I am writing on this first day of the fall semester of the 2019-2020 academic year, Monday, Aug. 26, and excitement is in the air in Andersen Hall. Our 203 new students will help us continue our celebration of 125 years of journalism education at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, a legacy that includes you all.
As I look back on our storied history, I am proud of the most recent progress and accomplishments we have contributed in the last year and half. Since assuming the role of interim dean in January 2018, it has been my goal to support our students, grow our faculty and staff and engage you, our alumni, in planning for our future.
During the past year, we have worked hard to connect with you by hosting receptions across the country, increasing alumni featured in our social media, establishing our annual Homecoming Celebration (mark your calendars for Oct. 4).
At these events, alums from as recently as May 2019 have been able to connect with more established CoJMC grads, helping advance careers or mitigate homesickness, find housing or identify the easiest commute. Husker Nation CoJMC-style is a powerful network!
As I talk to you all, you have shared how your education and experiences with us have impacted your careers and lives. From both young and more seasoned alums, I’ve picked up on some common themes that have shaped my thoughts about our college.
One is the importance of our students learning across all the CoJMC disciplines. Our grads are moving a lot – and rapidly – between journalism, broadcasting, advertising, sports and public relations jobs. The media industries increasingly expect great skills in content creation, including writing, reporting, editing, photo, video, audio and social media, regardless of the name of the major on the resume.
And it’s assumed that our alums have learned the line between persuasive communication and objective reporting. While it’s not an us versus them media world anymore, the distinction between news and advertising/public relations is a critical concept that is best learned in classes where our students mix and mingle, debate and discover where the ethics of our professions are similar and where they differ.
Eighteen months of being “out in the field” with you convinced me that students in all four majors should take common “bookend classes” together, to understand the broader media landscape and be ready for the fluid, but principled, movement that marks all parts of our industries now. A sports-focused broadcasting alum is suddenly expected to cover the Unicameral. A grad moves from reporter to communications director of a non-profit. I have heard many of you talk about the need for our graduates to write and report, but also understand business fundamentals and strategic communications.
I’m excited that this fall, our college will launch our new common core. We will truly integrate the formerly stand-alone sports major into the rest of the college’s curriculum. We will bring both sports and ad/PR into the fundamental writing/reporting/editing classes. The News Lab will have broadcasting and journalism students working together in the converged newsroom we have wanted for years. And Jacht will welcome even more students now that the newly renamed Media Production option recognizes the commercial work done at the agency as capstone experience.
Your thoughts and input have also informed recent and upcoming hires in the college. We have hired seven new Professors of Practice since January 2018. They have brought energy and renewed currency of professional skills to our classrooms. They also bring teaching power, covering seven courses per year in the college.
We are currently seeking two tenure-leading faculty in journalism. Our Associate Dean Mary Kay Quinlan is leading the search for outstanding candidates that blend professional and academic experience.
We have also hired additional staff to support our growing student population. We hired a recruiter in spring 2019, who is a recent graduate of the college and speaks with passion about being a Husker. Our student services team has also grown with a graduate student services coordinator joined our ranks in spring 2018 to support our master’s and certificate students as they pursue enhanced credentials. A new academic adviser joined our student services team this summer to support our undergraduate majors and keep them on track for graduation. And a career services specialists is on board to help student get jobs and internships.
Your advice and input have been crucial this past year in helping us prepare for the future. I am consistently amazed and grateful for your seemingly unending support of the college.
As we move into the fall, I am looking forward to celebrating our history and our recent successes with all of you. I hope you will continue to join us at Drinks with the Dean events throughout the country. And, I hope you will consider coming home on Oct. 4 for our Homecoming Celebration to mark our anniversary and celebrate our CoJMC Family.
Thank you all for everything you have done. Here’s to another 125 years of success!
Amy
