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Co-Curricular Learning Outcomes

SPJ Student Learning Outcomes

• Present and/or advocate ideas ethically and effectively for a variety of audiences
• Apply a framework for examining ethical dilemmas
• Employ leadership and collaborative skills

The Carroll News Learning Outcomes

• Develop habits of critical analysis and aesthetic appreciation
• Apply innovative and creative thinking
• Communicate in multiple forms of expression

SPJ Student Learning Outcomes

• Present and/or advocate ideas ethically and effectively for a variety of audiences
• Apply a framework for examining ethical delemmas
• Employ leadership and collaborative skills

The Carroll News Learning Outcomes

• Develop habits of critical analysis and aesthetic appreciation
• Employ leadership and collaborative skills

PRSSA Learning Outcomes

• Understand current theories and procedures of the profession
• Encourage the highest ideals and principles and instill a professional attitude
• Enhance knowledge of public relations through professional development opportunities
• Develop highly qualified, well-prepared professionals for the public relations profession

WJCU Learning Outcomes

Students should be able to demonstrate

• The ability to synthesize, organize, and express ideas clearly, engagingly and purposefully via terrestrial radio broadcast, live internet streaming, or audio podcast
• The ability to adapt and apply ethical principles to the creation and distribution of mass-media content

Debate Team Learning Outcomes

• Research more thoroughly and efficiently
• Analyze and synthesize arguments more critically
• Advocate ideas more persuasively
• Listen more critically
• Display skill in answering questions about their speeches

JCTV Learning Outcomes

• Apply creative and innovative thinking in program development, script writing through construction of finished program segments using modern video and audio editing facilities
• Employ leadership and collaborative skills through directing, leading and participating on a program production team

The Carroll News is the voice of ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥â€™s students since 1925. This organization is dedicated to providing the community with current and relevant news. Entirely student run, The Carroll News strives to provide rich and engaging experiential learning opportunities for all student who are interested in journalism. Students may cover topics like campus news, arts and life, sports, world news, business and write in our opinion/editorial section. If you would like to write or copy edit for The Carroll News, contact us at 

¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ has been actively and continuously involved in academic debate since the 1920’s. We compete in both two person policy debate [ADA, CEDA, NDT] and in Lincoln Douglas debate. The program is extremely active, and has won four national championships – in 1937 and 1938, and more recently, in the American Debate Association in 2000 [varsity] and 2006 [novice]. The team competes in more than a dozen tournaments per year.

The goal of our program is to help students maximize their educational development in a highly competitive and fun environment. Research demonstrates that competitive debaters develop a wide range of skills in critical thinking, advocacy, research, and listening. They also tend to be more socially and politically active than non-debaters, are much more likely to seek additional degrees, and tend to have greater success in finding jobs in their chosen fields. Our JCU debate alumni have a long and distinguished track record of success with which to support those claims. Our currrent debaters recognize those skills developing those skills developing within themselves. Although most of them enter as freshmen, fearful of finding time to work debate into their schedules, many of them soon become double majors, honors students, and frequent members of the Dean’s List for academic achievement. They enjoy the camaraderie of being part of an intellectual family that works and plays together in advancing common goals.

The Tim Russert Department of Communication and Theatre Arts offers three debate awards each year – The President’s Cup, the Dean’s Cup, and the Freeley Scholar. Additionally, the team recognizes awards for Outstanding Debater, Most Valuable Debater, Most Improved Debater, Outstanding Freshman, and Outstanding Senior. Career accomplishments are also recognized in our Centurion List and our Debate Wall of Fame.

In addition to our own competitions, JCU Debate is active in a variety of service programs, including the Cleveland League of Urban Debate, the Ohio High School Speech League, and in a debate program we run at the Cuyahoga Hills Juvenile Correctional Facility.

Dr. Austin J. Freeley is ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥â€™s most famous director of debate. He ran the program from 1958 through 1985 and is best known for his revolutionary debate text, Argumentation and Debate, which was the best selling debate textbook of all time. It was translated into 23 languages, spreading American style debate around the world. He was also one of the founders of the American Forensics Association, which governs all debate and speaking events in the United States.

The team is currently directed by Dr. Brent Brossmann, who has run the program since 1993. He can be reached at 216-397-4375 or at brossmann@jcu.edu.

The Russert Department is home to two national honor societies,Lambda Pi Eta, the Communication Honor Society, and Alpha Psi Omega, the theatre honor society.

• Eta Eta, the ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ chapter of Lambda Pi Eta. Lambda Pi Eta is the official communication students honorary of the National Communication Association (NCA) and is an accredited member of the Association of College Honor Societies.
• ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ hosts the Mu Theta chapter of Alpha Psi Omega, a nationally recognized fraternity for theatre. Alpha Psi Omega was founded in 1925.

Communication Honor Society

Lambda Pi Eta, National Communication Honor Society

Eta Eta is the ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ chapter of Lambda Pi Eta. Lambda Pi Eta is the official communication students honorary of the National Communication Association (NCA) and is an accredited member of the Association of College Honor Societies.

Lambda Pi Eta represents what Aristotle described in his book, Rhetoric, as the three ingredients of persuasion: Logos (Lambda) meaning logic, Pathos (Pi) relating to emotion, and Ethos (Eta) defined as character, credibility and ethics.

The goals of Lambda Pi Eta are to:

• Recognize, foster and reward outstanding scholastic achievement.
• Stimulate interest in the field of communication.
• Promote and encourage professional development among communication majors.
• Provide an opportunity to discuss and exchange ideas about the field.
• Establish and maintain close relationships and understanding between faculty and students.
• Explore options for further graduate studies.

