Lennox: Do not abandon journalism accreditation
The decision not to pursue re-accreditation for the journalism department was a foolish decision that will come back to hurt Central Michigan University in the years to come.
When I was considering colleges to attend, I was lured by CMU's journalism program, which is one of the best in the entire Great Lakes and midwest regions. By not being accredited, the college will be losing hundreds of prospective students during the coming few years.
The claim by some that accreditation has no impact on the academic program or future success of students in the field is hogwash and complete, utter nonsense.
If accreditation isn't important, why has CMU bragged for years about being only one of two accredited journalism programs in Michigan?
Instead of spending hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars on a medical school, University President Michael Rao should focus on improving the quality of existing academic programs.
And the news that the journalism department will not be accredited is rather ironic because administrators are going out of their way to ensure the new medical school will be accredited, as a hospital will not hire a doctor from a college with a program that does not meet accepted educational standards and expectations.
If the administration doesn't have the money to improve the department to meet accreditation requirements, then perhaps it should lobby former professor-turned-Congressman Gary Peters for an earmark in this year's federal higher education appropriations.
After all, Peters owes his job to CMU, so he should be more than willing to help Rao and his old friends in Mount Pleasant. He might be able to convince congressional Democrats that the journalism department should receive a federal bailout.
I'm very disappointed CMU big-wigs have decided to marginalize journalism - a program that has graduated some of the college's most prestigious and successful alumni over the years.
Dennis Lennox II
Topinabee senior
