From the chair:

Lochte

This fall, we renew the ACEJMC accreditation of all undergraduate programs ­ Advertising, Journalism, Public Relations, and Television Production.

We are currently writing the self-study, a massive document that describes who we are, what we do, and how our graduates benefit from it.

The site visit team arrives for three days in late October to tour the facilities and talk to students, faculty, staff, and administrators.

There are nine standards by which we are judged, including curriculum, facilities, expertise, strategic planning, and outcomes assessment.

Dr. Corley Dennison, head of the School of Journalism and Mass Communications at Marshall University, visited us in March for a preliminary review and found us in compliance with six standards. On two others, we need to rewrite sections of the report to clarify what we are doing. On the last one, which deals with facilities, we need to invest in new equipment and update facilities.

That brings me to topic number 2 ­ technology. Through your generosity and the attention of Dean Tim Todd, who has made ACEJMC accreditation a priority for the College of Business, we are able to build a new multimedia computer lab in the Fine Arts building and upgrade the second computer lab there and the one in Wilson Hall. We are also acquiring $50,000 in new digital audio, video, and graphics equipment to support classes for all our majors. It's going to be a busy summer.

My third interest is curriculum. We had a very successful review of the Television Production sequence this year. Students and faculty are excited about the new focus on independent television production.

Now we must tackle the challenge of the Journalism curriculum. As you know from following what's happening in the newspaper, television news, and online news businesses, the market is changing very rapidly because the audience is finding new ways to get the information it needs for daily life. Our curriculum must evolve to accommodate the new realities.

Finally, I'm concerned with what it costs to attend Murray State University and the political and social reactions to higher tuition, fees, and cost of textbooks and supplies.

In the past 20 years, the share of Murray State's budget covered by state funding has declined from slightly more than half to about one third. Students, their parents, and charitable alumni such as you have had to make up the difference. Tuition and fees are going up again next year. We are trying to help by eliminating textbooks in some classes, replacing them with instructional software or less costly online resources.

If you are interested in supplementing one of our JMC scholarship funds to help current students, please contact me.

In fact, why don't you contact me just to say hello. Or even better yet, come visit us when you have the time.

Bob Lochte
chair