About Reviewers
Who are they?
Reviewers are volunteers who are professionals who are knowledgeable about English language programs and institutions and the field of ESL and language teaching in general. Reviewers have experience with accreditation, self-study, and/or program consulting. Reviewers must meet CEA qualifications in order to apply. They must be
- academically qualified, having earned graduate degrees in disciplines related to language instruction and educational administration, Masters in TESOL or closely related field highly preferred.
- qualified professionals at the post-secondary level who have gained the respect of their peers through their involvement in professional activities.
- experts who have one or more domains of expertise related to program or institution operations and some experience in the self-study process, especially in the areas of program accreditation and/or administration.
- effective communicators who possess demonstrated communication skills, team-building skills, and report-writing skills.
What do they do?
Reviewers are volunteers who perform two essential functions in the CEA accreditation process: They review programs and institutions that voluntarily request peer review; and they provide a written report of the review to the Commission. Reviewers typically function as fact finders for CEA, taking on the roles of observers, verifiers, reporters, and evaluators.
The first task of reviewers is to read the self-study report carefully and thoughtfully and evaluate the narrative and supporting documents against the standards. This evaluation process will guide the onsite observation and verification activities.
During the site visit, reviewers
- observe classes, facilities, equipment, and supplies
- verify the accuracy of statements made in the self-study report (For example, reviewers examine selected documents and interview administrators, staff, and students.)
- report the results of interviews and observations
- evaluate whether the site appears to meet the CEA Standards and report the results of their findings in a final team report
If you are interested in becoming a reviewer, please see Become a Reviewer.
If you have questions about the application and training process or reviewer qualifications, please contact Melissa Van De Wege, Accreditation Review Manager at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
