Nov. 17, 2021 — The Commission on Public Relations Education (CPRE), an international professional organization dedicated to advancing excellence in public relations education and the industry, has entered a partnership with the Institute for Public Relations (IPR) to further advance its research activities globally and assist in formalizing CPRE’s structure. CPRE issued an RFP for potential organizational partners in March, and selected IPR following review of proposals by a variety of professional associations.
Effective today, IPR and CPRE will implement an agreement to coordinate activities and resources, and will pursue 501(c)(3) status for CPRE so it can maintain independent governance of its operations. In addition, the PR Council will support CPRE and IPR in these efforts, lending the strength of its PR agency members to address the profession’s growth and aid CPRE’s role in developing curricula and standards that prepare students for professional success.
“This is a red-letter day in CPRE’s 48-year history,” said Anthony D’Angelo, APR, Fellow PRSA, the Commission’s co-chair and professor of practice at Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Public Communications. “In order to advance and accelerate the research we do to keep college curricula relevant to the needs of the profession, we needed a partner that would enable us to become a legal entity, develop our resources and expand our organizational structure. We’re excited for the potential this partnership with IPR brings, with the support of the PR Council.”
“Our Selection Committee was deeply impressed with the knowledgeable insights and spirit of collaboration IPR brought to this process, and the creativity demonstrated in involving the PR Council and its president, Kim Sample,” said Stacey Smith, APR, Fellow PRSA, and the Commission’s other co-chair. “We’ll now be in a position to more actively solicit grant funding for our research, as well as sponsor more practitioner/educator interactions to enable more continuous and responsive curriculum development.”
“IPR has long supported the work of CPRE and we are absolutely thrilled to partner with them and work with the PR Council to help support CPRE’s mission to continue to advance excellence in public relations education,” said IPR President and CEO Dr. Tina McCorkindale, APR.
Established in 1973 by the Public Relations Society of America and the public relations division of AEJ (now the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication, or AEJMC), the Commission has conducted ground-breaking research and published major reports that have impacted both the profession and public relations education. Its 65-member Board includes representatives of 20 major national and international public relations-related organizations and industries, as well as individual educators and public relations professionals.
About the Commission on Public Relations Education
The Commission on Public Relations Education is the authoritative voice on public relations education. It has provided recommendations on public relations education for universities and professional associations across the globe. These recommendations have been adopted and adapted to positively impact undergraduate and graduate public relations education. The Commission’s work also produces essential data and recommendations informed by research and honed by experienced practitioners and educators, and used by educators, educational administrators, students, practitioners and industry leaders. The Commission also strives to offer a forum for advancing public relations education with a global perspective.
About the Institute for Public Relations
Founded in 1956, the Institute for Public Relations is an independent, nonprofit foundation dedicated to the science beneath the art of public relations.™ IPR creates, curates, and promotes research and initiatives that empower professionals with actionable insights and intelligence they can put to immediate use. IPR predicts and analyzes global factors transforming the profession, and amplifies and engages the professional globally through thought leadership and programming. All research is available free at www.instituteforpr.org and provides the basis for IPR’s professional conferences and events.
About the PR Council
The PR Council is the only association dedicated to supporting agencies with public relations offerings. PR Council Member agencies – 130+ of the country’s premier global, mid-size, regional and specialty firms – operate in the most sophisticated public relations market in the world, set the standard for excellence and share a common desire to build the world’s most successful agencies.
Contacts:
Nikki Kesaris, Institute for Public Relations
nikki@instituteforpr.org
Anthony D’Angelo, APR, Fellow PRSA, CPRE
dangeloa@syr.edu
Stacey Smith, APR, Fellow PRSA, CPRE
ssmith@jjwpr.com