Harding names new College of Communication

By The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

SEARCY - The Department of Communication has been redesignated a College of Communication. Effective with the start of the fall semester last Monday, Mike James, department chair since 1993, began serving as dean.

The college houses the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders and the Divisions of Mass Communication, Oral Communication and Theatre under the leadership of Rebecca O. Weaver, Jack Shock, Pat Garner and Robin Miller, respectively.

"This move aligns with the strategic goal of reshaping our organizational structure to match the growth and complexity of our academic programs," said Larry Long, vice president for Academic Affairs.

"Dr. James has been a strong and effective leader in the Department of Communication, and I anticipate he will continue that tradition at the level of dean," he added. "I look forward to working with Dr. James and the faculty in the new college. It encourages me to see the current growth and the potential for even more growth and excellence in the future."Formerly housed within the College of Arts and Humanities, the new college offers 10 undergraduate majors and one graduate degree. The Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders offers the Bachelor of Arts degree and the Master of Science degree in speech-language pathology. Six areas of study are available for students in mass communication - advertising, broadcast journalism, electronic media production, Web design and interactive media, print journalism and public relations.

More than 325 students are pursuing a degree through the College of Communication.

The College of Communication will continue to be responsible for the award-winning student publications - the Bison weekly student newspaper and Petit Jean yearbook; VideoWorks production company; KVHU radio; a cable TV station; the fall musical production and approximately 15 plays each year; Spring Sing; and a public speech therapy clinic.

James has served as a faculty member since 1979. He began working for the university in 1973 as director of photography for the Office of Public Relations.

Three Rivers, Pages 110 on 09/07/2008