TRUCKEE MEADOWS COMMUNITY COLLEGE
PROGRAM/UNIT REVIEW
VICE PRESIDENT’S RECOMMENDATION
PROGRAM/UNIT REVIEWED: JOURNALISM
Self Study Committee Chair:
Neil Whitehurst
Division Liberal Arts
Year of Review: 2014-2015
Date Submitted to the President:
Vice president’s findings of strengths and weaknesses of the program/unit:
Strengths: Journalism at TMCC consists of a series of courses which develop knowledge and skills relevant to writing,
multiple media formats, and media production. These courses reside within the English department and have oversight
from the Chair of English. Additionally, Journalism 101 meets a general education requirement for students. A modest
number of students take multiple journalism courses in preparation for transfer to UNR. The one Journalism faculty
member retired at the end of Spring semester 2014, and the position has not been filled due to budget cuts and low
enrollment in Journalism courses. The English Department has responsibility for offering Journalism courses and
publishing the student newspaper and is now accomplishing this with part-time faculty and modest release time or
overload for one faculty member. Students volunteer to produce the Echo, TMCC student newspaper online or in paper
mode. The Echo has won national awards from Columbia in years past.
Weaknesses: In spite of ongoing assessment efforts and prior recommendations, course content in Journalism has not
kept pace with changes in media design and delivery. For today’s students, the definition of journalism is driven by the
multiple modalities by which they receive public and private news and information. Enrollment in journalism courses has
been very low, and sections have had to be cancelled each semester.
Summary action recommended for program/unit: Continue as courses within English
Recommendations for development strategies and anticipated time lines:
The Vice President for Academic Affairs concurs with all the recommendations of the Dean of Liberal Arts with a few
updates.
1) Curriculum needs to be updated and revised to be relevant and congruent with UNR courses to serve the needs of
transfer students. This work includes correction of any prerequisite information for students. Additionally, if
capacity and capability exist, new courses in media modalities desired by students should be developed. Fewer
courses should be offered but on a regular schedule advertised to meet student need and demand. Complete work
by December 2015.
2) A skills certificate should be explored and developed if a series of Journalism courses could lead to workplace
entry with a qualifying examination. Complete study and begin for Fall 2016 if feasible.
Additionally, the following are added:
1) Produce at least two student newspapers per semester online or in paper format, no matter how modest. This is an
important statement for the College and its students and builds a sense of community. Begin in Fall 2015.
2) With the production of the Echo moving to student volunteers, Journalism courses should have to meet the same
enrollment expectations as other courses within the Liberal Arts Division. Failure to do so should result in class
Vice President’s Recommendation
cancellation. If some courses never meet enrolment targets, they should be removed from the catalog. Begin Fall
2015.
Identify additional resources and/or actions necessary from each administrative unit for implementation of
recommended development strategies:
Academic Affairs: None
Student Services: None
Finance: Ensure that resources are sufficient to produce student newspaper
Human Resources: None
Faculty Senate: None
Other:
Executive Summary:
Journalism at TMCC is a series of courses which develop knowledge and skills relevant to writing, multiple media
formats, and media production. These courses reside within the English department and have oversight from the Chair of
English. Additionally, Journalism 101 meets a general education requirement for students. A modest number of students
take multiple journalism courses in preparation for transfer to UNR. The one Journalism faculty member retired at the
end of Spring semester 2014, and the position has not been filled due to budget cuts and low enrollment in Journalism
courses. The English Department has responsibility for offering Journalism courses and publishing the student newspaper
and is now accomplishing this with part-time faculty and modest release time or overload for one faculty member.
Students volunteer to produce the Echo, TMCC student newspaper online or in paper mode. In spite of ongoing
assessment efforts and prior recommendations, course content in Journalism has not kept pace with changes in media
design and delivery. For today’s students, the definition of journalism is driven by the multiple modalities by which they
receive public and private news and information. Enrollment in journalism courses has been very low, and sections have
had to be cancelled each semester. Therefore, recommendations for the program include updating the curriculum,
ensuring transferability of courses offered, better recruitment of students, and a focus on a few courses which meet
students’ needs.
Vice President of Academic Affairs:
Name
Signature
Dr. Jane Nichols
Vice President’s Recommendation
Date
03/25 /2015