Minutes for the Instructional and Developmental Communication Division

2009 Business Meeting

Chicago, IL, USA

Division officers were introduced by Acting Chair Cynthia Hoffner. Officers present were Acting Chair Cynthia Hoffner and Secretary Laramie Taylor.

2008 minutes were approved unanimously

A report from the ICA Board Meeting was made by Laramie Taylor; highlights of note included
Discussion on increasing the number of issues of Journal of Communication to be published each year
Selection of London as the conference site for 2013
Prague was rejected before the board meeting because it was deemed “too near” to Dresden, site of the 2008 conference
Details about the 2010 conference in Singapore
Discussion of possible ways to allow non-English submissions, with an emphasis on recruiting non-English language readers in the divisions.

The acting chair reviewed issues relating to the 2009 conference schedule
Reviewers and participants were thanked
Submissions were somewhat reduced from previous years, likely owing to the advent of the children and media interest group
Top paper awards were announced by the acting chair, and plaques were awarded to authors who were present
Patti Valkenberg and Jochen Peter, for “The development of online and offline self-disclosure in preadolescence and adolescence and their longitudinal effects on the quality of friendships
Connie Johnson for “Searching for the symbol in hip-hop music: wreaking havoc in the classroom with Burke’s agency”
Michel Dupagne, Diane Millette, and Kim Grinfeder, for “Effectiveness of video podcasts to enhance student performance in communication theory classes”
Top Student Paper award to Kevin Westmoreland Bowers, Matthew Ragas,a nd Jeffrey Neely, for “Assessing the value of virtual worlds for postsecondary instructors”
Travel grant recipients were noted
Volunteers were solicited to serve on committees and as reviewers for ICA 2010
Divisions for secretary and vice-chair were called for, but only one nomination was made: Jennifer Aubrey, U Missouri, was nominated for Secretary
Graduate teaching awards were discussed:
Past policy regarding the award was outlined by division secretary
The purposes of the award were identified: to encourage and acknowledge excellence in instruction by graduate students, and to increase attention to and interest in the division. The opinion was expressed that, because the division does not set or enforce any standard, but relies on departments’ judgments, the first purpose is unlikely to be accomplished. The second purpose doesn’t seem to be accomplished, either, as departments tend to not purchase a membership in the division for winners as recommended, and few award recipients or nominees attend the business meeting.
Interest in a more ‘legitimate’ award was expressed;
A working group was constituted to look into the standards and processes used by other organizations who give awards for graduate student teaching
A division member moved that the award in its current/traditional form be done away with. The move was seconded and passed unanimously.
The future and purpose of the division were discussed
It was noted that the Children, Adolescents, and Media interest group drew many of the most involved folk from the division
The main suggestion was a focus on the instructional mission of the division; most of the top papers for 2009 were instructional in nature. One suggestion was that the division become ‘exclusively’ instructional
Others noted that ‘developmental’ does not mean ‘children,’ and recommended maintaining the developmental component
It was proposed that the discussion be taken up again in a forum that would allow input from more of the division’s membership and leadership.