2001-2002 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Speech Communication
1. PROGRAM MISSION/PURPOSE
The Speech Communication Department’s program provides students with attitudes, skills, and knowledge that will allow them to communicate effectively, clearly, persuasively, and vividly. Specific skills students will demonstrate are critical thinking, listening, problem solving as a group member, speech composition and presentation, conflict management, relationship maintenance and enhancement, and dramatic interpretation. The speech program also provides multicultural education that will allow students to communicate effectively across linguistic, cultural, racial, gender, and class differences.
2. STUDENTS SERVED BY PROGRAM
This program provides service to a variety of programs and constituents across campus including academic transfer and professional/technical students alike. Some of the courses offered by the department are prerequisites for dental hygiene and law enforcement students. However, all students need effective communication skills in order to be successful in both their academic endeavors and their career aspirations. The demographics of those who enroll in classes in the speech program are highly diverse in terms of age, ethnicity, native language and goals, with an increasing number of non-native English speakers. This trend reflects the demographics of the surrounding community. Because the basic speech course emphasizes a cultural approach to the study of language, students gain invaluable skills for interacting in an increasingly multicultural society.
3. CRITERIA FOR MEASURING PROGRAM EFFECTIVENESS AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE COLLEGE
As evidenced by high retention rates and student satisfaction, the offerings of the speech program are a vibrant and popular portion of the curriculum of Shoreline Community College. The program also provides a cornerstone to the
college mission of multicultural education by offering classes that satisfy a graduation requirement. By examining student learning outcomes, professional development of the faculty, and service to the campus community we learn that the speech program meets the needs of a variety groups, programs and individuals on campus.
4. ENROLLMENT/STAFFING
Enrollment:
We saw a steady increase in FTE's in the years 1996-1999, with a decline in FTE's that coincided with the opening of Cascadia Community College. This decline in enrollment is consistent with campus wide trends.
Staffing:
In a six-year period, the department lost five full-time members to retirements, resignations and disability leave. The practice of not replacing senior faculty as they retired had a demoralizing effect on the remaining faculty. Currently, there are two full-time faculty members.
5. SIGNIFICANT ANTICIPATED CHANGES
The University of Washington's Department of Speech Communication and the School of Communications will soon merge, creating a new Department of Communication. Many of our students transfer to the University of Washington, so we are investigating a name change from Speech Communication to Communication Studies, in keeping with national trends.
The second change that will have a significant impact on the program is the dropping of the dual listing of Speech Communication 103 with Intra-American Studies. To compensate, we will develop a new course: Communicating Across Differences.
6. PROGRAM SELF-ASSESSMENT
Strengths:
The strengths of this program are the innovative curriculum, service to the campus community, student satisfaction, excellence in teaching and advising, professional development activities, community involvement of faculty, and impressive student retention rates.
Areas needing improvement:
The lack of full-time faculty replacement affects the amount of time current faculty members can spend in course design, resurrecting dormant courses, governance and advising.
7. DIVERSITY/MULTICULTURAL
The Speech Communication program is a leader in the multicultural movement on campus.
8. ACHIEVEMENT OF 2000-2001 GOALS
All goals either were actualized, or are currently in process.
9. PROGRAM GOALS AND OBJECTIVES FOR 2001-2002
All program goals and objectives of the Speech Communication program are intended to rebuild and strengthen the speech communication program to remain competitive in the thirty-three college system in the state.
1