Home In the Halls of Academe?

Intensive English Programs function as part of different academic departments depending on the individual institution. Debra Daise asked a number of program directors about their "homes" and what they thought about their departments.

I asked about academic homes for IEPs: I got 19 responses from 18 programs. Here are the 18 "homes" and some additional comments on disadvantages and advantages of being a part of a department.
International Programs /Education 6
English Department 4
Communication 3
Linguistics 2
Foreign Language 1
Department of ESL 1
College of Arts and Sciences 1

Major Concerns:

• Becoming a graduate student support mechanism
  
• Hiring
  
• Being "second class" members of a department
  
• Being a "cash cow"
  
• Not having a supportive relationship from chair & dean
  
• Department's not knowing how to interact with IEP
  
• Non-ESL people's "telling us what to do"
  Benefits:
  
• Collaborating with colleagues /other faculty
  
• Influencing language instruction for all students
  
• Maintaining role as important contributor to the University
  
• Getting help from the department
  
• Making better links with other programs
  
• Being recognized as faculty, with the same rights and responsibilities.

Debra Daise, International English Center, University of Colorado, Boulder.