Accreditation Information for SMC Students

What Is Accreditation?

Accreditation is an external review of our School and our programs. An independent team of professionals and educators will look at our curriculum, faculty, student learning, resources, professional preparation, and the ways we continually improve.

For the A.Q. Miller School, our accrediting organization is the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications (ACEJMC).

We have been working on a comprehensive self-study that asks important questions about our School:

  • What are we doing well?
  • What are our students learning?
  • How are we preparing students for a rapidly changing world?
  • Where can we improve?
  • What should the A.Q. Miller School look like in the future?
  • That last question is especially important.

Accreditation is, in part, about reflecting on what we have done. But, as a future-focused school, we think it’s also an opportunity to think boldly about what comes next.

Why Does This Matter to You?

Because this is your school. Everything we do is to support you!

Accreditation is an opportunity to make sure that your experience as an SMC student is rigorous, relevant, meaningful, and responsive to the demands of the world you will enter after graduation.

It gives us a chance to:

  • Listen to students and learn more about your experiences.
  • Celebrate the opportunities and experiences that make the Miller School distinctive.
  • Identify areas where we can do better.
  • Think about how our curriculum and programs should evolve.
  • Prepare for a future shaped by rapid technological change, artificial intelligence, evolving industries, uncertainty, and new opportunities.

It is also a chance to showcase the things that make the Miller School special: co-curricular experiences, applied learning, strategic thinking, interdisciplinary collaboration, and a willingness to push boundaries.

In other words, accreditation is one part of a larger conversation about the kind of education — and the kind of future — we are building together.

What Can You Expect This Year?

You may meet our accreditation visitors.

An accreditation site team will be on campus November 29–December 2. Members of the team may want to meet with students and hear directly about your experiences in the Miller School.

If you are invited to participate, we hope you will consider doing so. You do not need to prepare a speech or give a particular answer. We want you to share your honest experiences, perspectives, and ideas. They help us get better — and, as you know, we care very deeply about getting better and better.

Your voice matters.

You may notice some especially busy times for faculty and staff.

Our faculty and staff are working hard to prepare for the site visit. We anticipate particularly busy periods around September 18 and the Thanksgiving holiday as we complete important preparation work.

We will continue to be here to support you. If you need something from a faculty or staff member during those times, we appreciate your grace and, when possible, a little extra advance notice for requests that are not urgent.

You may hear more about the future.

One of the most exciting parts of this process is that it gives us an opportunity to think beyond the immediate demands of the semester.

You may hear more this year about the Miller School’s big-picture thinking: how we are preparing students for a rapidly changing world, how we are thinking about the future of media and communication, and how we can continue to create opportunities for students to learn, experiment, collaborate, and lead.

We want you to be part of that conversation.

Have Questions or Want to Get Involved?

You can talk with:

Dr. Woods will also host a student and faculty town hall on September 29 for anyone who wants to learn more, ask questions, share ideas, or find ways to participate.

More information about the time and location will be shared soon.

Keep Doing What Makes the Miller School Special

As we move through this important year, we hope you will keep doing the things that make the Miller School what it is.

Take advantage of opportunities beyond the classroom. Pursue applied learning. Think strategically. Ask hard questions. Make connections. Try something new. Push boundaries.

Those are things that set us apart. They are part of who we are.

Thank you for being part of the Miller School community — and for helping us imagine what comes next.

We are glad you are here.