USM School of Media and Communication Earns Continued Accreditation

Fri, 05/19/2023 - 08:43am | By: David Tisdale

The School of Media and Communication in The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) College of Arts and Sciences has earned continued accreditation with a unanimous vote from the reaccreditation committee of the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications (ACEJMC).

A team of three accreditors with extensive backgrounds in either mass communication industries or higher education spent several days during the fall 2022 semester with students and faculty in the school, along with other partners across campus, to confirm and expand on the school's self-study that was put together over the course of two semesters by faculty members Drs. David Davies and Fei Xue.

The site team's conclusions then went to the accrediting council's committee on re-accreditation, and finally to the full council of ACEJMC.

According to Dr. Ed Simpson, director of the school, accreditation covers the school's Digital Journalism and Strategic Communication degrees and represents the university's commitment to high-quality programs.

"Securing continued accreditation is truly a USM family affair, a testament to the work and dedication of our students, staff and faculty - including professors Davies and Xue - who keep the students closely tied to the industries we serve and ensure the concepts and skills we teach are what is needed in the workplace,” Dr. Simpson continued.

"While a long, arduous process, re-accreditation means our students - who represent the absolute best of USM - can be assured they are receiving a high-quality experience that will position them well as they launch their careers."

Dr. Simpson further noted that of the approximately 2,500 communication and journalism programs in the United States, only 119 are accredited.

USM College of Arts and Sciences Dean Dr. Chris Winstead said he’s “very pleased” with the unanimous vote from the ACEJMC accrediting committee on the school’s standing.  

“Dr. Simpson and the faculty and staff of the School of Media and Communication did an outstanding job of preparing for the reaccreditation visit,” Dr. Winstead continued. “They have worked tirelessly over the last few years to be sure their programs are up-to-date and targeted at what our students need for their future careers. I’m excited to see the impact of the great work they are doing in the school.”

The USM School of Media and Communication houses the undergraduate programs of strategic communication, digital journalism, communication studies and media and entertainment arts, as well as graduate programs in communication and public relations; some programming is offered in an online format, including the master’s degree program in Public Relations.

Please visit the USM School of Media and Communication website for more information.