To be eligible for membership in Eta Eta, the JCU chapter, students must have:

• Completed at least 60 hours
• Declare as a Communication major
• Have at least 12 hours in communications, Earned a G.P.A. of at least 3.25 in communications, and
• Be in the top 35% of their class

Eta Eta sponsors many events during the academic year. For more information on upcoming events, please email the faculty advisor, Jacqueline J. Schmidt, Ph.D.

Debate Honor Society

¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ Debate is a member of Delta Sigma Rho–Tau Kappa Alpha, a collegiate honor society devoted to the promotion of public speaking. A member of the Association of College Honor Societies, DSR-TKA seeks to reward excellence in public speaking and to foster respect for freedom of speech.

JCTV is ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥â€™s channel dedicated to student-produced programming. Students looking for a career in broadcasting or just looking to have fun will get the chance to gain hands-on experience using audio and video equipment in the television studio.

This co-curricular provides many opportunities to write, produce, direct, and star in shows which air on a closed-circuit campus television channel. Weekly productions range from newscasts, game shows, sports-talk shows, cooking shows to mini-documentaries.

As a part of your overall production experience here at ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥, JCTV makes for a great portfolio and resume builder, especially for students majoring in Communication.

For questions contact JCTV’s advisor, Bob Noll, rnoll@jcu.edu.

¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ is one of only four schools in Northeast Ohio that has a chapter of PRSSA, the sister organization for the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA). PRSA is the leading professional organization for public relations practitioners and managers. You do not need to have a major or minor in communication to join PRSSA. Membership in the organization provides several important academic career advantages, including:

• Local and national student competitions
• Guest speakers and workshop programs
• Web-page skills
• PRSA Student Day
• Discounted PRSA membership
• Portfolio development

We invite you to come in and take a look at our organization. Should you have any questions, contact Professor Christina DeVoss at cdevoss@jcu.edu.

¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥â€™s chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists allows communication majors to promote the ethical practices of journalism and uphold First Amendment freedoms of speech and the press. The campus chapter also provides opportunities to interact with working journalists in Cleveland’s SPJ professional chapter.

Monthly student chapter programs have included speakers on media access to government information, photography, newspaper layout and design, copy editing, and magazine writing. The chapter has joined other student organizations in sponsoring panels on resume and portfolio preparation and career advancement opportunities.

The national organization offers internships and fellowships, and an annual awards competition for students and professionals.

Membership in SPJ is open to all students at the University. The annual cost, payable in October, is $36 for national dues and $5 for local dues. Chapter meetings are held monthly. Members also receive Quill Magazine, a monthly publication from the national organization.

For more information please contact Carrie Buchanan, Ph.D., at 216.397.3078 or by email at cbuchanan@jcu.edu or visit .

How to promote on WJCU-88.7FM

WJCU is a noncommercial FM broadcast station owned and operated by ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥.

WJCU strives to deliver unique and diverse radio programming that serves community interests and tastes by offering an eclectic mix of music, sports, poetry, ethnic, informational, and public service programming not found elsewhere on the dial. With the exception of a professional director, all day to day management and operations are performed by student managers and directors appointed by their peers. The fact that the station is operated under the aegis of JCU’s Russert Department of Communication and Theatre Arts reflects the University’s belief that the best way for students to learn is by doing.

Visit the WJCU to learn more and get involved!

Frequently Asked Questions about
Promoting with WJCU-FM

Q: Can I buy ad time on WJCU for my home business or my department?

A: No, as a Non Commercial/Educational licensed FM broadcaster, WJCU is prohibited from selling or carrying commercial advertising. That means we cannot engage in calls to action, claims of value, or sales price information – even if we don’t charge a fee.

Q: Can WJCU help promote my department’s or group’s event?

A: The short answer is YES, but only if the event is of interest to and open to the general public.

WJCU regularly performs public service event promotion for non-profits and naturally that includes this university. Typically, these are 30 second informational announcements that are rotated regularly across all programming in all day-parts.

Because WJCU is a full service licensed FM broadcast facility with coverage throughout the Cleveland metro market, we reach tens of thousands of unique individuals in any single month, the vast majority of which have no direct affiliation with the university. Thus, WJCU is willing and able to promote ANY campus-related event PROVIDING that event is of interest to and open to the general public, our target audience.

Examples: Guest lectures, films, musical performances, plays, workshops, tournaments, open houses, etc., that are open to the general public

Q: So what do I have to do to schedule a Community Event PSA on WJCU?

A: Simply email Jasen Sokol (jsokol@jcu.edu) with your request, and provide the vital who, what, where, why, and when information. Because announcements are limited to 30 seconds in length, your message will contain little more than the essentials, so it’s always wise to include an easy to remember web site or phone number where people can go for more detailed information. We will write your copy to fit our format, and then produce and run the announcement. Typically, we drop or add these announcements weekly, usually on Friday.

We do require about a 3 week lead time in order to assure effective reach for these announcements, so be sure to work well ahead of your event date.

Q: So there’s no cost to the sponsoring department of organization?

A: That’s right – there’s never a charge for our PSA’s – though we do welcome support from our listeners and community partners via our donor program!

Q: Is it true that WJCU can provide DJ’s & equipment for entertainment at on-campus events?

A: Yes, providing that we can find a WJCU staff volunteer to help out your organization and operate our equipment. For that reason we suggest you submit your request well in advance. Please note that WJCU does not loan its equipment, so our ability to respond depends on the availability of a staff volunteer.

Q: How do I make such a request?

A: Simply email Jasen Sokol (jsokol@jcu.edu), she will forward your request to the appropriate WJCU director.

Q: Is there a charge?

A: No, this is just another service we extend to our campus. Of course, we do accept donations to help defray the cost of equipment and its maintenance. Virtually all of WJCU’s capital expenses are met with donations from our listeners and supporters in the community.