Conner Wise

Dr. Shehan

PR Performance & Production

21 September 2020

Interview Speech

1. The new curriculum bridges the gap between courses in the Communication

department allowing for an easier transitioning period for students.

2. Communication major has split into different routes so students can have a niche

study within the Communication major (Film, Broadcasting, & Public Relations).

3. Intro – level Communication courses have divided the workload, so students do not

feel overwhelmed.

I want to personally thank you for taking the time to have me on here to inform

people about the communication curriculum changing for the 2020/2021 school year.

From a student perspective at Adrian College, faculty and staff want the best for their

scholars so we can begin our careers now. The first change that was made has allowed

students to have an easier transitioning period between courses. This bridges the gap

between courses, so the students are not forgetting information in between classes. For

instance, COMM310 TV Studio Productions has been switched to COMM290 TV

Productions. The number associated with the course depicts how challenging that course

is, 100 level classes being intro level classes, to 300 level courses being challenging

courses. The lowering of this course from a 300 level to a 200-level course, will allow

students to get an intermediate knowledge of the broadcasting department without taking

too much on at once. Not only has the course level been taken into consideration, but this

year the communication department has split up into three new majors so Communication

major students can decide what explicit field or track they want to go into. The

communication department has split into broadcasting, film, and public relations. For

example, COMM239 Digital Media Productions two, has now been raised to a 300-level

course. This change was made because Professor Neal wanted to go into his niche study

that will prepare his film students for the workforce after college. COMM339 Digital

Media Productions two will now be more of a challenging course with more techniques

and equipment to learn. The last focal point I will talk about will be the switch from

COMM307 Radio Productions to COMM285. Not only does this bridge the gap for

students, but it also takes the workload off of incoming freshman who have an interest in

the communication major. COMM109 TV and Radio Announcing, is one of the

beginning courses you take if you major in communications and was, personally, a

challenging course as a freshman. The switch in Radio Productions from a 300-level

course, to a 200-level course, was a critical and smart decision as this course will now act

as an intermediate class. Before, students felt bombarded with the workload that was

presented in COMM109 TV and Radio Announcing. With the Radio Productions level

being lowered, COMM109 students will now only focus on the announcing aspect, rather

than adding other equipment on top of that. This switch will severely help freshman

students as the knowledge will be spread out over their college careers so they can begin,

and focus, on their career now.

1. Do you believe more classes should be reevaluated on the workload? Or less?

2. How does this affect incoming students who are interested in the communication

department but are not entirely sure if that is what they want to go into?

3. Should more tracks or routes be added to the communication department? If so,

what kind of tracks?

4. How do you think the faculty and staff will handle this adjustment?