CEPR Recognition Awarded

November 7, 2015

There are only 39 universities in the world that have earned the Public Relations Society of America’s recognition for excellence in public relations education. California State University, Fullerton is one of those universities.

CSUF’s Department of Communications has again earned PRSA’s Certification for Education in Public Relations. The CEPR recognition was presented Saturday, Nov. 7 in the General Assembly at PRSA’s International Conference in Atlanta. Dr. Doug Swanson, APR, Professor and Vice Chair of the Department of Communications, accepted the award. This is the third consecutive CEPR certification for the Department; it previously earned certification in 2002 and 2009.

 The Department of Communications spent a year preparing a rigorous self-study report and then underwent a CEPR site visit in February. At the conclusion of the visit, the team found full compliance with all PRSA standards. The team made particular note of “excellent service learning… dedicated faculty… diversity of student body… outstanding internship program… and excellent use of PR student agency in the curriculum.”

Dr. Dan Lattimore, APR, Dean of the University College at the University of Memphis, led the CEPR site visit team.

The PRSA National Board of Directors grants the CEPR credential for a period of six years at which time the academic institution is required submit to a recertification process in order to maintain its certification. In the two decades since its inception, 39 academic institutions in the United States, Canada, Europe, South America and New Zealand have been honored with this outstanding achievement.

Cal State Fullerton’s Department of Communications was among the first academic units to go through the CEPR process, and is one of only a handful of the 39 CEPR programs to have been certified three times.

Cal State Fullerton, designated as a Hispanic Serving Institution, was also recognized during the National Assembly for CSUF’s efforts to encourage more Latino and African American students to pursue public relations careers. This effort is being coordinated through the Public Relations Student Society of America Foundation.