The OCU Department of Mass Communications has created a new advisory board called the “communications council.”
Beth Adele, director and assistant professor of mass communications, created an advisory board composed of alumni and industry professionals. The board currently consists of 22 people. Their first meeting was on Oct. 11.
“It’s really important for academic programs to have internal advisory boards to make sure that what we teach in the classroom remains relevant,” Adele said. “People don’t form advisory boards unless they’re really excited and ready to listen to what is going really well in the department or what needs to be improved.”
Adele also said industries that work with communication majors are some of the most dynamic in the business.
“They’re always changing with new technologies and new consumer preferences,” she said. “When your primary job is to make sure the curriculum is preparing students for the workplace, it’s very important to touch base with industry professionals and those who are doing the work.”
Adele said the communications council allows alumni to advise the department and allows the department to show alumni the university is proud of them and their work.
“A council with alumni involved allows me to listen to colleagues and peers and helps me strategize,” she said. “It makes mass communications not a department of one, but a think-tank for the betterment of the students.”
Katie Allsup, music theater junior with a minor in mass communications, said the new advisory board is an especially good idea because the department has been taken over by new leadership.
“There’s been a huge transition in the mass communications department leading into the semester,” she said. “I think this communications council is good because the students need to know what’s relevant right now in the industry in order to take full advantage of our education in the department.”
Allsup also said the advisory board is beneficial for both networking and learning about the industry.
“It’s important to be able to talk to people in the field right now, not just to make personal connections, but to further your knowledge of the tools you’re going to need when you graduate,” she said.
Adele said the communications council will meet twice a year and subcommittees will meet between two and four times a year. The subcommittees will be formed based on how alumni and industry professionals prefer to be most involved, such as updating curriculum or showing financial support.
The communications council’s spring meeting is set to be open to students within the department. For information about upcoming events or any questions, contact Adele at badele@okcu.edu.
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