In an effort to better meet the needs of its burgeoning numbers of students and faculty, the College of Communications has adapted its administrative structure by creating four academic departments. Effective July 1, the college will be home to the departments of: Advertising/Public Relations; Film/Video and Media Studies; Journalism; and Telecommunications.
The College of Communications is the largest communications program in the country accredited by the Accrediting Council of Educators in Journalism and Mass Communication. The program was founded as the School of Communications in 1985 and became a college in 1994. In the time since its creation, undergraduate enrollment has grown from 855 students to 2,921, and the number of full-time faculty has increased from 28 to 55.
One interim and three permanent department heads have been appointed. They are: Robert Richards, associate dean for undergraduate education and faculty development, now interim head of the Department of Journalism; Robert Baukus, associate professor, will head the Department of Advertising/Public Relations; Mary Mander, associate professor, will head the Department of Film/Video and Media Studies, which will continue to offer majors in both areas; and Patrick Parsons, associate professor, will head the Department of Telecommunications. (See story in "Appointments" section on page 15.)
Departmentalization has been a topic of discussion among the college's faculty for several years, but was never formally considered. The administration sees several advantages to the move, including the enhancement of faculty development, greater stability and continuity through program-level leadership, greater faculty participation in program affairs and enhanced efficiency.