TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- William Merriman, assistant director for internal programs and instructor at The University of Alabama English Language Institute (ELI), has been elected to the Commission on English Language Accreditation (CEA).

“I was very surprised to have been elected to the CEA Commission. It’s a great honor, and I will certainly do my best over the next three years to be worthy of this honor,” Merriman said.

Before moving to Tuscaloosa in the spring of 1988, Merriman along with his wife and son lived in Nepal. Merriman’s experience includes teaching English in a variety of places in Asia, North Africa, the Middle East and Europe.

The CEA is a nonprofit corporation that focuses on the accreditation of English language programs and institutions in the United States. This corporation is recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education as a national accrediting agency. Currently, 46 intensive English programs and/or institutions in the U.S., including UA’s ELI, are accredited by the CEA. The ELI, which provides English language training and cultural orientation to non-native speakers of English, has served international students at UA since 1982.

CEA commissioners serve in governing the CEA and in helping make accreditation decisions. Those selected also serve in representing a broad-based field of teaching English to speakers of other languages. CEA commissioners are elected by the Constituent Council and serve a three-year term.

The English language program as well as the administration, faculty and students all directly benefit from an accrediting corporation such as this. The CEA helps to provide a comprehensive assessment on how effectively the program is meeting its stated mission.

“The Commission is seeking to expand its accrediting role beyond the U.S. to include accreditation of international English language programs and institutions, making this a very exciting time to serve as a CEA commissioner,” Merriman said.