Dear CoJMC Alums and Friends,
One of my recent tasks was to develop a document outlining strategic priorities for our college. It was a great opportunity to think about all the things I have heard the last four months. I’ve had one-on-one conversations with every member of our college staff and faculty since stepping into this role on January 20. I realized the required planning exercise provided an impetus to distill what I’ve heard up to now. So here’s a stake in the ground that we can all consider this summer. Please let me know if you feel what follows is an accurate description of at least some of our dreams for the college.
The College of Journalism and Mass Communications is an inclusive family of staff and faculty that is nimble and flexible, a creative and forward-thinking community committed to providing high-quality experiential hands-on discovery to our students through an integrated and innovative curriculum, in order to develop a talent pipeline of media and communications professionals adept at finding and revealing facts, evidence and data that tell compelling non-fiction stories in immersive ways.
We use our smaller size as an advantage in a higher education environment that demands change. We can make and implement quick decisions, try out ideas without fear, take risks and keep going. We are a professionally-oriented faculty, trained in responding thoughtfully and carefully, but with the sense of urgency that our disciplines and industries require, prepared to meet endless, constant deadlines. Our culture is one of deep discussion around issues, but always with a view to action. Our staff and faculty numbers will allow us to be responsive in ways that larger groups may find more challenging.
We aim to seamlessly integrate the staff and faculty into a college of the whole. Discipline-specific sequences may foster an urge to guard territories, budgets, spaces and equipment to the detriment of our students. Our students want the knowledge and skills from across the CoJMC spectrum. They do not see the divisions that may have been consistent with the media landscape 30 years ago, but no longer are. Integration of the staff into decision-making is imperative, as they often provide our most on-the-ground interactions with the largest number of students. We will meet as a college and make decisions together. Integrated committees will be empowered to bring forward proposals for full faculty consideration, simplifying approval processes.
The college we aim to build is profession-oriented. This refreshed focus on our industries positions us as the talent pipeline for all communications-related needs. Our research is incredibly important and highly valued in our Big 10 institution. Creative activity that models best practices in our disciplines or pushes limits is equally significant. We will keep our overall direction consistent with the reality of a college that grants the professional Bachelor of Journalism degree, but is part of a Big 10 Research 1 institution.
We are willing to take smart risks with our curriculum. Our pop-up classes will continue to provide quick ways to react to industry needs, student interests, faculty exploration and campus demands. Other concepts for “chunks” of education taught in innovative ways will be constantly considered.
We will honor, celebrate and grow the diversity in our college and our industries. Media organizations, like higher education, are intensely focused on increasing representation of marginalized demographics. Our college attracts a diverse student population, but we will work to increase those numbers, and just as importantly, toward making our college more welcoming for diverse staff and faculty.
Our students want to do, and we won’t make them wait. From the moment they come to campus, students will have hands-on opportunities under the guidance of skilled faculty and staff. Their work will be visible and sharable with their families and friends.
What other aspects of our conversations are important to building out this college manifesto? Let me know as your summer continues.
