Page 13 - Communique Newsletter Spring 2020

Our Highlights

This year’s focus continues with student success
programming designed to help First Time Transfer
(FTT) Communication majors meet the 2025 goal
of graduating in two years after transferring from a
Community College. The Communication
Ambassador’s Program (CAP) is one of our success Community Service

iinitiatives designed to help students graduate in
two years. The program encourages students to Public speaking, teambuilding, cultural competency,
take 15 units per term or alternative unit and communicative behavior are staples of our
combination over all terms, opt into a specific communication program. We not only teach this
academic path in Performance and Cultural content through our courses, but beyond our academic
Studies, Rhetorical Studies or Communication walls to engage our local communities. More than 80
Science, and take a combination of on-ground, youth per year from fifth grade to 12th learn public
hybrid and online courses. During their cohort speaking skills through the COMS 437: Communication
experience, students work with career coaches, for Youth Institute course with Professor Jennifer
meet with a designated tutor, and meet and greet Marshall. More than 500 LAPD cadets have engaged in
their professors. cultural competency exercises and advanced
presentation skills through COMS 309: Advanced
Public Speaking with Professor Jessica Baty and
students. Joseph Ayala worked with 60 students from
LAUSD to learn team building and group
communication strategies through COMS 323: Group
Communication. We do more than just teach, we impact
lives.

The Department has invested in new software called
VoiceThread to advance our online and hybrid course
offerings and to improve student success. Dr. Monica
Gallegos is our in-house lead on the software and
conducts trainings once a year as service to the
Department. The software allows us to replace text only
discussions, create interactive lectures and engage
students in conversational practices that are often
missing in online courses. Students add comments or
performances whenever they want. The quality of work
produced in COMS courses has increased as a result

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