Abstract
This essay analyzes the distinctive characteristics that shape the work of faculty in small college communication programs. It argues that the small college environment differs from larger institutions not only in scale but in fundamental qualitative ways that influence teaching, organizational structures, and professional expectations. The discussion identifies four interrelated features of this environment: a primary institutional emphasis on teaching, the expectation that faculty assume multiple roles and responsibilities, the predominance of informal communication channels, and strong institutional loyalty. The essay explains how these conditions shape faculty experiences, including the need to function as generalists, the challenges of replacement hiring, the tension between professional development and teaching demands, and the influence a single faculty member can have on the direction of an entire program. It also examines how informal communication structures complicate evaluation processes and how institutional loyalty creates both community and pressure. The analysis concludes that these overlapping elements create a complex professional setting in which breadth, adaptability, and sustained commitment are essential for faculty working in small college communication departments.
Recommended Citation
Buzza, Bonnie Wilson
(1985)
"The Small College Environment,"
Association for Communication Administration Bulletin: Vol. 54, Article 3.
Available at:
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/aca/vol54/iss1/3
