ACU Mission Statement
The mission of Abilene Christian University is to educate students for Christian service and leadership throughout the world.
Department Mission Statement
Our mission is to engage students in critical and creative thinking in the classroom, in the laboratory and through mentoring relationships, leading them to become exceptional, ethical and agile communicators in a rapidly changing media environment, embracing technology, valuing global diversity and embodying Christ-centered service.
Integration of Faith and Learning
Design discussion will be based upon the Christian value system in which truth, which is function, and aesthetic beauty, which is form, are foremost. The interrelated roles of function and form, as we can discover them from God’s Word and his creations, will be applied in the class. Design topics that will involve clear thinking and value judgments are how to display sensitive materials, how to balance content through design, how to prevent distortion and value abuse through design, and the relationship of advertising and editorial design.
Accreditation Standards Measured
As a part of Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) and Accrediting Council for Education of Journalism and Mass Communication (ACEJMC) accreditations, learning outcomes are assessed and recorded. All of the outcomes listed previously in this syllabus are assessed as part of the students’ individual learning. The following outcomes are assessed collectively:
Students will:
- demonstrate an understanding of the history and role of professionals and institutions in shaping communications;
- understand concepts and apply theories in the use and presentation of images and information;
- critically evaluate their own work and that of others for accuracy and fairness, clarity, appropriate style and grammatical correctness;
- apply tools and technologies appropriate for the communications professions in which they work.
JMC Academic Integrity Policy
“…Academic integrity is essential to the most effective development of a person’s intellectual skills and abilities. Academic dishonesty is not insignificant in its impact on student development. Violations of academic integrity … involve the intention to deceive or mislead or misrepresent, and therefore are a form of lying (and stealing). … The most powerful motive for integrity and truthfulness comes from one’s desire to imitate God’s nature in our lives …”
– From ACU Academic Integrity Policy, May 6, 2002, at acu. edu/campusoffices/provost)
Three elements of contemporary journalism and mass communication pose unique integrity challenges for faculty, staff, students and practitioners: (a) the public nature of these functions in society, (b) the absolute necessity to build and maintain credibility and reliability, and (c) the dangers brought on by the ease with which digital data can be stolen, copied, multiplied, manipulated and used to mislead and deceive.
Breakdowns of all forms of academic integrity in JMC classrooms, labs and student media are condemned categorically by the faculty of the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication: in group projects, research papers, exams, out-of-class assignments, in-class work, individual projects, lab work, material prepared for public distribution via departmental media, internships, résumés, and in JMC-sponsored organizations.
ACU Dress Code
Students are encouraged to demonstrate by their dress and appearance a mature Christian attitude and the ability to discern propriety. The university also seeks to prepare students for professional careers where certain standards of dress are required for employment. Part of the educational process, then, is learning to dress appropriately. The following standards and guidelines will assist students in making decisions about their dress and appearance on campus, in class, in Chapel and at all university-sponsored activities, including athletics events.
All students, staff and faculty are expected to dress with Christian appropriateness. Dress should be modest. Some extremes are not acceptable, including halter tops, crop tops/open midriffs and short and/or revealing skirts and shorts.
Body piercing is a growing concern among health care professionals and in some cases is considered by the university as outside the bounds of Christian appropriateness. Extreme, or otherwise distracting or harmful, body piercing is discouraged and will be addressed by Campus Life officials.
During work periods, student workers are expected to conform to the dress code set by the department in which they work.
Shorts may be worn on campus, during classes and in Chapel. However, shorts (and skirts) must be modest and conform to a standard of mid-thigh or longer.
Athletic clothing appropriate to the sport may be worn while participating in athletic classes/activities in designated athletic areas.
Clothing with inappropriate advertising, pictures and/or sayings that are contrary to the mission and Christian standards of ACU are prohibited.
Each faculty member will announce whether men may wear hats during class. (Hats will not be worn in reporting class.) Students are asked to remove their caps during times of prayer.
Individual faculty members may have additional dress requirements or preferences concerning appropriate student attire in his or her classroom.
Implementation and enforcement of the dress code are the responsibility of the entire university community. Questions about the interpretation and enforcement of these standards should be directed to the dean of campus life.
Disability Statement
Appropriate accommodations will be provided for students with documented disabilities. Students seeking reasonable accommodations for any recognized disability must submit requests in writing to the instructor by the end of the second week of the semester. This documentation must come in writing from ACU’s Alpha Academic Services, which can be contacted at 2667. The ability to consistently meet deadlines is an essential requirement of most media and media related professions. Thus, in JMC courses subsequent to this one where meeting deadlines is an inherent element of instruction, extended time for some types of testing or other assignments may not always be an option.
Diversity Perspective
Those who control the flow of images in the mass media have a responsibility to their audience to illustrate messages in a fair and truthful manner, without bias or prejudice, and with careful consideration to creating imagery that does not reinforce societal stereotypes.