Abstract
This article analyzes the role of external consultants in the evaluation and development of communication programs in small colleges, using Marist College as a detailed case study. It outlines the institutional context of the late 1970s and early 1980s, including demographic pressures, financial constraints, and the emergence of federal grant programs that encouraged systematic self study. The discussion traces how internal assessments, leadership restructuring, and Title III grants created conditions for program wide review involving external consultants with complementary expertise in communication theory, administration, and professional practice. The article describes the consultant selection process, preparation procedures, visit logistics, and subsequent integration of written recommendations into curricular planning, faculty development, and the design of new interdisciplinary programs such as advertising. It also situates external consultation within broader debates about internal versus external evaluation, highlighting the strengths and limitations of each approach. The article concludes with a set of procedural guidelines for determining when consultants are needed, how to select them, how to structure their visits, and how to apply their recommendations to strengthen communication programs through continuous, systematic self study.
Recommended Citation
Platt, Richard W.
(1985)
"External Evaluation of Small College Communication Programs,"
Association for Communication Administration Bulletin: Vol. 54, Article 14.
Available at:
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/aca/vol54/iss1/14
