NMSU Journalism Program To Lose Accreditation

Correction: In an article about New Mexico State University’s Journalism Department losing its accreditation, KVIA included UTEP’s journalism department as not being accredited. According to UTEP, the university does not have a journalism department but has a communication department and there is no accrediting agency for communication departments. UTEP’s communication department has a journalism program within it.

July 1 is when New Mexico State University?s Journalism Department will no longer be accredited. There are 113 major journalism programs in the country not accredited. UTEP’s journalism program is not accredited, either. A spokeswoman for UTEP explain the university has a communication department that provides a journalism program, not a journalism department. There is no accrediting agency for communication departments, said Arleene Barrios, a UTEP spokeswoman.

Journalism students at Milton Hall at NMSU said, they care more about their quality of education, however, than a title.

“To me, it’s more important learning the skills,” Carol Nielson, a journalism sophomore, said.

Nielson is like any other dedicated journalism student who spends all her time in Milton Hall?s News 22 newsroom, building a foundation for her professional broadcasting career.

“When I go out to a newsroom and I look for a job, I don?t think they’re really going to ask me, ?Do you come from an accredited school,’ they’re going to say, ‘What do you know how to do,'” Nielson said.

Accreditation is like bragging rights, Frank Thayer, an assistant journalism professor, said.

“I think it’s a reputation thing,? Thayer said. ?I think it’s the street creds that people like the idea of being accredited; I do too.”

High quality standards in the classroom are here to stay, Thayer said. But recruiting top-notch students of the future might be a place where lacking accreditation has an impact, Thayer said.

“It’s like the cherry on the sundae saying, ‘yes, we’re good and here’s an added proof we are good,'” Thayer said.

The College of Arts and Sciences Dean, Christa Slaton, said the journalism program?s continued success with connecting students with internships and graduates with job opportunities will not change.

“The proof is really in the pudding – can we really provide opportunities to our students when they get out of here,” Slaton said.

NMSU?s Journalism and Mass Communication program was not able to meet three of nine required standards before a February first deadline, hence the accreditation withdrawal, Slaton said.

“It’s extremely costly; it’s very time intensive for faculty,? Slaton said. ?But I?ll be working very close with them to make sure they do what’s in the best interest of the students.”

NMSU is committed to rejoining the ranks of other accredited journalism programs, Slaton said.

?This is such a temporary glitch that I don?t see a problem,? Thayer said. ?We’re going to be back at full speed as soon as possible.”

Students want to see this promise materialize, Nielson said.

“I want to see in the future that they still are working toward it and stuff, and not necessarily say they’re going to, but show us,? Nielson said.

The Dean plans to meet individually with all journalism students in the coming weeks to hear their concerns.