Clint and other members: Your question had also been raised by individuals in a couple of other divisions. I am forwarding you the response. This response is also from COMSHER, but others have raised the same question. See response below. Linda Florence Callahan Susanna, Thanks for the response. A Program Discontinuance Committee at CU has recommended that the school be discontinued. Below are a couple of stories about this recent report: http://www.collegian.com/index.php/article/2010/11/111810_cujourno http://www.huffingtonpost.com/cu-independent/discontinuance-committee_b_7849 70.html On 12/1/10 11:55 AM, "[log in to unmask]" <[log in to unmask]> wrote: Amanda, other colleagues: A response from your resident critic: I find this out-of-the-blue statement more than a bit odd and - absent information on the circumstances - I don't support it. Why is it needed? Did I miss something? Is someone trying to shut the program down? And are we all equally eligible to get such a statement from AEJMC? If not, what criteria determine this? If we are, what meaning does such a statement actually have?? If AEJMC considers Colorado's program "outstanding, innovative and creative," in other words, how exactly was that determined (and by whom)? If AEJMC routinely writes such statements supporting any and all journalism programs in the country on request, then I'd like this verified. But the language here seems to imply much more than general support for maintaining journalism programs. Surely there is some program somewhere that might not deserve such a letter, so how is this decision to be made in particular cases? If there is a budget-based move to reorganize or eliminate this program, they probably won't be the only one facing this kind of challenge. If Colorado is not in trouble, then I'm further bewildered by this request. Sorry to be difficult, but I would need a lot more context (including answers to the above questions) to approve this idea. I would probably support a more generally worded letter about the importance of journalism education, but not one that singles out this or any specific program as "outstanding" without some kind of process for determining that. SP Susanna Priest, Ph.D. School of Environmental and Public Affairs Editor, Science Communication University of Nevada, Las Vegas Box 454030 4505 S Maryland Pkwy Las Vegas, NV 89154-4030 702 895 5146 [log in to unmask] "If you aren't part of the solution, you're part of the problem." -----"Communicating Science, Health, Environment & Risk" <[log in to unmask]> wrote: ----- To: [log in to unmask] From: "Hinnant, Amanda L." <[log in to unmask]> Sent by: "Communicating Science, Health, Environment & Risk" <[log in to unmask]> Date: 12/01/2010 07:27AM Subject: FW: ACTION NEEDED NOW _AEJMC_statement_RE_Colorado Dear ComSHER members, Please see the attached statement that addresses AEJMC support for CU's program in journalism and mass communication. If you think that ComSHER should comment on this statement as a division, or if you think the statement is unacceptable, please let me know by 5 pm this Thursday. Many thanks, Amanda, PF&R chair Amanda Hinnant, Ph.D. Assistant Professor Missouri School of Journalism 210 Lee Hills Hall University of Missouri Columbia, MO 65211 573.882.7980 [log in to unmask] ------ Forwarded Message From: Kathy Bradshaw <[log in to unmask]> Date: Tue, 30 Nov 2010 12:56:20 -0600 To: <[log in to unmask]>, <[log in to unmask]>, <[log in to unmask]>, <[log in to unmask]>, Amanda Hinnant <[log in to unmask]>, <[log in to unmask]>, <[log in to unmask]>, <[log in to unmask]>, <[log in to unmask]>, <[log in to unmask]>, <[log in to unmask]>, <[log in to unmask]> Cc: <[log in to unmask]> Subject: ACTION NEEDED NOW _AEJMC_statement_RE_Colorado We are asking for your reply this week! AEJMC is considering issuing the attached statement. You are receiving this copy because president Jan Slater would like your input as the PF&R chair for an AEJMC unit. It is also being sent to your chair, but we need to hear from you. When you decide if your group would like to comment, let us know. Your reply will go to me (vice-head of the Standing Committee on PR&R) and Lillie Fears (member of the Standing Committee on PF&R) and we will report to AEJMC president Jan Slater. Please let us know ..reply with your comment or reply with no comment, statement is acceptable. Thanks for your help, Kathy Katherine A. Bradshaw Associate Professor Department of Journalism and Public Relations School of Media and Communications 302 West Hall Bowling Green State University Bowling Green, OH 43403 419-372-2542 office ------ End of Forwarded Message [attachment "DRAFT_AEJMC_Statement_RE_ColoradoSJMC.doc" removed by Susanna Priest/UNLV]