JMC Accreditation Reevaluation

JMC Accreditation Reevaluation

The Journalism and Mass Communication (JMC) program at AUBG is currently in the process of reapplying for its Bulgarian accreditation. According to the Professors and Co-chairs of the JMC department, Prof. Darina Sarelska and Prof. Jason Murphy, this review follows recommendations from the Bulgarian National Evaluation and Accreditation Agency (NEAA) regarding the habilitation status of professors.

While this review is ongoing, the JMC program remains fully accredited in the United States. Both professors emphasized that no current JMC senior student will be affected. "All seniors will graduate with both their American and Bulgarian diplomas," confirmed Prof. Murphy.

The AUBG administration has 12 months to make the required changes, the standard time for accreditation reviews.

What is the habilitation process?

According to the Accreditation Coordinator, Tanya Papazova, the habilitation process is a formal process that determines who is officially recognized as a professor under Bulgarian law. Habilitation is both a promotion and hiring procedure for the academic posts of Associate Professor or Full Professor. To qualify, a candidate must present a dossier proving that their research meets Bulgaria's minimal national requirements.

However, these research-heavy requirements differ from those in many foreign systems, where teaching and professional experience may often carry more weight. As a result, professors who earned their titles abroad may not automatically meet Bulgaria's specific habilitation standards.  This is true even if they hold equivalent academic positions internationally.

Another factor in this may be the discontinuation of a previous bilateral agreement between the U.S. and Bulgaria. This was once supported by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), which recognized American professors as habilitated. Its closure, on July 1, 2025, may have indirectly influenced current accreditation standards.

What happens if accreditation is not renewed?

Both professors stressed that losing Bulgarian accreditation is not a scenario they anticipate. "There is a lot going on that we are all doing, and we're confident that we will get it back," stated Prof. Murphy, as it relates to reattaining the accreditation. The team's focus remains on compliance and renewal of the accreditation.

Prof Sarelska mentioned a Plan B: a potential collaboration with a European university to ensure degrees remain valid within the EU. Despite this, a future without accreditation for the JMC major is not in AUBG's plans.
  

Impact on Students and Curriculum?

For now, nothing changes in terms of graduation requirements or course structures. To dispel a myth that has been circulating on campus, Prof. Sarelska said, "The only risk upon your graduation is, you know, failing your exams. We still have our solid American diploma, nothing's changing there."

Both professors clarified that the concern lies entirely with administrative technicalities and not academic standards.

However, students still have their own concerns:

Freshman student, Eva, has stated, “I was always sure about majoring in JMC and something else. Hearing that I have to think about another major that will be accredited in both America and Bulgaria, I didn’t feel as secure as I did before.”

Sophomore student, Carol, expressed concern, “I was planning on majoring in JMC and Psychology, and Psychology is only American-accredited. I don’t want to pick another major, so I really need JMC.”

Junior student Nadine, despite being secure as she had already declared her major, said, “It bothers me a lot. I know I want to work in JMC. I wasn’t planning on just working in the U.S. or having just an American diploma; I was looking forward to the EU diploma.”

What Steps are Being Taken?

Both professors described the development as unexpected. The current challenge, they explained, has nothing to do with teaching quality.   

The faculty and administration are working hard on getting the habilitation for professors. The process of hiring new faculty who already meet the Bulgarian habilitation criteria has begun.
  

They are following every recommendation from the accreditation board "to the letter," as Prof. Sarelska put it.