The University of Toledo Communication Department is reviewing a proposal that would eliminate the Media Communication (Mcomm) major and turn it into a concentration. If approved, media students would be required to take three additional classes: interpersonal communication, communication theory, and public presentations.
“These three classes represent essential skills for students entering the workforce,” Communication Chair Benjamin Myers said.
But some media students say this will hurt them because additional courses will reduce the amount of media electives they can take.
The Mcomm major was created six years ago and is a hybrid major that combines broadcasting, journalism, and social media. Faculty opposed to this proposal say this material is already covered in the major.
Students asked if they could attend a Nov. 17 meeting of CommunicationDepartment faculty to express their concerns but were told they were not invited. Instead, Myers scheduled a meeting for students for Nov. 15. About 20 students filled the conference room to find out what is the plan is for their major.
UT faculty and staff stressed this change will not impact students currently enrolled in the program. However, it would impact students who are entering the Communication Department in the future.
Students questioned why they weren’t notified about the potential changes and why they haven’t been allowed to provide input.
“My biggest concern is this decision to change the major affects students directly and we’re being left in the dark,” said Emily Thomas, a UT senior.
Asa Kridelbaugh, a second-year student at UT, attended the Nov. 15 meeting and left frustrated, saying he was “a little confused because the questions students were asking were not answered.
Another concern of students is that UT:10 News, the media capstone course, would be cancelled completely since it hasn’t been offered since Fall of 2022. UT:10 is an award-winning, student-produced live news program and is a big reason many Communication students say they decided to attend UT.
In the meeting, Myers said the course had not been offered since Fall 2022 because of low student interest. But students disagreed, voicing displeasure with a former instructor, who is no longer working with UT:10, as the reason why they didn’t sign up for the course. In response, Myers told students UT:10 would be offered in Fall 2024.
Thomas, who graduates this spring, was happy the course would reinstated but feels strongly the media major should be left alone.
“My biggest concern is this decision to change the major affects students directly and we’re being left in the dark,” Thomas said. “Because I’m a senior, I feel like it’s my duty to look out for the freshmen.”
