Accreditation & Affiliations

School of Record

The University of New Haven (UNH) of West Haven, Connecticut acts as CEA’s official School of Record. The School of Record agreement follows the highest standards of good practice in education abroad and fulfills the requirements of NECHE’s Policy on Contractual Arrangements Involving Courses and Programs.

Together, UNH and CEA have developed academic protocols that guide School of Record operations. Under this comprehensive agreement, UNH:

• reviews and approves CEA Study Center courses, academic appointments, staff, and faculty
• conducts regular site visits to each CEA Study Center;
• issues course transcripts; and
• requires CEA’s internal academic controls to be administered by academic leaders with qualifications comparable to those of academic administrators on UNH’s own campus.

Courses are designed and taught by qualified instructors consistent with the level of education at U.S. universities; all CEA instructors hold a master’s degree and more than 40% hold a terminal degree or doctorate. Consistency in academic standards and transcripts from an accredited U.S. institution help ease the credit approval and transfer process when students return home from their study abroad experience.

About the University of New Haven

Founded in 1920, the University of New Haven is a private, top-tier, comprehensive institution recognized as a national leader in experiential education. UNH provides its students with a unique combination of a solid liberal arts education and real-world, hands-on career and research opportunities. UNH is continuously recognized as one of the finest comprehensive universities in the Northeast and has earned numerous awards and accolades.

Accreditation & Recognition

UNH is accredited through the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE). UNH is ranked as a top-tier regional university by U.S. News & World Report, included in Princeton Review’s ranking of “Best in the Northeast” institutions, and a member of The New American Colleges and Universities (NAC&U).

QUIP

CEA Study Abroad has successfully completed The Forum on Education Abroad’s Quality Improvement Program (QUIP) process and received QUIP recognition for all of our programs. As the only objective independent review system in education abroad, obtaining QUIP recognition indicates that CEA conforms to The Forum’s benchmarks for quality programs and meets the Standards of Good Practice for Education Abroad.

After evaluating CEA’s QUIP application, The Forum’s review panel noted that: “CEA has demonstrated that it is in substantial conformity with The Forum’s Standards of Good Practice, maintains a commitment and dedication both to offering high quality programs in education abroad at a level of excellence acceptable to the larger academic community, and to continuous assessment and improvement.”

CEA’s QUIP recognition highlights our commitment to enhancing our academic integrity, improving local operations and international programming, continual compliance, and ongoing evaluation of policies and procedures.

Affiliations

AIEA

The Association of International Education Administrators (AIEA) is composed of institutional leaders engaged in advancing the international dimensions of higher education, including providing an effective voice on significant issues within international education; improving and promoting international education programming; establishing a professional network among international education institutional leaders; and cooperating with other national and international groups. AIEA gives members opportunities to join forces, exchange ideas, share institutional strategies, and provide an effective voice on matters of public policy.

APUNE

Founded in 1968, the Asociación de Programas Universitarios Norteamericanos en España (APUNE), facilitates international educational exchange between the U.S. and Spain. APUNE serves as forum for members to share best practices, common concerns, and developments, as well as an advocate for international educational programming focused on academic rigor and student orientation and immersion.

DIVERSITY ABROAD

Diversity Abroad is the leading professional organization dedicated to advancing policies and practices that support student diversity in international education. Comprised of educational institutions, government agencies, non-profits, and for-profit businesses, the Diversity Abroad Network seeks to provide educators with best practices, research, tools, and opportunities geared toward increasing access to international education for underrepresented students. Members of the network share their ideas, experiences, and practices relevant to student diversity with the Diversity Abroad community, learning from each other and staying engaged with their individual commitments to diversifying global education. CEA is a proud member of the Diversity Abroad Network.

EAIE

With 16 European program destinations, CEA’s extensive presence in Europe necessitates close partnership and collaboration with our European international education colleagues. The Association for International Educators (EAIE) is comprised of more than 2,400 international education professionals whose goal is to further internationalize higher education around the globe.

THE FORUM ON EDUCATION ABROAD

National Charter Member of The Forum on Education Abroad, the leading professional organization for U.S.-based education abroad. The Forum is recognized by the U.S. Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission as a Standards Development Organization for the field of education abroad. As a founding member, CEA is committed to the Standards of Good Practice, The Forum Compass on ethical decision making in education abroad, and The Forum-AACRAO Guidelines for School of Record Relationships. Through both internal and external assessment processes, and in conjunction with our School of Record—the University of New Haven—CEA continually works to assure our study abroad programs align with the nine Standards of Good Practice for Education Abroad.

GENERATION STUDY ABROAD

CEA is a Generation Study Abroad is a five-year initiative of the Institute of International Education (IIE) to mobilize resources and commitments with the goal of doubling the number of U.S. students studying abroad by the end of the decade. The initiative highlights a commitment to purposeful, innovative action aimed at encouraging more Americans to undertake a meaningful international experience through academic study abroad programs, as well as internships, service learning, and non-credit educational experiences.

THE INTERNATIONAL COALITION

The International Coalition for Global Education and Exchange is an organizing initiative of institutions, organizations, businesses, families, chambers of commerce, business and trade associations, and community leaders who embrace and support international education and exchange programs. The initiative is coordinated by The Forum on Education Abroad.

