Abstract
This article presents a case study of an administrative merger that combined speech communication and mass communication units into a unified Department of Communication at a midwestern university. It chronicles the decision process that motivated consolidation, tracing concerns over staff identity, tenure security, budget allocation, laboratory facilities, and curriculum coherence. The narrative details participatory governance strategies, including blended task forces and committee structures, that negotiated faculty resistance and preserved program distinctiveness in journalism, broadcasting, public relations, and organizational communication. Subsequent curriculum review, guided by liberal arts principles, maintained disciplinary integrity while enabling interdisciplinary integration, particularly within graduate education through shared core courses. By analyzing policy decisions, faculty engagement, and evolving degree structures, this article illuminates how careful planning and inclusive leadership can transform departmental culture, enhance resource efficiency, and align academic programs with changing professional and educational demands.
Recommended Citation
Curtis, Dan B. and Rampal, Kuldip
(1991)
"Emerging Curriculum in Merging Programs: An In-Depth Look,"
Association for Communication Administration Bulletin: Vol. 77, Article 7.
Available at:
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/aca/vol77/iss1/7
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