TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The journalism and mass communication programs in the College of Communication and Information Sciences at The University of Alabama have successfully completed a re-accreditation process that has solidified their rankings among the top programs in the country.

Included in the areas of re-accreditation were the departments of journalism, telecommunication and film and advertising and public relations. The Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications recently presented its decision. The last accreditation took pace in early 1997. The group looked at both the undergraduate and professional masters programs.

Dr. Cully Clark, dean of the College of Communication and Information Sciences, said the College had the responsibility of answering 12 specific questions regarding facilities, faculty, research, teaching and service, which resulted in reams of information for the auditors.

The council bases its decision on results from a site visit and the degree to which the unit’s program complies with the standard of accreditation and the degree to which a program accomplishes its stated goals. The Student Services facilities and the advising programs received special praise, as did faculty instruction and research.

“I was pleased with the highly positive assessment the review team made of C&IS during the exit interview with interim President Mason and me,” said Dr. Nancy Barrett, UA provost and vice president for academic affairs. “It is most gratifying when visitors recognize the strengths of our excellent academic programs.”

The College of Communication & Information Sciences is among the largest and most prestigious communication colleges in the nation. Graduating more than 12,000 students, C&IS is consistently ranked among the top 10 in number of doctoral degrees awarded and in many of its research programs. C&IS graduates have won four of the six Pulitzer Prizes awarded to University of Alabama alumni, and the forensics and debate squad, housed within the College, has garnered 14 national championships.