History of the AAIEP

In 1986, an ad-hoc group of directors of intensive English programs met in San Antonio concurrently with the National Association of Foreign Student Affairs (NAFSA) convention. This group selected a committee to draft a mission statement and goals for a new association. The following year at the NAFSA convention in Long Beach, the group debated the mission statement and goals, elected pro tem officers, and appointed a bylaws committee.

In 1988 at the NAFSA meeting in Washington, D.C., 65 directors from throughout the country, representing both university-operated and independent intensive English as a second language programs, agreed to charter an official organization. This organization, to be called the American Association of Intensive English Programs, or AAIEP, would be built upon three pillars: 1) to support ethical and professional standards throughout the industry; 2) to advocate for the value of English study in the United States and seek to lower barriers to such study, and; 3) to increase the visibility abroad of member programs.

In 1989, AAIEP sponsored its first student fair and began publishing a newsletter. In 1990, the Association adopted a set of standards for post-secondary intensive English programs. By 1991, AAIEP had become a mature professional organization with a full and ambitious agenda including standards and self-study issues, liaison with overseas advisors, and interaction with other professional organizations.

After September 11th, AAIEP played an important role by providing its members up-to-date information on changes in laws, regulations and policies regarding the admission of international students. The Association kept close contact with the legacy Immigration and Naturalization Service to assist members in implementing a government-mandated student tracking system, called SEVIS. As enrollment at member institutions dropped precipitously with the implementation of security legislation such as the Patriot Act, the Association began to lobby the government in earnest to increase visa issuance in important producing countries and improve access for short-term English language students.

The year 2005 became another turning point for AAIEP when, in a landmark decision, the Association instituted a requirement that all members be accredited by the Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training (ACCET) or the Commission on English Language Program Accreditation (CEA), or be under the governance of a regionally accredited institution (typically a college or university.) All prospective members must now be accredited, as defined above, when they apply to AAIEP.

Over the years since 9/11, AAIEP has continued to advance its advocacy efforts. In 2006, AAIEP engaged a lobbying firm for the first time in its history to address issues of importance to its membership in Congress, with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and with the State Department. AAIEP lobbies for two specific issues:

1. That only accredited language schools be authorized to issue the certificates of eligibility necessary to obtain a student visa, and;


2. That short-term, full-time study in tourist status be permitted under the law.

AAIEP now counts nearly 300 programs as members. Each of these programs is described on this website for the purpose of giving advisors and students accurate information as they consider study in the United States.