WWU Intensive English Program Earns Accreditation

Western Washington University’s Intensive English Program (IEP) has earned official accreditation, meaning IEP has been peer-reviewed and meets or exceeds the norms of the field of intensive English language instruction.

The accreditation comes from the Commission on English-language Program Accreditation, which is recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education. CEA is a member of the Association of Specialized & Professional Accreditors.

CEA awarded Western’s IEP a five-year initial accreditation from April 2017 to April 2022. Western’s IEP was the only site to receive a full 5-year accreditation during this cycle of CEA decisions.

IEP is now one of about 300 programs in the world accredited by CEA, the most widely known accrediting agency for English language programs.

Accreditation for intensive English programs isn’t necessary for an IEP covered by a host institution’s accreditation, such as Western, but CEA accreditation has a reputation associated with quality and transparency for students, instructors, staff and the public.

International recruiters and university staff outside the U.S. are familiar with CEA’s reputation and some foreign universities give priority, and more scholarships, to programs with CEA accreditation.

IEP has evolved throughout its time at Western. In 2012, IEP became part of Extended Education and started the process of accreditation. From 2012 to 2015, IEP faculty expanded, as well as IEP curriculum, which was extended from five to six levels. During this period, IEP gained the ability to offer conditional admission to WWU.

In addition to expanding the program, IEP faculty have presented multiple times over the past five years at both state WAESOL and international TESOL conventions in Seattle, Portland, Toronto and Baltimore.

Since 2013, IEP has hosted more than 400 students from 53 countries.

Western’s Language and Culture Programs welcomes learners from around the world through the Asia University America Program (AUAP), Intensive English Program (IEP), customizable education experiences and youth programming.  For more information on Western’s Language and Culture Programs, please visit https://ee.wwu.edu/language-culture-programs or call (360) 650-3308.

Western Washington University is an equal opportunity institution. For disability accommodation, please contact Extended Education, (360) 650-3308 or ExtendedEd@wwu.edu.