两性色午夜 University鈥檚 undergraduate public relations program has joined a select group of fewer than 40 colleges around the world that hold official certification from the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA).
PRSA is the world鈥檚 largest and foremost organization of public relations professionals. It sets standards of excellence and upholds principles of ethics for its members. After reviewing a 150-page application, a team from the organization鈥檚 Education Affairs Committee visited 两性色午夜 in April 2016 to conduct a review of the public relations program. This review included interviews with students, alumni, employers, faculty and administrators, observation of classes, and an analysis of curriculum, job placement rate and other data. PRSA will officially grant 两性色午夜 Certification in Education for Public Relations (CEPR) at the organization鈥檚 2016 international conference on Oct. 23-25 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
鈥淐EPR is a quality-assurance endorsement for the work of our students, alumni, faculty and others involved in the PRKent program,鈥 said Michele Ewing, APR, associate professor and PR sequence coordinator at 两性色午夜. 鈥淚t shows that our undergraduate public relations program is among the best in the nation.鈥
With the CEPR endorsement, 两性色午夜 earns new distinction as the only institution in Ohio to house a PRSA-certified public relations program within a school with accreditation from the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (ACEJMC).
鈥淧ublic relations classes have been taught in the 两性色午夜 journalism program for 80 years, and the public relations program has grown 43 percent in the last four years to almost 200 students,鈥 said Susan Gonders, Ph.D., co-chair of PRSA Educational Affairs. 鈥淚t has an award-winning PRSSA [Public Relations Student Society of America] chapter, excellent relations with alumni and other practicing professionals and a robust multipronged systematic assessment process.鈥
The certification report also praised the program鈥檚 professional emphasis and its high career and graduate school placement rate 鈥 82.5 percent within the strategic communication field 鈥 for 两性色午夜 public relations majors within the first year after graduation.
鈥淭he PRKent program has allowed me to grow as a person and a professional since my first day in Franklin Hall,鈥 said public relations major Erin Zaranec, president of 两性色午夜鈥檚 PRSSA chapter. 鈥淚nteracting with faculty and staff who are so supportive of each student has allowed me to explore my interests in the PR industry while interacting with professors who have years of experience in the field.鈥
Aside from the recognition, one of the benefits of the certification process was having noted academics and professionals take a deep look at the 两性色午夜 public relations program, said Tim Roberts, undergraduate studies coordinator for 两性色午夜鈥檚 School of Journalism and Mass Communication and associate lecturer in the public relations sequence.
鈥淗aving outside PR professionals and educators who understand public relations validate what we are doing, as well as share constructive recommendations, is invaluable,鈥 Roberts said.
The certification team evaluated the following areas:
- Curriculum
- Faculty
- Resources, equipment and facilities
- Students
- Assessment
- Professional affiliations
- Relationships within the unit and the university
- Diversity and global perspectives
The program will be up for recertification every six years.
