2008 Woodie Awards
Journalism Department seeks re-accredation
Colleen Evans
Issue date: 2/7/07 Section: News
Yes, we W&L students have the privilege of attending a prestigious school. We've heard it from others; we check the rankings. But what actually makes a school renowned? Accreditation, the process whereby experts in a specific field come to campus to rate our programs, helps decide where we stand.
Reid Hall, home to the university's outstanding Journalism program, will play host to an accrediting site-team for a three days starting next Monday. The school is up for re-accreditation every six years, and the journalism faculty hopes to continue receiving the stamp of approval on the department with another successful recommendation.
Washington and Lee is one of less than 20 private universities in the nation that is accredited for journalism and mass communications. Moreover, W&L has been successful in gaining accreditation since the Accrediting Council was established in the 1940's.
Journalism Professor Brian Richardson acknowledged that it has many advantages. It allows the school to see where its program ranks compared to other liberal arts or larger colleges and universities. Richardson stated that the process is "a reality check for us [faculty]. It forces us to be accountable and not to make assumptions" about the way they are running the school.
Of the nine standards used to decide on approval, notably, Washington and Lee has never passed the "Diversity and Inclusiveness" requirement. However, a school does not have to achieve every guideline in order to get accredited. W&L has been successful in getting approved in every other area, thus receiving successful accreditation in the past. Richardson noted that the one noncompliance has forced the department to become more diverse among both majors and faculty. He is hopeful that this year will be the year they gain validation in every area.
The other requirements observed by the site-visit team are: Mission and Governance; Curriculum and Instruction; Full-time and Part-time Faculty; Faculty Scholarship - Research; Creative and Professional Activity; Student Services, Resources, Facilities, and Equipment; Professional and Public Service; and Assessment of Learning Outcomes.
In addition, the department will be judged on a self-evaluation that members of the faculty completed in preparation for re-accreditation. Feedback from the site-team will come almost immediately, as they usually draft a report before leaving the university. However, it takes until May to get a final decision.
Richardson is excited for the team to come, saying, "Our goal is to nail [each requirement]. It will acknowledge that we are running a very good program." The team will consist of three journalism professionals, including a print reporter and a member from another university's journalism department.
There will be two chances for journalism majors to meet with the site-visit team to discuss experiences in the journalism school, with no faculty present. The first is Monday, February 12, and the other is Tuesday, February 13, both in room 211 at 4:35.
Reid Hall, home to the university's outstanding Journalism program, will play host to an accrediting site-team for a three days starting next Monday. The school is up for re-accreditation every six years, and the journalism faculty hopes to continue receiving the stamp of approval on the department with another successful recommendation.
Washington and Lee is one of less than 20 private universities in the nation that is accredited for journalism and mass communications. Moreover, W&L has been successful in gaining accreditation since the Accrediting Council was established in the 1940's.
Journalism Professor Brian Richardson acknowledged that it has many advantages. It allows the school to see where its program ranks compared to other liberal arts or larger colleges and universities. Richardson stated that the process is "a reality check for us [faculty]. It forces us to be accountable and not to make assumptions" about the way they are running the school.
Of the nine standards used to decide on approval, notably, Washington and Lee has never passed the "Diversity and Inclusiveness" requirement. However, a school does not have to achieve every guideline in order to get accredited. W&L has been successful in getting approved in every other area, thus receiving successful accreditation in the past. Richardson noted that the one noncompliance has forced the department to become more diverse among both majors and faculty. He is hopeful that this year will be the year they gain validation in every area.
The other requirements observed by the site-visit team are: Mission and Governance; Curriculum and Instruction; Full-time and Part-time Faculty; Faculty Scholarship - Research; Creative and Professional Activity; Student Services, Resources, Facilities, and Equipment; Professional and Public Service; and Assessment of Learning Outcomes.
In addition, the department will be judged on a self-evaluation that members of the faculty completed in preparation for re-accreditation. Feedback from the site-team will come almost immediately, as they usually draft a report before leaving the university. However, it takes until May to get a final decision.
Richardson is excited for the team to come, saying, "Our goal is to nail [each requirement]. It will acknowledge that we are running a very good program." The team will consist of three journalism professionals, including a print reporter and a member from another university's journalism department.
There will be two chances for journalism majors to meet with the site-visit team to discuss experiences in the journalism school, with no faculty present. The first is Monday, February 12, and the other is Tuesday, February 13, both in room 211 at 4:35.
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