Communication Department

Receives National Accreditation

 

The Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications (ACEJMC) has granted full accreditation to the Jacksonville State University Department of Communication. One hundred twelve communication programs nationwide have achieved ACEJMC accreditation, and three of those-- Jacksonville State University, the University of Alabama and Auburn University-- are in Alabama.

Accreditation is determined by performance on nine major standards set by the council, among which are the principles of communication law, ethics, critical thinking, theory and diversity. ACEJMC asserts accreditation serves to assure employers, parents, students and the public that a program "meets rigorous standards of quality in professional education in journalism and mass communications."

JSU's Department of Communication began the accreditation process several years ago, the culmination of which was a comprehensive self-study evaluating how well it meets the council's nine standards. The process also included a visit to the department in spring 2008 by a team of evaluators from the ACEJMC. The team confirmed the findings of the self-study by observing classes, touring the facilities and meeting and/or talking with the university's administration, faculty, staff, students, alumni and employers of graduates.

Usually the council grants full accreditation to a program that either passes all the standards or falls short on only one of them. According to ACEJMC's record, of the 21 schools that went in for initial accreditation or reaccreditation during the 2007-2008 academic year, only five schools-- Jacksonville State University, the University of New Mexico, Michigan State University, Kansas State University and Indiana University, Bloomington-- passed all the nine standards.

"We want to thank all our students, faculty, staff, alumni, Communication Advisory Board members, employers and friends for their unflinching support of our department during this process," said Dr. Kingsley Harbor, department head. "The accrediting team that visited us in spring was complimentary of our students, and we want our students to know we are proud of them and their performance.

"The Communication Department is on solid footing."

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