The mission of the Center for English as a Second Language (CESL) at the University of Arizona is threefold:
1. To provide superior English language instruction to native speakers of other languages through quality teaching, a rich and engaging curriculum, and co-curricular support to prepare students for academic and professional success at the University of Arizona as well as for other academic, professional, and social settings.
2. To serve the linguistic and professional development needs of the University of Arizona and the greater global community by offering high-quality professional development and mentoring for teachers, supporting research in language learning, providing program evaluation services, and providing networking opportunities for educational professionals in order to help teachers and programs succeed in a wide variety of educational contexts.
3. To encourage respect for cultural and linguistic diversity through intercultural competence, professionalism, and collaboration both on and off campus in an effort to promote cultural understanding and overall student success.