From left, Dean Olson, President Bowman, Provost Presley, and School of Communication Director Larry Long

The Department of Communication was named School of Communication at a ress conference on Friday, May 6^th. The name change reflects the department’s expanding focus and outreach. “I am proud to announce this important change in status,” said Gary Olson, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. “The School offers students study in several professional areas and is a leader in outreach initiatives. Being named a School will bring an elevated level of prestige to Communication’s programs, to the College, to the College, and to the University.” While a “department” of communication typically focuses on one or two areas of study, a “school” of communication is much more complex, containing multiple programs of study and research such as journalism, broadcasting, and public relations.

In August 2001, the Department of Communication began updating its mission and vision, revising and refining curriculum, broadening outreach to the university and community, and increasing awareness of its faculty and graduate students’ diverse research and creative projects for application as a School of Communication. The Department’s application was approved by the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and forwarded to the Office of the Provost. Once the Provost approved the application, it was sent to the Academic Senate for review and then on to the President’s Office for final approval. The application received final approval from the President last week. 

“The change in name to School of Communication reflects the unit’s mission more clearly,” said Vice President and Provost John Presley.  “The change in name will coincide with trends across the discipline, and provide our strong programs more visibility.”

“We are a strong, diverse unit, with program breadth and depth that is among the strongest in the country,” said Larry Long, Director of the School of Communication. “For example, we have five strong undergraduate programs in communication studies, teacher education, journalism, mass communication, and public relations and we have one of the most highly respected graduate programs in communication. Attaining School status means that the College and University recognize the impact we have on educating Illinois and the world.”