The idea that accreditation somehow leads to academic excellence is one of those foolish notions that has become embedded in American life. It never did, and today, many accrediting bodies have been captured by leftists who are intent on using them to push their “diversity” ideology. That leads to conflict when school policy has turned away from DEI.
That happens to be the case at the University of North Carolina, where the board has said “no” to DEI but the accrediting body for journalism, the Accrediting Council for Education in Journalism and Mass Communications (ACEJMC), insists that UNC’s School of Journalism continue its woke ways. Shannon Watkins explores this fight in today’s Martin Center article.
She writes:
For the accreditor, the school’s overt efforts to bolster diversity and inclusion by embedding them in syllabi, activities, research, and strategic goals were not sufficient. Such efforts, according to students and faculty, were superficial and represented merely “going through the motions.”
What should UNC do? Watkins has the right idea — forget about ACEJMC: “UNC should also seriously consider dropping ACEJMC as an accreditor. The reality is that ACEJMC’s claim to authority is weaker than some would like to admit. ACEJMC accreditation is optional and is not needed for the journalism school to receive federal or state funding. Nor is it required for a journalism graduate to get a job in the field.”
Get rid of this fifth wheel.