International students at Lone Star College-CyFair already receive English instruction through an outstanding program, but now the college’s English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Department has also received official national accreditation.
The Commission on English Language Program Accreditation (CEA) Standards for English Language Programs and Institutions granted the LSC-CyFair ESOL program accredited status for five years and will list the program as such on the CEA web site.
“Accreditation benefits international students because they can identify programs and institutions, such as LSC-CyFair, that have met nationally-recognized standards of excellence,” said Dean of Business, Education and Transitional Studies Anne Albarelli. “Confident that the education and training they’re receiving is of high quality, students will more likely have a positive language learning experience that prepares them to meet their academic, professional, or other goals. Accreditation benefits our own ESOL program because our faculty and staff gain from the professional development opportunity provided through the self-study and external peer review.”
More than 2,000 international students are among the more than 51,000 full-time student population in the Lone Star College System as a whole. LSC-CyFair’s 699 international students enrolled this fall represent more than 74 different countries.
“These students contribute to our own academic and social communities by bringing a wealth of diversity and returning to their countries with a better understanding of the United States and its people,” Albarelli said.
In reviewing a program for accreditation, CEA seeks to determine that the mission and educational objectives are being communicated and met; that the program is organized so that its mission and educational objectives are supported by adequate human and fiscal resources; and that there is evidence of sufficient financial stability for the site to carry out its educational objectives.
Specifically, the commission concurred with the site review team that LSC-CyFair’s program exhibits the following strengths:
• The program is an integral part of LSC-CyFair;
• All full-time faculty possess a master’s or higher degree in English, ESOL, linguistics, or a related field;
• The ESOL instructors participate actively on college committees and take advantage of an impressive array of professional development opportunities;
• Faculty, both full-time and adjunct, have a high dedication to the program and its students;
• The ESOL curriculum review process is highly structured and involves faculty on many occasions; and
• The ESOL program has a comprehensive process for all planning standards.
“ This accreditation is possible thanks to the leadership of Professors Dr. Macarena Aguilar and Dr. Carolyn Ho, who coordinated the self-study, and all of our ESOL faculty whose love, passion and dedication for teaching and to their students were so evident to the site reviewers and the CEA commissioners,” said Albarelli.
For information on the Lone Star College System’s ESOL programs, go to LoneStar.edu/ESOL-dept.