Dear HEIS Members,

Welcome to HEIS, new and continuing members. Our interest section is growing! Our membership totals over 2,500 members. In this letter I briefly cover the events of the 2012 TESOL International Convention and English Language Expo in Philadelphia as well as update you on new developments in our interest section.

TESOL 2012

HEIS was well represented at TESOL in Philadelphia. In addition to member presentations, we had an informative Academic Session about strengths, weaknesses, and strategies nonnative English-speaking teachers and students can use to be successful in higher education institutions. We also had two well-attended InterSections. The first was on awarding academic credit to ESL programs in higher education arenas with the Program Administration IS and NNESTIS. The second was on the role higher education institutions play in socially responsible ways during times of crisis such as natural disasters and social change with the Social Responsibility IS and NNESTIS.

We also had the annual HEIS business meeting and time in the TESOL Information Booth. Our open business meeting included a dynamic discussion of current issues and initiatives followed by a dinner at Sampan, a fabulous Asian fusion restaurant in midtown in Philadelphia. Thanks, Debbie―that was a great pick! The minutes of the HEIS open meeting are available on the HEIS section of the TESOL Web site. Thanks to all of the HEIS members and volunteers who attended these events and helped make TESOL 2012 a success. Please visit the HEIS Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/tesol.heis.

HEIS ELECTIONS SCHEDULED FOR FALL 2012

The HEIS elections will take place in fall 2012, a continuation of the new election schedule instituted in 2009. This will allow newly elected officers more time to plan for the convention and secure convention funding. Look for a call for nominations on the HEIS e-list. Those of you who don’t participate in the e-list will also receive an e-mail with information.

A big round of applause and a hearty thank you to Debbie East, who served as chair for the past year and organized a great set of convention presentations. Special appreciation goes to Heather Robertson, who is a past past-chair and has been very active in supporting HEIS in TESOL 2012. Please keep supporting HEIS. Our e-list usually is one of the most active in TESOL. Christina Quartararo, currently serving as Member at Large, has been instrumental in developing e-communication through Twitter and Facebook. I would also like to thank the other HEIS steering committee/board members, who have been essential to the smooth running and development of HEIS. Veteran board members have mentored incoming officers and provided expertise and continuity in our leadership.

HEIS PROPOSAL REVIEWER VOLUNTEERS

We are very grateful to the people who volunteered to read convention proposals for TESOL 2012. Every year just after the annual convention, TESOL members and ISs gear up to submit and review proposals for the following annual convention. It is the responsibility of every IS to review the proposals submitted to their particular IS. This year’s proposal review process is different than the previous year. I am hoping this process moves smoothly as well. TESOL received 215 proposals from HEIS for 2013. Because HEIS represents both community college and university members, I encourage more university and community college members to submit proposals to future conventions. I would also like to thank everyone who completed the reviewer training and reviewed proposals for taking time from their schedules to serve the IS in this way.

I’m looking forward to working with you over the coming year and to seeing you at TESOL 2013 in Dallas.

I am teaching summer session and preparing the Summer Institute for the $2 million, five-year National Professional Development grant I have received from the Office of English Language Acquisition (OELA). Its main objectives are to have pre- and inservice teachers prepared for English language learners in their classrooms. The grant provides professional development workshops and funds for TESOL course tuition for instructors to add the state-certified ESOL endorsement. The Quality Teachers for English Learners (QTEL) grant webpage includes various useful resources.

Have a great summer and see you all soon.

Kim Song is associate professor in TESOL at the University of Missouri St. Louis and a principal investigator for a $2 million National Professional Program grant sponsored by the Office of English Language Acquisition. Her research interests include instructional teaching models for the English language learner, cultural and linguistic intelligence of content teachers, teachers’ attitude toward English language learners, nonnative English speakers teaching in the United States, coteaching and cognitive coaching, and dual-language immersion. She has coauthored a book and published more than 25 journal articles and book chapters.