Press Release: CIT News: January 2008
Raising the Bar: NCIEC Support for IEPs Pursuing CCIE Accreditation
By the National Consortium of Interpreter Education Centers
The six Centers of the National Consortium of Interpreter Education Centers are actively engaged in improving the quality of interpreting education across the nation. Ensuring quality interpreting education is highlighted in four of the six NCIEC goals. As part of its mission to promote effective practices, the NCIEC encourages interpreting education programs to become accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Interpreter Education (CCIE). The National Consortium, through its National Interpreter Education Center and five Regional Interpreter Education Centers, will offer funding support to those courageous and enterprising programs engaging in the process of self-study toward accreditation.

The accreditation process consists of four steps: (1) A directed self-study measuring the program's success in achieving its mission, (2) submission of a self-study report to CCIE for review, (3) an on-site evaluation by trained personnel, and (4) a judgment by the CCIE that the program is or is not in compliance with the National Interpreter Education Standards. The Commission on Collegiate Interpreter Education (CCIE) invites interpreter education programs at the Associate, Bachelor and Masters level to begin the process of accreditation. Information about the CCIE, the National Interpreter Education Standards and application information can be found at the CCIE website.

The Western Region Interpreter Education Center will offer assistance to up to two programs within our region who are actively engaged in the preparation of the Self-Study Report due June 2008. Two programs entering the accreditation process by the March 2008 application deadline may also be eligible for assistance. More specifically, WRIEC will reimburse eligible programs as follows:

• $500 Application Fee when the IEP's completed Self-Study Report has been received by CCIE for review; and
• $1,500 (half of the Site Visit fee) at the time when the Program is notified that it is in compliance with Accreditation Standards.

Any program engaged in the process is assured complete confidentiality through the process.

Interpreter Education Program administrators within the WRIEC region who are planning to apply for accreditation are encouraged to contact Pauline Annarino at pgannarino@aol.com or by phone (310-660-6094) for more details on obtaining WRIEC financial assistance.

The National Consortium of Interpreter Education Centers is funded from 2005 – 2010 by the U.S. Department of Education RSA CFDA #84.160A and B, Training of Interpreters for Individuals Who Are Deaf and Individuals Who Are Deaf-Blind.