 A
Note
from Dean Charles
Edwards
In my inaugural Reliable Source column, I asked everyone to stay tuned
to hear about the changes coming as we addressed the challenges and opportunities
at the SJMC.
To quote from my column: "stay tuned to hear how we are clarifying and strengthening
SJMC's mission, role in and responsibility to our students, our alumni, our industry
(both academic and professional)
and Drake University."
Drum roll please...I would like to share with our Reliable Source readers the
results of SJMC's six-month strategic planning effort, which has produced a new
mission statement, agreement on our core values and a strategic plan for the school.
SJMC Mission
Statement (excerpt)
"Development of professionals who combine outstanding communications skills
with an appreciation of the challenges and opportunities posed by globalization
and technological change."
SJMC Core Values
Values - learned in our course content and curriculum:
- 1st Amendment
and communications law
- History of people/institutions
in shaping communications
- Communications
and diversity in a global society
- Communications
theory and application
- Ethics and communication
- truth, accuracy, fairness, diversity
- Research and analysis
Values - learned
in the classroom:
- Critical, creative
and independent thought
- High quality and
appropriate writing in context
- Critical evaluations
(of one's own and others' work)
- Math skills
- Application of
appropriate technologies
Values - learned
in the SJMC environment:
- Student ownership
of academic experience
- Community engagement
- university, local community, professional groups
- Ability to cope/thrive
in the workplace/market
- SJMC 2003-2005
Strategic Plan
Goal #1: Curriculum
- A curriculum that enables our students to select the optimal blend of practical
journalism/mass communication training and liberal arts to obtain employment and
make a contribution to the field.
Strategies:
- Comprehensive
curriculum/technology review
- Full compliance
on the 2005 ACEJMC Accreditation Review
- Establish process
for periodic curriculum/assessment review
Goal #2: Academic
Environment - Academic culture and environment that enables SJMC students,
faculty and staff to function effectively as members of diverse local, national
and global communities.
Strategies:
- Improve diversity
profile
- Evaluate resource
utilization - faculty, systems, and capital
- Establish performance
assessment process
Goal #3: Improve
and sustain the financial strength of the SJMC.
Strategies:
- Review internal
funds allocation
- Develop sequence-based
fund-raising program
Goal #4: Community
relations-Improved relationships with SJMC's core constituencies.
Strategies:
- Re-establish image
as a "student-centered" teaching institution
- Increase participation
of National Advisory Board members in SJMC activities
- Improve relationship
with university faculty and administration
- Improve SJMC's
image with our industries
So as I said before,
keep reading Reliable Source to find out how we are meeting the goals and
strategies outlined in SJMC's 2003-2005 Strategic Plan. |
