Hello PAIS Members,

Hope you are all doing well and looking forward to the quickly approaching change in the seasons.

We would like to introduce you to the latest edition of the PAIS Newsletter and hope you are ready for an interesting and informative read. We have a variety of topics covered addressing matters that are of great importance to all of us in the field. This issue looks at one university’s journey through the CEA reaccreditation process, and another program’s views on going through appreciative inquiry as an approach to organizational and professional development. Additionally, you can read about the role principals play in the academic success of English learners, and the similarities and differences in program administration of military and civilian language programs. Finally, you’ll be able to learn more about one of our colleagues in program administration in the newsletter’s new “Meet the Member” column.

We hope you are all starting to look forward to the upcoming TESOL 2016 convention in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. PAIS has organized thought-provoking sessions, and we hope to see many of you there. Our academic session, titled “Research and Protecting ESL Students: Honoring Classrooms and Adjudicating Requests,” looks at what issues administrators and faculty must consider when responding to research requests. Experienced administrators and ESL researchers with a range of opinions will discuss types, amount, and impact of research involving ESL students. In addition, we have organized an InterSection with the IEPIS in which panelists will be exploring how to develop and maintain standards in high-pressure IEP environments. We have a number of experts throughout the field who will be sharing their knowledge with all of us.

All the best,

Linda Wesley and Angela Dornbusch

Incoming Co-Chairs

TESOL Program Administration Interest Section