The UNC Hussman School of Journalism acknowledged it “has not met its own ideals for creating an environment of diversity and inclusion” on Tuesday, in an email statement from interim dean Heidi Hennink-Kaminski.

The statement is a response to the school being downgraded to provisional accreditation status by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications in early May.

“The controversy surrounding the decision by Nikole Hannah-Jones to turn down a tenured, endowed chair at the school exposed long-standing problems,” the ACEJMC said at the time of its decision.

In her statement, Hennink-Kaminski assured students the school was still officially accredited, and noted a second review of the ACEJMC’s diversity and inclusiveness standard would be coming in 2024.

“We take responsibility and commit to the work ahead that will require the focus and effort of our entire community,” said Hennink-Kaminski. “The challenges with achieving a model culture of diversity and inclusion are not unique to our school, but we are a highly visible leader in our field, and we must embrace this as an opportunity for leadership in ensuring a diverse, inclusive and welcoming experience at our school.”

Hennink-Kaminski said upon Raul Reis’ arrival as the school’s new dean on July 1, the school would establish a “plan and process” for reformative work. She said school leadership will regularly report on said work throughout the fall.

 

Featured image via The Daily Tar Heel.

Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our biweekly newsletter.

 

Related Stories
‹
2 UNC Hussman School Educators Named Journalism Committee Presidents
A pair of figures within the UNC Hussman School for Journalism and Media were each named presidents of journalism committees this week. Raul Reis, the school’s new dean, was named the president of the Association of Schools of Journalism & Mass Communication. Professor Deb Aikat was named the president of the Association for Education in […]
UNC Journalism School Holds Official Naming Ceremony
As Walter Hussman Jr. addressed the crowd at UNC’s journalism school naming ceremony on Friday, he shared his initial reservations when first approached with the idea of naming the school after him. He said he couldn’t help comparing himself and his family to other people with named journalism schools in the country. “I thought [about] […]
UNC's Journalism School Renamed After Record Gift
UNC’s journalism school announced the largest single gift in its history on Tuesday. A $25 million donation has led to the rebranding of the school and a reinforcement of the lessons its teaching students. The gift from newspaper publisher Walter Hussman Jr. and his wife Ben led to a name-change from the UNC School of […]
UNC Historian, Author Earns 2025 Pulitzer for Book on Native American Communities
History professor and author Kathleen DuVal — who has taught and researched at the Chapel Hill campus since 2003 — saw her latest book, “Native Nations: A Millennium in North America," named a winner of the Pulitzer Prize for history.
UNC Grad's New Job Leads to Going Viral, Hanging With Simone Biles' Husband
Jasmine Baker, a recent alumna of the UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media, found her big break in an unexpected way at the Olympics.
UNC Researcher Details Pulitzer Prize Nomination, Story Revealing Blast Overpressure in Military
Daniel Johnson, who is at the UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media, published a story on brain injuries suffered by artillery crews.
In the Fight for Democracy, UNC Professor Enlists Local Media
Against a rise of anti-democratic behavior, UNC's Shannon McGregor calls for "democracy-framed election coverage" by journalists.
Misinformation, Disinformation, Social Media, and You
UNC scholar Shannon McGregor discusses misinformation and disinformation in politics - and what we can do about it.
In a Challenging Time, Raul Reis Takes Over As UNC Journalism School Dean
Raul Reis, the new dean of the UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media, discusses accreditation, journalistic principles, and more.
UNC Reaches Settlement with Journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones
UNC recently reached a settlement with Nikole Hannah-Jones approximately one year after controversy surrounding her tenure.
›