TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The public relations program in the College of Communication and Information Sciences department of advertising and public relations at The University of Alabama recently received Public Relations Society of America Certification (CEPR). PRSA’s certification report called UA’s PR program “one of the most successful undergraduate programs in the country.”

PRSA, the largest association of public relations executives in the United States with nearly 20,000 members, presented the certification award to Dr. William J. Gonzenbach, chairperson of UA’s advertising and public relations department, at the PRSA International Conference in New Orleans, Oct. 25.

“The certification recognizes the outstanding abilities of our faculty and students,” Gonzenbach said. “Being cited as one of the top programs in the country by these outstanding reviewers was an exceptional honor and recognition for our APR department.”

During the certification process, Gonzenbach said the PR program had to provide a detailed, written analysis of the program based on PRSA specifications and then two PRSA officials conducted a three-day site visit. John Paluszek, senior counsel at Ketchum Public Relations in New York, and Rochelle Ford, an assistant professor of public relations at Howard University, conducted the site visit. The two examined the qualifications of the program’s faculty and administration, as well as students’ perceptions of, and satisfaction with, the program.

The officials conducted phone interviews with company representatives who hire PR interns from UA and with alumni of the UA PR program. The visit also included an analysis of the PR program’s curriculum, resources and student services.

The College of Communication & Information Sciences is among the largest and most prestigious communication colleges in the nation. C&IS has graduated more than 12,000 students and consistently is ranked among the top 10 in number of doctoral degrees awarded and in many of its research programs. C&IS graduates have won four of the six Pulitzer Prizes awarded to University of Alabama alumni, and the forensics and debate squad, housed within the College, has garnered 14 national championships.