreditation can be explained in just one word: accountability. By inviting CEA to review our program and by initiating our own self-study, we hold our curriculum, faculty, administration, student services, facilities and program structure to the standards of best practice in the profession of English as a second language (ESL). That we have been successful in earning the praise and approval of our profession’s accrediting body stems from our remaining true to what we believe to be our mission as an intensive English program, i.e., keeping ourselves accountable to an ideal of how best to treat and serve our students and each other within the context of the University, our community and the world at large. The CEA reviewers agreed, writing,

The English Language Institute’s mission directs overarching as well as day-to-day operations of the program through its commitment to excellence and renewal. Values of meeting or exceeding students’ expectations and providing support and services are evident in how faculty and staff deal with curricular and student services issues. The mission is displayed and known by all stakeholders—students, faculty and staff and is much more than a document: it has been incorporated extremely well into the everyday life of the ELI.

To remain true to our ideals, ELI teachers, administrators and staff hold each other accountable to meeting the highest standards of teaching and service, striving, as the mission states, to “assume personal responsibility for solving problems, value each other as highly as we do our clients, and support each other in our work.” It has been my distinct honor and privilege over the past 25 years to work beside colleagues who are committed, not simply to individual and professional excellence, but to creating a welcoming community of learning and service within the Institute.

Accountability to our profession, our mission and our fellow ELI teachers and staff means that we are answerable, finally and absolutely, to our students — both current and alumni. We are committed to ensuring that the promises we make to our students on our website and in our brochure are kept. We are determined never to rest on our reputation for excellence, but to earn it each and every day. We are dedicated to that blend of excellence and caring that has, for 12,000 alumni, made ELI their second family and our big stone house a home away from home. And as we celebrate our ten-year accreditation, we raise our glasses to you, our students and alumni, who inspire us to excel.

This newsletter also serves as a kind of toast to an eventful year at the Institute—one full of achievement, memories and milestones. I hope you enjoy reading it. May the year 2007 be one of peace and joy for you and your loved ones.

Sincerely,

Scott G. Stevens