Abstract
This article assesses the condition of the speech communication discipline amid ongoing financial pressures, demographic shifts, and institutional change in higher education. Reviewing the retrenchment concerns of the early 1980s, the discussion finds that while some departments merged or closed, overall disciplinary health remains stable, with new programs emerging in community colleges and other expanding institutions. The analysis identifies continuing challenges—declining faculty salaries, growing reliance on part-time instructors, and intensifying competition for resources—while noting the opportunities presented by rising student interest in applied and professional communication. The paper emphasizes the need for departments to maintain flexibility, strengthen political and administrative ties, and articulate their relevance within the liberal arts and professional education. It concludes that speech communication, though still a young discipline, demonstrates resilience and adaptability, and that its continued vitality depends on proactive management, curricular innovation, and the capacity to respond to educational reform pressures.
Recommended Citation
Andersen, Kenneth E.
(1987)
"Assessing the Health of the Profession: A Diagnosis of Speech Communication,"
Association for Communication Administration Bulletin: Vol. 59, Article 4.
Available at:
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/aca/vol59/iss1/4
