The Drake University School of Journalism and Mass Communication has been reaccredited by a unanimous vote of the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications (ACEJMC).
The Council voted 23-0 to reaccredit the Drake SJMC, which currently is the only accredited journalism and mass communication program at a private institution in the Midwest and one of only 15 accredited undergraduate private programs in the country. The SJMC has been continuously accredited since 1972; the ACEJMC’s recent reaccreditation vote was April 28 in Chicago.
ACEJMC accredits 117 communication programs around the world. The process includes a comprehensive self study by each program every six years and a site visit by a team of academic and industry communication professionals. Accreditation is based on compliance with nine standards, including curriculum, student services, faculty scholarship and public service.
The Drake SJMC’s 2017 accreditation report cited as among the School’s strengths “a hardworking, productive and dedicated faculty who are passionate about teaching”; “award-winning students who are professionally oriented and partake in multiple internship opportunities”; and an emphasis on diversity throughout the curriculum. The report also praised the unique “Drake way” system of advising that focuses on “lifelong mentorship between students/alumni and faculty,” and a strong connection between the SJMC and the local professional and business community.
“This report recognizes the dedication and innovation of our faculty and wonderful students, and it certainly places us among the best communication programs in the country,” said Kathleen Richardson, dean of the Drake University School of Journalism and Mass Communication.
The School offers majors in advertising, digital media production, public relations, magazine media, news and strategic political communication, as well as a master’s program. The most recent SJMC graduate surveys report an internship rate of 98 percent and a post-graduate placement rate of 100 percent.