Department Eyes New Budget, Accreditation
By Dru Glaze
Lemke Ledger Staff
The UA journalism faculty will have a full plate next year with watching budgets and preparing for accreditation as well as teaching classes.
The budget process is long. The Legislature first decides how much to spend on higher education, then each college on campus receives money from the university and finally the money trickles down to the departments from the colleges. With an uncertain economy, it is unknown just how much the journalism department can expect to receive.
One thing is for certain, said Dr. Patsy G. Watkins, department chair. The dean of Arts and Sciences has told the department chairs there would be no raises.
Most faculty already “kind of understood that,” she said.
Watkins said no raises are a disappointment to faculty, but most are happy to have a job and health insurance. Usually, when faculty members don’t receive a raise some start looking for other jobs, Watkins said, and that drains the department. Other universities, however, are far worse off.
“People seem to be dealing with it OK,” she said, adding she doesn't think the department will suffer much loss of faculty.
Even though a lack of raises tends to be a morale downer, Watkins said, she is seeing creative and innovative thinking. Faculty members are coming up with ideas for projects and ways to improve instruction. Watkins called that development “encouraging.”
A large part of the upcoming year will be spent preparing for a visit from the Accrediting Council for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication. The department will undergo a thorough assessment before receiving accreditation for another six years.
The process starts by Watkins asking the entire faculty for specific data. She will then write the results and create a binder that must be completed by September.
The next step in the process is a visit from four members of the council in January. The members will visit from Sunday through Wednesday, talking with students, faculty and administrators and looking through the data in the binder. Before the members leave they will make their recommendation.
Watkins said she could only remember one time when the department was given a provisional accreditation. Every other time the department was given a passing grade.
“I don’t see any reason why we shouldn’t this time,” Watkins said.
Accreditation does not come cheaply, though.
"It’s going to be expensive,” Watkins said.
She estimates the process will cost the department nearly $4,500. No funding is provided by the college or university. The department also has a $1,000-a-year AEJMC membership fee as well.
Even with the cost, Watkins said, the process is good for the department.
“It makes us look at what we’re doing,” she said.
It also helps the department get needed equipment and faculty. Watkins said that if the visitors say the department is doing a good job, but needs something, the university looks into seeing if the money is available for an upgrade.
In the early 1990s the visiting team said the broadcast sequence needed help. The department subsequently received a new faculty member and equipment for a TV studio because of that accrediting assessment.
The department is not just relying on the university for money; the department regularly applies for grants and looks for external funding, Watkins said. It has gotten hard to find support for a small- to medium-sized program, she said. Many foundations are less interested in buying equipment, but interested in looking at funding programs.
Watkins expressed appreciation to Lemke alumni and the donations they make.
It’s not a good time for journalism students looking for work, she said. They need help, and alumni being willing to take e-mails or phone calls from students about jobs and advise them is important.