Public Relations concentration receives PRSA recertification

CEPR is a voluntary program that shows parents and prospective employers the Public Relations Society of America has given its quality-assurance endorsement to what and how Radford students are learning as they work to become public relations professionals."

Professor Lynn M. Zoch

The School of Communication’s public relations concentration at Radford University has been recertified by the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA).

The achievement of Certification in Education for Public Relations (CEPR) has been earned by only 34 undergraduate programs in the United States. Radford University is one of three institutions in the Commonwealth of Virginia to hold the certification and has been CEPR-certified since 2004. The honor will be recognized by the national PRSA in October.

Recertification was approved after a March site visit by two members of PRSA. In their report, the PRSA board stated that the new facilities located on campus were termed “spectacular” by the reviewers. The new facilities for the School of Communication are in the College of Humanities and Behavioral Sciences building, which houses the university’s emergency operations center, a social media watch center, television studios, numerous research labs and state-of-the-art classrooms and technology.

“Our program fulfills most of the attributes that PRSA looks for in developing young public relations professionals,” said Professor Lynn M. Zoch, who headed the year-long recertification effort. “Our students are learning what they need to be successful in their careers and get a job upon graduation.”

In addition to fulfilling the requirements set forth by PRSA, the public relations concentration encourages students to actively participate in its Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) and to attend the regional events of the professional Blue Ridge PRSA Chapter. This includes luncheons and speakers, as well as many networking opportunities. Attendance at the annual national PRSSA conference is also encouraged. Scheduled to take place this year in Boston, the conference is held in conjunction with the International PRSA Convention.

Aug 15, 2017
Max Esterhuizen
540-831-7749
westerhuizen@radford.edu