An Institutional History of the First Intensive English Language Program in U.S. Public Higher Education

• In Event: Marriott Roundtable Session 14
  In Roundtable Session: Historicizing Postsecondary Education Policy and Reform

Abstract

Based on present day population growth of international students enrolled in US higher education institutions, as well as the prevalence of language support programs - largely referred to as Intensive English Programs (IEPs), this paper develops a deeper historical understanding of the origins of IEPs touching on both organizational purpose and institutional arrangements. In order to develop an understanding of the rationale behind the creation of these programs this paper takes the form of an early institutional history of the first US IEP at the University of Michigan. Utilizing primary source documents from institutional archives the paper develops rationale and motivations of those in program administration with preliminary findings that reveal benign academic capitalism behaviors and external motivators on institutional arrangements.

Author

• Adam T Clark, Arizona State University