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ACEJMC Reaccredits Southeast’s Department of Mass Media
05/02/2017
The Department of Mass Media at Southeast Missouri State University has been reaccredited by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications (ACEJMC) for the maximum six years. The reaccreditation came at a meeting of the Council April 28 in Chicago, Illinois. The program is now accredited through the 2021-2022 academic year. “ACEJMC reaccreditation validates that the Department of Mass Media’s program is among the best nationwide,” said Dr. Karie Hollerbach, chair of Southeast’s Department of Mass Media. “The review of our program noted our dedicated and diverse student body, our collaborative faculty and our well-crafted curriculum for 21st century media jobs.” ACEJMC is the agency responsible for the evaluation of professional journalism and mass communication programs in colleges and universities. Accreditation by ACEJMC signifies that a program meets its nine accreditation standards which include academic rigor of the curriculum, quality of the faculty and facilities, scholarship and service outreach, and commitment to diversity. Southeast is one of only two programs in Missouri that hold ACEJMC accreditation, with the other being the University of Missouri School of Journalism in Columbia. Currently, only 119 programs nationwide hold ACEJMC accreditation. Reaccreditation of Southeast’s program followed a comprehensive self-study report prepared by the department and evaluated by an external site team, including educators from across the nation and industry practitioners. The site team’s findings on compliance with nine accreditation standards and their recommendation regarding reaccreditation were then reviewed by both the Accrediting Committee and the Accrediting Council. ACEJMC Council members voted to reaccredit the department’s program based on the Accrediting Committee’s recommendations and the site team report. The Department of Mass Media was found in compliance for all nine accrediting standards: mission and governance, curriculum, diversity and inclusiveness, faculty composition, faculty scholarship, student services, facilities and equipment, professional and public service, and assessment of learning outcomes. Southeast has nearly 400 mass communication students, and the major offers four focus areas: advertising, multimedia journalism, public relations and TV/film. Southeast’s Department of Mass Media launched the new Rust Center for Media in fall 2016 in downtown Cape Girardeau. This spring, Grauel Building, where mass media faculty offices are located and coursework is taught, is undergoing major renovation, and mass media courses temporarily have been relocated to other campus locations. The Department of Mass Media will return to Grauel in fall 2017 in a newly renovated space. In August, the Department of Mass Media will also launch the “Pro on the Go” device initiative in which students and faculty in mass media classes at the 300-level and above will use Apple MacBook laptops in the classroom. Southeast’s Department of Mass Media first received ACEJMC accreditation in 2005, and the program was reaccredited in 2013.
05/02/2017
The Department of Mass Media at Southeast Missouri State University has been reaccredited by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications (ACEJMC) for the maximum six years. The reaccreditation came at a meeting of the Council April 28 in Chicago, Illinois. The program is now accredited through the 2021-2022 academic year. “ACEJMC reaccreditation validates that the Department of Mass Media’s program is among the best nationwide,” said Dr. Karie Hollerbach, chair of Southeast’s Department of Mass Media. “The review of our program noted our dedicated and diverse student body, our collaborative faculty and our well-crafted curriculum for 21st century media jobs.” ACEJMC is the agency responsible for the evaluation of professional journalism and mass communication programs in colleges and universities. Accreditation by ACEJMC signifies that a program meets its nine accreditation standards which include academic rigor of the curriculum, quality of the faculty and facilities, scholarship and service outreach, and commitment to diversity. Southeast is one of only two programs in Missouri that hold ACEJMC accreditation, with the other being the University of Missouri School of Journalism in Columbia. Currently, only 119 programs nationwide hold ACEJMC accreditation. Reaccreditation of Southeast’s program followed a comprehensive self-study report prepared by the department and evaluated by an external site team, including educators from across the nation and industry practitioners. The site team’s findings on compliance with nine accreditation standards and their recommendation regarding reaccreditation were then reviewed by both the Accrediting Committee and the Accrediting Council. ACEJMC Council members voted to reaccredit the department’s program based on the Accrediting Committee’s recommendations and the site team report. The Department of Mass Media was found in compliance for all nine accrediting standards: mission and governance, curriculum, diversity and inclusiveness, faculty composition, faculty scholarship, student services, facilities and equipment, professional and public service, and assessment of learning outcomes. Southeast has nearly 400 mass communication students, and the major offers four focus areas: advertising, multimedia journalism, public relations and TV/film. Southeast’s Department of Mass Media launched the new Rust Center for Media in fall 2016 in downtown Cape Girardeau. This spring, Grauel Building, where mass media faculty offices are located and coursework is taught, is undergoing major renovation, and mass media courses temporarily have been relocated to other campus locations. The Department of Mass Media will return to Grauel in fall 2017 in a newly renovated space. In August, the Department of Mass Media will also launch the “Pro on the Go” device initiative in which students and faculty in mass media classes at the 300-level and above will use Apple MacBook laptops in the classroom. Southeast’s Department of Mass Media first received ACEJMC accreditation in 2005, and the program was reaccredited in 2013.
