The Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communication is assessing the Manship School of Mass Communication Oct. 5 through Oct. 8.
The group of selected judges from the national board evaluates universities around the country every six years.
LSU was accredited in 1946, making the University a “Charter Accreditation School.”
The school has made significant progress since its last accreditation in 1997, Associate Dean of mass communication Ralph Izard said.
The main issue of the last accreditation was the lack of diversity of staff there were no minority faculty members and very few women. Now, there are three blacks and 11 women faculty members.
The 2003 accreditation team includes five academics and professionals who span the diverse field of mass communication. Their experience allows the team to accurately assess the Manship School’s ability to prepare a mass communication major with the skills required in the professional world of mass media.
According to a press release from the Manship School, the team reviews the school’s “curriculum, facilities and equipment, progress on diversity, internships, finances, administration and all other aspects of the program.”
Faculty, staff and administrators have collected information for a report representing the college and its accomplishments to present to the team.
There are more than 500 mass communication schools in the nation, but only 109, including LSU, are accredited, said Steven Scales, mass communication college council president.
The team held forums with students in public relations, journalism and other concentrations to receive firsthand feedback as well as statistical proof of the college’s success.
“The school can sugarcoat the issues, but the students really reflect the success of the program by offering their different angles and perspectives to the team,” Scales said.
In the discussion with electronic media and journalism students, members of the panel asked students questions regarding internships, class sizes and guest speakers in classes.
“I liked that the council members were involved in different aspects of mass communication,” Meredith Richards, a mass communication senior, said. “There are few students in my concentration, electronic media, but one panelist specialized in that focus and was interested in my learning experience.”
Richards was impressed that the members understood LSU’s problems but also focused on the strengths of the college.
Another main topic of discussion was incentives that attracted students to the college of mass communication.
“For students, the accreditation increases the value of the mass communication degree from a university that has earned national respect,” Izard said.
Being a recognized accredited school helps in recruiting faculty and students, Izard said.
“We measure up to standards set by the national accreditation body in accordance to national standards,” said Izard.
The council will write a draft of its assessment report, and the team will meet with Mass Communication Dean Jack Hamilton, as well as Chancellor Mark Emmert and Provost Risa Palm Wednesday to conclude the accreditation appraisal.
Members will advise the faculty on ways to improve the college, but the final formal word on LSU’s accreditation will be affirmed next spring with a complete report outlining the Manship school’s strengths and weaknesses.