The CSUDH journalism program has earned a six-year accreditation by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (ACEJMC), the primary educational association of journalism and mass communication educators, students, and media professionals.

The multi-year effort was spearheaded by Nancy Cheever, professor and former chair of the CSUDH Communications Department. “My primary goal was to do it for the students, because it’s going to mean a lot for their success,” she said.

“Being able to put on your resume that you graduated from an accredited program is huge. It’s going to allow our students to get into better internships and get better jobs. It will also provide some prestige for our program, and hopefully will attract more students.”

“This accomplishment is yet another sign that our university’s academic core continues to improve and get stronger. It is a testament to the hard work and excellence of Dr. Cheever, the faculty, and her entire team,” said CSUDH President Thomas A. Parham.

ACEJMC’s accreditation process can often take several years and involves an in-depth self-assessment of a program and the development of short-term and long-term strategic planning to achieve and maintain the accreditation standards.

“The ACEJMC report was very positive,” said Cheever. “They found us compliant on all nine standards, which is very rare for a program getting its accreditation for the first time.”

The council voted unanimously to accredit CSUDH’s journalism program at their general meeting in Chicago, Ill., during the last week of April 2022. The accreditation will last a full six years.

“It was a lot of work, but we did it,” said Cheever. “The ACEJMC loves what we are doing with our curriculum and our program, which is wonderful.”

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In April 2022, CSUDH students voted on a referendum to help fund a new on-campus Health, Wellness, and Recreation Center. The initiative passed, with 53% of Toros voting in support of raising student fees to invest in the proposed facility.

The four-story, 83,000-square-foot center will house basketball and volleyball courts, a rock-climbing wall, cardio workout equipment, an elevated jogging track, a dance studio, gender-inclusive locker rooms, and office space.

The facility will also include a satellite psychological services and mental health center, satellite student health center, healthy eating and nutritional counseling center, and stress-reduction and relaxation room. Funding for the $85 million project will come from the state of California (which has pledged a $20 million down payment), philanthropic contributions, and student fees.

Katrina Felipe (BA, ’22) was among the students who went on the fact-finding mission. “Being an integral part of the referendum meant a great deal to me because of the incredibly beneficial impact it will have on our campus,” she said. “Students will finally have a place on campus where they can focus on their physical, mental, and emotional health.”

The student referendum will raise the Student Body Center Fee by $215 per semester, and will be implemented once the facility is up and running. The project is scheduled for completion by Fall 2026.

More details about the project are available on the Health, Wellness, and Recreation Center page.

CSUDH launched the Once a Toro, Always a Toro program in April 2022 to help students who left the university before completing their degree. 

The new degree-completion pathway removes many of the barriers that often dissuade former students from reenrolling, giving them the confidence to re-launch their career goals, improve their earning potential, and exemplify college completion for themselves, their family, and community. 

“CSUDH students who have paused their education often cite the challenges of balancing work, school, family obligations, financial hardships, and personal challenges,” said Sabrina Sanders, Director of the Toro Reengagement Program, who oversees the program. 

California has long lagged in producing the number of college graduates needed to meet the workforce demands of a thriving labor market. The California State University (CSU) Graduation Initiative 2025 originated in response to this need for increasing college graduates and eliminating the equity gaps for students from underrepresented communities. The CSU is implementing university-wide changes to improve degree completion, with a focus on reenrolling students with some college, but no degree. 

The Once a Toro, Always a Toro program supports the CSU’s Graduation Initiative by fast-tracking returning students’ reentry, providing seamless reenrollment, and waiving application fees. It will also connect students to campus success centers to support them from re-enrollment, to graduation, to the workforce. 

“This is about student success,” said Sanders. “It is about helping students to the finish line to graduation—all students, especially those who may have had to pause their college journey.” 

For program details, visit Returning Toros on the CSUDH site.

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