Endowed Chair of Journalism and Mass Communication Takes Accreditation Council Role

09/19/2024

Dr. Chris McCollough, Professor of Public Relations and Advertising and The Ayers Family Endowed Chair of Journalism and Mass Communication at Jax State, has been elected to serve on the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (ACEJMC). The 25-member body is responsible for formally reviewing and approving accreditation and reaffirming programs seeking academic accreditation in journalism and mass communication worldwide.

McCollough was nominated and elected to serve by the 1700-member Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC) during the 2024 election process, largely on the strength of his growing profile as an assessment and accreditation expert, and the Department of Communication’s successful program revamp and reaffirmation in 2023. The elections were held during the summer of 2024, and McCollough will begin a three-year service cycle from October 2024 through the end of summer 2027.

Dr. McCollough said of the recognition, “I am deeply honored to serve on behalf of AEJMC’s diverse group of scholars and educators to ensure we maintain the highest standards for quality teaching, learning, and research in our fields. I believe this role reflects the hard work our unit has done here at Jacksonville State University, and I intend to represent them well in the work ahead.”

The accrediting council annually reviews between 15 and 30 academic programs for accreditation or reaffirmation. This is done through a formal review of extensive self-study reports and reports provided by on-site review teams, on which council members frequently serve.

ACEJMC accreditation is intended to recognize programs that advance industry-current practices, professional development of students and professionals, and student attainment of degree-relevant employment after graduation. There are presently 120 accredited programs in journalism and mass communication globally, including Jax State’s Department of Communication.