Abstract
This essay presents a university president’s reflection on the state and identity of speech communication as an academic field. The author observes that despite decades of growth, the discipline still lacks consensus on its core definition and intellectual boundaries. Journals demonstrate increasing sophistication, yet the author questions whether specialized language risks insularity and diminished public relevance. Drawing analogies to sociology and computer science, the essay warns against excessive internal focus and argues that communication must cultivate clearer relevance to contemporary social questions and professional practice. The author notes that subfields once housed within communication, such as communication disorders and theatre, have migrated toward other institutional homes, leaving communication to reconcile scholarly and vocational strands, particularly in media and business contexts. Emphasizing the importance of general education, the essay contends that communication scholars should contribute more visibly to educational reform and interdisciplinary collaboration. Five domains are suggested as unifying areas for study: intrapersonal, interpersonal, group, person to persons, and mass communication. The essay concludes by urging outward looking engagement, expanded partnerships beyond traditional academic boundaries, and continued commitment to communication as essential preparation for leadership.
Recommended Citation
Dedmon, Donald N.
(1986)
"Speech Communication as Seen From the Top: University Presidents Look at the Discipline,"
Association for Communication Administration Bulletin: Vol. 55, Article 10.
Available at:
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/aca/vol55/iss1/10
