San Luis Obispo – After completing an extensive self-study and hosting a site visit by a three-member team of industry and education experts, the Graphic Communication Department at Cal Poly has received national re-accreditation effective Sept. 1, 2010-Aug. 31, 2016.

The Accrediting Council for Collegiate Graphic Communications, Inc. (ACCGC) awarded the academic accreditation. The council is an independent body professionally supported by collegiate leaders and management personnel in the graphic communication industry.  The council’s board of directors comprises 11 educators and eight industry personnel in the graphic communication field and is dedicated to the improvement and recognition of collegiate level curricula in graphic communication. The council is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt body supported through industry contributions and educational accreditation fees.

A formal presentation was made and a recognition plaque was given to faculty and administrative representatives from Cal Poly during the Oct. 3 annual ACCGC Board of Directors meeting. The annual meeting is always held at McCormick Place in Chicago during the Graph Expo and Print shows, which are the largest graphic communication expositions held annually in the U.S.

“ACCGC accreditation has further established the credibility of Cal Poly’s Graphic Communication Department as an important academic program with a vision for educating future professions and leaders,” said department Head Harvey Levenson. “The university administration respects the views and recommendations of independent bodies such as the ACCGC and has provided the Graphic Communication Department with resources for growth and development because of its re-accreditation status.”

Linda H. Halisky, dean of Cal Poly’s College of Liberal Arts, said the department has been recognized one of the best in the country for many years. “We are gratified,” she added, “that the sterling report of the ACCGC again confirms and underscores this program’s wonderful and well earned reputation.”

In their “Visitation Report,” the council’s team stated that the Graphic Communication Department has an important mission, well aligned with the missions of the College of Liberal Arts and Cal Poly. “Also,” the team wrote, “the curricular outcomes of the program are well analyzed and validated, appropriate to the discipline, and provide a framework for the course competencies that support them.”