Dear Dean...

Dean David V. Powers:

Recently, there have been talks around the idea of splitting the Communications Department and Journalism Department for reasons of funding. Cuts in this program are being proposed around the basis of saving money as the economy continues to maintain negative impacts surrounding the educational system. However, I think that this leads to some serious repercussions that need to be critically addressed and evaluated. Additionally, I think that cuts would ultimately be better served in other departments.

Surrounding the idea of why the split would be a negative decision are several very strong reasons. First, the idea of dependancy within this department is critical to support the mission of 'educating the whole person'. Here, it is quite obvious that the two departments fundamentally need one another to allow for successful fundamental education. A student cannot learn how to effectively communicate unless they are to understand the mediums on which to communicate (which journalism allows for). The opposite is true as well, a journalism student cannot effectively communicate their message unless that fundamentally understand the idea of messaging and audience. Thus, the two are so adherently intertwined I cannot see how any possible benefit could be derived off of this plan. Second, because these two mediums are so fundamentally intertwined, it seems as though it would be counter-productive to split the two departments due to the fact that the same types of curriculum that the other department offers would have to be reintegrated into the new department. This will cause increases in program costs due to staffing as well as new program and curriculum development. Third, as tuition increases are already on the rise and the economy continues to dwindle cutting education (which has the potential to stimulate the economy) is also not the solution. This is a time when education needs to be developed rather than held back. In this, it is important to set the example.

There are other compromises that can be made which cannot fundamentally effect the quality of education. First, instead of increasing new student enrollment at record amounts, it is important to rethink this position. However, questions still remain, without increasing the rate of new student enrollment we are also loosing valuable tuition yet at the same time increased enrollment leads to increased demands in programs. Perhaps, this issue is both instigating and hindering the problem of funding. Perhaps, the best way to address this issue is to consolidate some of the majors that are perhaps not receiving as much growth and allow that particular field to be a specialization within the given major. This would account for any classes that aren't being filled to their appropriate capacity as well as lead to more power and specialization behind one discipline. However, the remember that the departments are fundamentally intertwined so it is important not to cause more problems by leading up to their separation.

The media quite obviously fundamentally fuels our knowledge of the world around us. It is a powerful tool not only for the growth of a nation, but also the growth of the individual. To be an effective citizen, it is imperative that there is an adherent understanding of how our media systems work so we can be and become active citizens as well as consumers.