The mission of the IEP program is to provide English Language Learners with opportunities to develop the language and cultural competence necessary to make their success at an American university an achievable goal.  As one of a family of programs within the Department of Applied Linguistics/ESL, the IEP is uniquely positioned to deliver a high quality research-based curriculum to move students along a continuum of language acquisition in preparation for academic study in English.  To this end, the program relies upon the scholarship and expertise of faculty, staff and graduate students within the department who contribute to the formulation, evaluation and delivery of a dynamic educational and social experience in a multicultural environment and who acknowledge IEP students as valuable informants in an ongoing process of refining ESL pedagogy.  To ensure that this process continues to enhance the IEP students’ learning experience, the program is committed to providing professional development opportunities to both faculty and staff.  The IEP is dedicated to fostering an international perspective within the Georgia State community as well as within the communities from which its learners come.