Journalism Program 'Charges on' to Accreditation

Dr. Nancy Cheever, Communications Department Chair, sits behind her desk and flips through the strategic plan for the journalism program at CSUDH. As Dr. Cheever scans each page of the document, she shares recent accomplishments of the Journalism program, including a newly dedicated space for The Bulletin newsroom, a revised curriculum, and the establishment of a diversity committee.

Just as third year junior students at Dominguez Hills attend 'Charge on to Graduation' workshops, the Journalism program is charging on toward accreditation. Each student reviews an academic advisement report to ensure all requirements are met to graduate. Dr. Cheever reviews the strategic plan to ensure the accomplishments of the Journalism program are aligned with the nine standards of accreditation required by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (ACEJMC).

For the past four years, Dr. Cheever has led the charge for the accreditation process. The program has been considering accreditation for several years and in the fall of 2016, ACEJMC made an initial visit to the Dominguez Hills campus. During the visit, the ACEJMC team evaluated the program and made recommendations. Since that visit, the Journalism program has been reviewing and developing staff, curriculum, physical spaces, modes of operation and best practices.

The rigorous self-examination process required by the ACEJMC is testimony to the colleges and universities seeking this accreditation, to hold themselves and their students to the highest standards of journalism excellence. There are only 117 accredited schools in the United States, with less than ten in California. It is important to note that this accreditation is globally unique as it is self-initiated. There are not any government mandates at work.

"It means that we are providing an education that meets the standards of the highest accrediting council in the United States," Dr. Cheever said. "Every student that comes here will know that we are providing them with the very best journalism education they can get."

The program has made some significant changes over the last four years in the pursuit of accreditation. With the creation of the journalism major and reconstruction of the curriculum, more classes are devoted specifically to the journalism discipline. This gives students a greater opportunity to be trained in their specific field. For example, the COM 490: Senior Project course includes a multimedia social justice project and a digital portfolio required for journalism seniors to graduate.

As undergraduates confirm completion of general education, major and GPA requirements, the Journalism program confirms completion of the ACEJMC recommendations to meet the nine standards of accreditation. Each standard requires an "indicator" and "evidence." An "indicator" for a student would be proof of enrollment in a class and "evidence" would be the transcript of a passing grade.

Two of the most recent "indicators" of the Journalism program are the advisory board and the exit exam. The board and exam were initiated two years ago.

The advisory board is made up of industry professionals who oversee the program and make recommendations, in addition to reviewing and giving feedback on students' senior projects. The advisory board helps to meet standard #5 of the ACEJMC, specifically professional activity. This professional insight is invaluable to graduating seniors. The board's experience and feedback help prepare seniors for the next step, careers in journalism. The advisory board has included a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist, CSUDH alumnus from Telemundo and a Los Angeles Times Executive Editor.

Dr. Brant Burkey, Associate-Professor of Journalism and the instructor for COM 490: Senior Project, sees the advisory board's feedback as a particularly useful tool for students to get a different kind of feedback than they would from professors.

"The advisory board are giving more of a sense from someone in the field," Dr. Burkey said. "They can say, this is what is really good, and this is what needs some work. It is preparing students for a more professional review."

The second recent "indicator" is the Journalism program's exit exam. The exam is comprised of 50 questions and covers basic practices and principles of journalism. It involves topics including the First Amendment, Associated Press style and plagiarism, to name a few. The exit exam aligns with standard #9 of the ACEJMC, Assessment of Learning Outcomes. Students do not receive a grade for this exam. It is a resource for the program to evaluate itself and better serve future students by determining what content needs more attention in the journalism coursework.

The exit exam will also serve as a tool in creating the self-study examination and report that Dr. Cheever is submitting to the accrediting council before the ACEJMC team's scheduled visit in late fall of 2020, which has been postponed because of the Covid pandemic. When it does occur, the site visit will include three days of the visiting team inspecting facilities and equipment, talking with students and faculty, reviewing curriculum and examining the journalism program as a whole.

"With the improved curriculum and all the other things we are doing, I think we are well on our way to being accredited," Dr. Cheever said.

Despite the delay in the accreditation visit because the campus will be closed in the fall, Dr. Cheever hopes to learn the outcome of the journalism program's accreditation sometime in 2021 or soon thereafter.