Abstract
Drawing on administrative and student-development literature, this article outlines criteria for discipline-centered student organizations and then examines the creation, growth, and outcomes of a nonperformance Speech Communication Club at a large Midwestern university. The club’s evolution is traced through three phases—felt need, growth and development, and stabilization—highlighting structural changes such as a rotating executive board and committee system. Survey data and faculty feedback indicate the organization effectively fosters peer networking, student–faculty contact, departmental service, and campus visibility, while alumni engagement and application of classroom concepts remain areas for improvement. The case demonstrates that a nonperformance club can extend experiential learning, leadership training, and community outreach beyond performance traditions, thereby strengthening departmental cohesion and promoting the major across campus and into the surrounding community. The authors recommend ongoing assessment, explicit advising roles, and alignment with departmental goals to maximize the mutual benefits of such organizations for students, faculty, and institutional stakeholders.
Recommended Citation
Ross, Roseanna and Litterst, Judith
(1992)
"Developing the Nonperformance Organization in Speech Communication: A Case Study,"
Association for Communication Administration Bulletin: Vol. 82, Article 6.
Available at:
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/aca/vol82/iss1/6
