FAMU SJGC Earns ACEJMC Reaccreditation, Continues Legacy of Teaching Excellence
Accrediting Council Reaffirms Strong Curriculum
and Academic Leadership
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (May 1, 2025) – Florida A&M University’s award-winning School of Journalism & Graphic Communication (FAMU SJGC) is celebrating another milestone in its storied history. Dean Mira Lowe announced that the journalism program has received reaccreditation from the prestigious Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (ACEJMC) during its May 1 meeting in Washington, D.C.
ACEJMC is the agency charged with evaluating journalism and mass communication programs at colleges and universities to ensure they meet the highest standards in education. The Council voted unanimously to award reaccreditation to SJGC’s journalism division.
“As we strive to equip students for success in an evolving media landscape, ACEJMC reaccreditation affirms that we’ve succeeded in our ongoing efforts to uphold a standard of excellence and build on a four-decade legacy of premier journalism training,” said FAMU SJGC Dean Mira Lowe.
ACEJMC first accredited FAMU’s journalism program in 1982, making it the first journalism program at a historically Black college or university (HBCU) in the United States to carry the distinction. The FAMU SJGC Division of Journalism, which includes journalism and public relations tracks, also earned reaccreditation from ACEJMC in 1988, 1994, 2000, 2006, 2012, and 2020.
“We are delighted to receive reaccreditation by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communication,” said FAMU Interim President Timothy L. Beard, Ph.D. “Special thanks to Dean Mira Lowe and the School of Journalism & Graphic Communication faculty for achieving this milestone, which further strengthens our students’ experience and reaffirms our commitment to ‘Excellence with Caring.’”
The agency evaluates programs on eight standards: Governance and Administration; Curriculum and Instruction; Assessment of Learning Outcomes; Diversity and Inclusiveness; Faculty; Student Services; Resources, Facilities and Equipment; and Professional and Public Service.
"This reaccreditation affirms the academic excellence, visionary leadership, and lasting influence of FAMU’s School of Journalism & Graphic Communication,” said Provost Allyson L. Watson, Ph.D. “We commend Dean Lowe and the entire SJGC team for setting a high bar in journalism education and for preparing career-ready graduates to thrive in today’s dynamic communications industry.”
The reaccreditation process involved four critical steps: a comprehensive self-study to evaluate alignment with ACEJMC standards, an on-site review conducted by a team of academic experts and industry professionals, a review of the team’s findings and recommendation by the accrediting committee, and a final determination by the accrediting council based on the previous steps.
“Accreditation is a rigorous, peer-reviewed process that validates the quality of our curriculum, the strength of our faculty, the engagement we have with our alumni and stakeholders, the impact of our resource allocation, the unique attributes of our program and training, and our ability to follow and innovate best practices,” Lowe said. “I am grateful to university administrators, faculty, staff, students, and our alumni and supporters who have championed our efforts every step of the way.”
Learn more about FAMU SJGC’s Division of Journalism.
Learn more about ACEJMC accrediting standards.
Media Contact:
Alonda Thomas
alonda.thomas@famu.edu
About FAMU SJGC
The School of Journalism & Graphic Communication (SJGC) at Florida A&M University
(FAMU) is one of the nation’s premier journalism, visual communication and mass communication
programs. Founded in 1982, it is the first program of its kind at an HBCU to receive
national accreditation. With a focus on academic excellence, experiential learning,
and professional development, SJGC prepares students to be influential storytellers,
communicators, and leaders equipped to meet and exceed the demands of a competitive
and evolving media marketplace.
Learn more: sjgc.famu.edu.
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