Final Report

Within three weeks after completion of the site visit, the site evaluation team leader, in consultation with all site team members, will complete the final report.

The report will be forwarded to the Chief Executive Officer of the institution, the Chief Administrative Officer of the unit, and all members of the Board of Directors of the American Communication Association. The report shall make one of three recommendations to the Board:

• The unit should receive unconditional accreditation for a five year period of time.
  
• The unit should receive one-year conditional approval contingent upon making recommended changes reflected in the final report.
  
• The unit is not recommended for accreditation by the ACA.

In the case of conditional approval, a follow-up site visit will be required at the end of the probationary year to confirm that recommended changes have been implemented. In the case of a unit being not recommended for accreditation by the ACA, that unit may reapply after two academic years. Reapplication should detail specifically what changes have been implemented since the initial site visit.

Accreditation is the exclusive prerogative of the Board of Directors of the ACA, and comes only upon a majority vote of all members. This vote is taken annually at the convention of the American Communication Association.

For more information on ACA Program Accreditation, email ACA Executive Director, Dr. Rita Kirk: rkirk(at)smu.edu