Department Nears Accreditation Approval

The Communication Department's Oct. 22-24 visit of a team from the Accrediting Council for Education in Journalism and Mass Communications marks the final stage in a process that began nearly four years ago..

Established in 1945 and recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, ACEJMC includes 36 members -- 16 communication educators or representatives of educational organizations, 16 representatives of media and professional organizations and three public members.

The ACEJMC defines accreditation as "a collegial process based on self- and peer assessment for public accountability and improvement of academic quality," seeing accreditation as an integral part of higher education and offering a flexible and adaptive approach for a national standard of excellence for professional programs.

During its site review, the team of four will meet with faculty, staff, students and administrators, as well as tour the Communication Department's facilities and observe classes in session.

Recognizing that each institution it accredits has a unique mission and resources, ACEJMC doesn't define specific curricula, but rather reviews programs against the objectives set by each department and institution using ACEJMC standards, professional values and competencies. These competencies -- which have been adopted by the Communication Department -- involve law, history, diversity, visual communication, ethics, critical thinking, research, written communication, editing, statistics and technology. The Communication Department has added another competency -- oral communication, which is required for all majors.

Accredited programs also have formal procedures for curricular review based on assessment of student learning. And ACEJMC looks to engaged alumni, a limited acceptance of transfer credits from junior colleges and a role for media professionals in both instruction and program assessment -- all facets that apply to Buffalo State's Communication Department.

The benefits of accreditation are many, including:
* the general strengthening of professional education through continuing improvement and accountability via ongoing assessment and internal and external evaluation,
* structure and stimulus for continuing academic improvement,
* enhanced public perception for academic and professional excellence,
* increased ability to recruit quality students because of higher standards and greater prestige and visibility,
* increased ability to recruit a broader range of quality applicants for faculty openings, and,
* structure and stimulus for developing resources, involving media professionals, engaging alumni, soliciting for student awards, enhancing faculty scholarship and engaging the community and media professions.

The ACEJMC site review team makes its recommendations based on the following nine standards:

1. Mission, governance and administration

2. Curriculum and instruction

3. Diversity and inclusiveness

4. Faculty

5. Scholarship

6. Student services

7. Resources, facilities and equipment

8. Professional and public service

9. Assessment of learning outcomes

The ACEJMC's 15-member accrediting council meets in May to make a final decision on accreditation. The council may recommend accreditation, two-year provisional accreditation (with time for the school to correct deficiencies) or denial of accreditation.