NAFSA

As the leading association in international education, NAFSA: International Association of International Educators provides CEA with research in educational good practice, policy advocacy, career training, and professional development resources for all areas of educational administration, as well as networking opportunities with its worldwide membership. CEA is a NAFSA Global Associate.

NSEE

The National Society for Experiential Education (NSEE) is a national association of educators, businesses, and community leaders who advocate for the development and improvement of experiential education programs and serve as a resource center for the effective use of experience and reflection in teaching and learning at all levels of education. CEA joins a nation-wide membership of U.S. colleges and universities to support NSEE's Eight Principles of Good Practice for All Experiential Learning Activities. We integrate these principles our study abroad programs and base our CEA Study Centers’ active learning pedagogy in experiential learning theory.

Recognition & Awards

2023

• GoAbroad.com’s Innovative New Study Abroad Program: Winner for Black Lives Matter: A Global Comparative Study (Custom Program in partnership with the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee)
• GoAbroad.com’s Innovation in Alumni Engagement: Winner for Passport: A Gamification Platform for Alumni Ambassadors
  

2022

• GoAbroad.com’s Innovative New Study Abroad Program: Finalist for First Year Semester Abroad Experience (FYSAE) for Engineers in France, with Colorado School of Mines
  

2021

• GoAbroad.com’s Innovation in Marketing & Digital Media: Finalist for Global Learning Through Cuisine
  

2020

• GoAbroad.com’s Innovation in Diversity: Finalist for UC San Diego & CEA Study Abroad: Paris Summer 2019 Sign Language Custom Program
  

2019

• GoAbroad.com’s Innovation in Philanthropy: Finalist for #MakeAPositiveImpact 
• GoAbroad.com’s Innovative New Intern Program: Finalist for Southern Methodist University Prague Summer 2018 Internships Custom Program
• GoAbroad.com’s People's Choice Finalist

2018

• GoAbroad.com’s Innovation in Marketing and Digital Media: Finalist for Reaching Gen Z on Snapchat @ceastudyabroad
• GoAbroad.com’s Innovative New Program – Study Abroad: Finalist for Exercise and Sport Science – Summer
• GoAbroad.com’s Top Rated Organizations & Programs of 2018 (Notable Mention)

2017

• GoAbroad.com's Student Video: Winner for "University of Utah Promo Reel" by Ethan Beseris

• GoAbroad.com's Innovation in Marketing & Digital Media Award: Finalist for Digital Family Communication
• GoAbroad.com's Innovative New Program - Internship Award: Finalist for Internship in Spain
• GoAbroad.com's People's Choice Award: Finalist
• GoAbroad.com’s Top Rated Organizations & Programs of 2017 (Notable Mention)

2016

• CEA earns QUIP Recognition from The Forum
• GoAbroad.com's Innovative New Program - Study Abroad Award: Finalist for 1st Generation Abroad Program (in partnership with Washington State University)
• GoAbroad.com's Innovation in Technology Award: Finalist for Family Support Resources

2015

• Abroad101 Top Provider Award
• Abroad101 Top Program Award: CEA in Rome, Italy
• GoAbroad.com's Innovation in Marketing & Digital Media Award: Finalist for Male CEA Ambassador Blog Series
• GoAbroad.com's Innovative New Program - Internship Award: Finalist for Alumni Ambassador Onsite Internship
• GoAbroad.com's Innovation in Sustainability Award: Finalist for Service Learning & Sustainability in Pejibaye, Costa Rica
• GoAbroad.com's People's Choice Award: Finalist

2014

• Abroad101 Top Provider Award
• Abroad101 Top Program Award: CEA in Rome, Italy

2013

• Academic Integrated Cultural Activities program (CEA Barcelona) receives NSEE's "Outstanding Experiential Education Award"
• Blending Language, Culture & Service (Custom Program in Florence) receives NASPA's "Best Practices in International Education" award
• Abroad101's #2 Study Abroad Program: CEA in Aix-en-Provence, France
• Abroad101's #8 Study Abroad Program: CEA in Rome, Italy

2012

• Abroad101's #1 Study Abroad Program: CEA in Aix-en-Provence, France
• Abroad101's #3 Top Academic Experiences: CEA in Aix-en-Provence, France
• Abroad101's #6 Top Academic Experiences: CEA in Paris, France

2011

• Culture & Identity Studies: Explore Gay Paris receives GoAbroad.com's "Innovative New Program" award

2009

• Received "AZ Excellence in Business" award from Arizona District Export Council and Phoenix Committee on Foreign Relations

2008

• Nominated for Wall Street Journal's "Best Small Places to Work" list
• One of 500 fastest-growing private companies in U.S. (Inc.)

2006

• Received American Marketing Association Spectrum Award
• Received BizAZ Magazine "Hot Growth" Award
• Finalist for Arizona State University W.P. Carey School of Business "Spirit of Enterprise" award

2005

• Received Admissions Marketing Report advertising award
• Received American Marketing Association Spectrum Award
• Brian Boubek named to board of British American Business Council of Arizona

2004

• One of 500 fastest-growing private companies in U.S. (Inc.)
• Brian Boubek named University of Arizona Karl Eller Center Entrepreneur Fellow

2003

• Received American Marketing Association Spectrum Award
• One of 500 fastest-growing private companies in U.S. (Inc.)
• Brian Boubek named to Inc.'s "Birthing of Giants" program
• Brian Boubek inducted into Young Entrepreneurs' Organization

2002

• Received Arizona Corporate Excellence Award