Abstract
This article describes the organization, advantages, and challenges of a large multidisciplinary communication department at Wayne State University. It situates the department within varied organizational models for communication-related programs at Michigan public universities and outlines the historical development of Wayne State’s combined structure in speech communication, theatre, journalism, radio-television-film, communication disorders, and related areas. The article identifies benefits of the umbrella department model, including enrollment strength, budgetary influence, graduate student teaching opportunities, administrative committees, and interdisciplinary program coordination. It also describes difficulties related to explaining the department’s mission to college administrators, evaluating promotion and tenure across distinct fields, allocating resources among programs with different costs, managing pressures for departmental independence, and selecting leadership for a merged academic unit. The article presents the department as a case study in academic organization, governance, and resource management within communication programs.
Recommended Citation
Pappas, Edward J.
(1984)
"Perspective of a Department With Units in Speech Communication, Theatre, and Mass Communication,"
Association for Communication Administration Bulletin: Vol. 50, Article 4.
Available at:
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/aca/vol50/iss1/4
