The Armory building houses the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Colorado at Boulder. (CU Independent file photo/Lee Pruitt)
CU’s journalism dean says he is keeping a positive attitude about the provisional, rather than full, accreditation the School of Journalism and Mass Communication received this week.
The Accreditation Council for Education of Journalism and Mass Communication, which visits CU every six years, has given CU’s SJMC a two-year grace period to correct issues they found in one of the nine standard areas used for judgment.
“On eight of the nine standards, we passed with flying colors,” said Paul Voakes, dean of the journalism school. “It’s a really good affirmation of our current journalism program.”
One standard that the SJMC is lacking on is Standard 1, Mission, Admin and Governance.
“The School is a mass of contradictions: accomplished academics who form a bloc to prevent forward movement; a caring Dean who has failed in his aspirations; a committed Advisory Board that has turned against the school,” the report stated.
The site team also found issue with the faculty.
“Too many classes are not being taught by regular faculty,” the report stated. “The site team did experience some frustration at finding faculty in their offices and that some classes had guest speakers during the visit.”
However, the ACEJMC was impressed with the student body’s passion in both the graduate and undergraduate programs at the SJMC.
“Excellent students who are passionate about the school and appreciative of their experience here, and who have been admirably protected by the current chaos by the faculty,” the report stated, going on to express similar praise for the graduate program.
Voakes said the AEJMC decision confirms that the program is still providing students with a successful, effective curriculum, despite the complicated politics surrounding SJMC’s program discontinuance.
“We’re still doing everything right that concerns the students and for me that’s the bottom line,” Voakes said.
Provost Russell Moore, who was also present throughout the accreditation process, could not be reached for comment at the time of publication.
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Emma Castleberry at Emma.castleberry@colorado.edu.
The original version of this story incorrectly stated that the SJMC was lacking in diversity standards. Actually, SJMC is lacking in Standard 1 -Mission, Admin and Governance.
