Serving the AEJMC Presidential Task Force on AEJMC’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI)
for the 2023 – 2024 term

Laura Castañeda
University of Southern California

Jerry Crawford
Virginia State University

George Daniels
University of Alabama

Melissa Greene-Blye
University of Kansas

Patrick Johnson
Marquette University

Teresa Mastin
Michigan State University

Mimi Perreault
University of South Florida

Nathian Rodriguez
San Diego State University

Bey-Ling Sha
California State University, Fullerton

Gabriel Tait
Ball State University

Elizabeth L. Toth
University of Maryland

<Appointed Committees

Mission Statement of The Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications (ACEJMC)

The Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications is dedicated to excellence and high standards in professional education in journalism and mass communications.  The Council endorses professional education that recognizes and incorporates technological advances, changing professional and economic practice, and public interests and demands.

The Council believes that students can best prepare for careers in journalism and mass communications by studying in accredited professional programs at colleges and universities.  The Council embraces the value of a broad, multidisciplinary curriculum that nurtures critical thinking, analytic reasoning and problem-solving skills that are the essential foundation for journalism and mass communications education.

The Council is committed to freedom of inquiry, freedom of expression and freedom of the press as indispensable values in a free society. It expects the professional education offered by accredited programs to encourage inquiry, dissent and free expression.

To serve this mission, the Council has established educational requirements and standards and provides a process of voluntary program review by professionals and educators, awarding accredited status to programs that meet its standards.  Through this process, the Council assures students, parents, journalism and mass communications professionals and the public that accredited programs meet rigorous standards for professional education.

The Council recognizes and safeguards the individual nature of each accredited program. It encourages educational innovation by programs in their efforts to meet accreditation requirements and standards to prepare students for careers in journalism and mass communication around the world.

— Revised and approved by the Accrediting Council Aug. 23, 2013
(ACEJMC Mission Statement is courtesy of the ACEJMC website)

Duties and Responsibilities of AEJMC representatives to the Accrediting Council:

• AEJMC Accrediting Council representatives are expected to attend BOTH the fall and spring meetings of the Council. The association pays for the travel expenses of its reps to attend each meeting.
• Each representative should issue a written report to the AEJMC Board of Directors following each meeting, or the reps may work together to file a single report. The reports may also be published in the AEJMC newsletter.
• The representatives should work with the Executive Director to schedule a session during the annual conference, as needed, so that members can be notified about, and discuss, current accrediting issues.
• Elected representatives serve three-year terms on the Council.

<Elected Standing Committees

The vote on the proposed tiered membership dues structure was open from September 29 – October 12. The voting period has now closed and the tiered membership dues structure has passed!

AEJMC had 573 members vote with 421 yes votes (73.47%) and 152 no votes (26.53%).

The tier structure, including the new prices for membership dues, will go into effect on Monday, October 17.

Since the change in membership dues structure passed, members will need to approve the necessary amendments to the bylaws to support this fee structure change. They will receive an email next week with the proposed bylaw amendments and a link to an online discussion, along with additional information about the new tiered membership dues structure.

AEJMC President, Dr. Deb Aikat said: “We are gratified that AEJMC members have approved the new membership fees, which are more equitable and affordable for all.”

If you have any questions, please contact Amanda Caldwell, AEJMC Executive Director, at amanda@aejmc.org. Thank you!

Congratulations to the Minorities and Communication Division (MACD) of AEJMC
for 50 years of leadership!

 MACD Presidential Proclamation from AEJMC 2021 President Dr. Tim Vos
on July 30, 2021, in observance of the division’s 50th Anniversary.