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University of Florida

CJC’s ACEJMC Assessment Plan

The Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications requires that graduates of accredited programs be aware of certain core values and competencies and be able to:

  1. Apply the principles and laws of freedom of speech and press, in a global context, and for the country in which the institution that invites ACEJMC is located
  2. Demonstrate an understanding of the multicultural history and role of professionals and institutions in shaping communications
  3. Demonstrate culturally proficient communication that empowers those traditionally disenfranchised in society, especially as grounded in race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation and ability, domestically and globally, across communication and media contexts
  4. Present images and information effectively and creatively, using appropriate tools and technologies
  5. Write correctly and clearly in forms and styles appropriate for the communications professions, audiences and purposes they serve
  6. Demonstrate an understanding of professional ethical principles and work ethically in pursuit of truth, accuracy, fairness and diversity
  7. Apply critical thinking skills in conducting research and evaluating information by methods appropriate to the communications professions in which they work
  8. Effectively and correctly apply basic numerical and statistical concepts
  9. Critically evaluate their own work and that of others for accuracy and fairness, clarity, appropriate style and grammatical correctness
  10. Apply tools and technologies appropriate for the communications professions in which they work.

Students in the CJC demonstrate their competency in these core values using three Direct and three Indirect Measures.

Direct Measures

Senior Examination or Senior Learning Assessment

  • This is a 50-question multiple choice exam that’s given to graduating seniors every spring semester, which assesses their breadth of general knowledge in their chosen field.
  • 35 questions are the same for all majors, and 15 are major-specific.
  • About 5 questions deal with each of the 10 ACEJMC core values.
  • The assessment gives the faculty an idea of what the students have learned, and if there are any knowledge gaps that need to be addressed to make sure the students are as ready as they can be to embark upon a successful career.

Capstone Projects Evaluated by Industry Professionals

Each of the four departments – Advertising, Journalism, Public Relations and Media Production, Management, and Technology — has a capstone class in which students produce a final project, which is then evaluated by industry professionals. The industry professionals are made up of people from each department’s advisory council.

The capstone classes in the four departments are:

Advertising

  • ADV4800: Advertising campaigns

Journalism

  • JOU 4930: Special Topics (These are rotating topics. A section that is specifically designed as a capstone experience can be counted pending department approval.)
  • JOU4950: Applied Journalism
  • JOU4950: Applied Journalism (Fresh Take Florida section)

Public Relations

  • PUR4800: Public Relations Campaigns

Media Production, Management, and Technology

  • RTV3305: In-Depth Projects
  • RTV4959s: Sports Capstone
  • RTV4800: Telecommunication Planning and Operations
  • RTV4929C: Advanced Production Workshop

Student Internship Evaluations by Supervisors

Internship coordinators fill out an evaluation form for each student. The evaluation form rates how well each student intern demonstrates an understanding of the concepts and theories relevant to their industry; the principles and laws of freedom of speech and the press; the history and role of professionals in shaping their industry; the diversity of groups in a global society in relationship to their industry; and the professional ethical principles in pursuit of truth, honesty, accuracy, fairness and diversity.

The evaluation form also rates how well each student intern demonstrates an ability to think critically, creatively and independently; write correctly and clearly in forms and styles appropriate for their profession; apply basic numerical and statistical concepts; and so on.

Indirect Measures

Graduation Survey

Every graduating senior is required to complete a graduation survey as a condition for graduation.

The graduation survey is comprised of 42 questions in 13 sections that help the faculty better understand what students have learned in their major, what experiential experiences and internships they had, what student organizations they’ve been a part of, how they feel the major prepared them for a career, whether they have accepted a job in the field, what they think the strengths and weaknesses of the college are, and so on.

Student Awards

CJC students’ competency in the ACEJMC core values is reflected by the myriad of awards they win each year in all four departments. These awards include:

  • American Advertising Awards – Student ADDYs
  • Hearst Journalism Awards
  • National Association of Black Journalists
  • Florida Association of Broadcast Journalists
  • BEA Student Festival of Media Arts
  • NBS-AERho Electronic Media Competition
  • PRSSA (Public Relations Student Society of America)
  • PRWeek U.S. Awards

Job Placement

In March of 2020, the College created the Office of Careers and Corporate Partnerships (OCCP) to help students better navigate the transition between the College and a career. Since hiring its first director, the OCCP has since grown to include a marketing analyst, a graduate assistant, as well as an intern. The OCCP partners with the UF Career Connections Center to provide career coaching and other career services to CJC students.

The job placement of our students grows every year thanks to the efforts of the OCCP, with programs and services such as:

  • The CJC Job & Internship Board, which provides students with up-to-date access to companies who are actively looking to fill internship and job positions.
  • Careers in Communication Fair, a career fair focused on journalism and communications, geared specifically toward CJC students
  • Employer Information Sessions & Workshops, events where students can learn more about specific opportunities within a company and network with recruiters
  • Gator-to-Gator Coaching Program, a mentorship program that pairs graduating students with alumni for a one-time virtual coaching session. This is an opportunity for students to ask questions and receive advice on navigating the job market and to discuss current career opportunities.