The Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications (ACEJMC) unanimously voted to renew the school’s accreditation – its fourth consecutive recommendation since 2006.
The Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications (ACEJMC) has unanimously voted to grant full reaccreditation to Elon University’s School of Communications, continuing a streak of success that began with its initial accreditation in 2006 and continued with renewals in 2012, 2018, and now 2025.
The decision, announced during the ACEJMC Council meeting on May 1 at the Freedom Forum in Washington, D.C., praised Elon’s program as an “all-star” in the field. Citing the school’s strong leadership, state-of-the-art facilities, and commitment to student-centered learning, the ACEJMC Committee vice chair commended the school for helping fill the news desert in Alamance County and exemplifying the excellence reflected in Elon’s No. 1 national ranking in undergraduate teaching by U.S. News & World Report.
“Reaccreditation by ACEJMC is more than a badge of honor – it is a testament to our faculty’s dedication, our students’ ambition, and the university’s unwavering support for high-impact learning,” said Kenn Gaither, dean of the School of Communications. “This milestone reinforces our belief in a communications education that blends professional excellence with a deep sense of purpose. It tells the world we prepare students not just for careers – but for leadership, citizenship and service.”
To receive reaccreditation, the School of Communications underwent an exhaustive review process. During the 2023-24 academic year, faculty and staff completed a comprehensive 171-page self-study that addressed ACEJMC’s eight core standards: mission, governance and administration; curriculum and instruction; assessment of learning outcomes; diversity and inclusiveness; faculty; student services; resources, facilities and equipment; and public and professional service.
In November, a six-member ACEJMC site team visited Elon’s campus to meet with faculty, staff, students, university leaders, and members of the school’s National Advisory Board. At the conclusion of the four-day visit, the team submitted a 50-page report recommending full reaccreditation for another six years. That recommendation was upheld by the Accrediting Committee in March and formally approved in May.
Among the team’s most notable observations was the school’s distinctive “culture of care and common purpose,” a phrase echoed in student testimonials. Gaither explained that the visiting team was especially moved by how faculty and staff invest personally in student success.
“Our strength lies in our community,” Gaither said. “The team recognized what we see every day – that students thrive here not just because of outstanding facilities or award-winning programs, but because they feel seen, supported and inspired.”
The ACEJMC report identified the following standout strengths:
- A program that reflects the university’s U.S. News & World Report No. 1 ranking in undergraduate teaching.
- A dean who is highly respected across campus and the discipline.
- Student media that fill a void in a geographic area that would otherwise be a local news desert.
- An award-winning student-run strategic communications agency working with real-world clients.
- Cutting-edge facilities that serve as a showcase for student and faculty work.
- A strong sense of belonging and shared mission among faculty, staff and students – affectionately described as “Camp Elon.”
The site team’s report noted that “students rave about how much faculty members care about every student” and added that “it is an understatement to say the school goes above and beyond what many institutions provide regarding student services.” Both empirical data and personal stories shared with the team highlighted a campus culture where students feel deeply prepared for their careers and supported in their academic journeys.
Elon is one of only 18 private universities in the nation with an ACEJMC-accredited communications school, joining a distinguished group that includes Columbia University, Syracuse University, the University of Southern California, and New York University. In total, 120 institutions around the world hold ACEJMC accreditation, which is reviewed on a six-year cycle.