SUBJECT: Arthur Heise and the School of Journalism and Mass Communication (SJMC)

MEMORANDUM

TO: The University Community FROM: Mark B. Rosenberg SUBJECT: Arthur Heise and the School of Journalism and Mass Communication (SJMC) DATE: September 23, 2002

For nearly two decades, Arthur Heise has focused his efforts around the creation and development of a nationally-ranked journalism and mass communication program. Now, following significant accomplishments as the program’s dean, he has announced to his faculty that he will be stepping down as the leader of this nationally-ranked program.

Dean Heise is a 28-year veteran of FIU. Before taking the reins of the fledgling journalism program, he was twice chair of FIU's Department of Public Administration, where he was instrumental in the development of the institution's first doctoral program, the Ph.D. in public administration. He also helped to found what is now known as the College of Health and Urban Affairs.

In 1983, he turned his efforts to the establishment of a freestanding journalism and mass communication program, which received national accreditation in record time in 1991. This accomplishment is all the more notable because only 25 percent of nearly 400 communication programs in the country are accredited. Not surprisingly, the program has experienced nearly six-fold enrollment growth since its inception.

The student-centered culture of the School of Journalism and Mass Communication prides itself on its students' writing ability. This quality is highlighted by the fact that six graduates--two of them twice-- have won in whole or in part journalism’s most coveted recognition--the Pulitzer Prize. The School's graduate program in public relations is ranked as one of the top ten in the country.

Under Dean Heise's leadership and as a direct consequence of his entrepreneurial efforts, the School was the recipient in 1988 of one of FIU's largest Federal grants ever--$13.5 million for a ten-year Latin American Journalism Project. The initiative demonstrably improved the quality of journalism in Central America and left behind a self-sufficient, mid-career journalism training center in Panama, now run by Central American journalists for Central American journalists. The School is one of the few of its kind in the country to win Federal support, and has a significant record of attracting private foundation funding as well.

SJMC also developed a journalism master's degree program taught entirely in Spanish, the only such program in the United States. Though just a half dozen years old, the program is rapidly achieving hemisphere-wide recognition for excellence. Dean Heise also founded the Institute for Public Opinion Research in 1981. It is now FIU's survey-research arm, working with faculty from throughout the institution.

Dr. Heise will continue his duties as Dean for the remainder of the 2002-2003 academic year. A search for his successor will be initiated upon the completion of the journalism reaccreditation site visit in October 2002.

Please join me in thanking Art Heise for his singular accomplishment in the development of a focused, high-quality program in journalism and mass communication. Known and respected both nationally and internationally, the School is a credit to Florida International University and stands as testimony to the vision and determination of the Dean and his faculty colleagues. c: Modesto A. Maidique