News Releases

A Model of Communication Excellence
   
The Clark College Communication Studies Department is honored
by the Western States Communication Association
     

VANCOUVER, Wash. -- The Clark College Communication Studies Department has been awarded the 2011 Western States Model Communication Program Award of the Western States Communication Association (WSCA). The award will be presented during the 2011 WSCA Convention, which will be held in Monterey, Calif. from Feb. 18-22.

The award is based on criteria including service to students, the program, institution and the community; use of best practices for teaching communication in the discipline; curricular design and innovation within the department; integrating broader curriculum and cocurricular activities; and encouraging development of specialized areas to reflect the breadth and depth of the field.

Dr. Rassoul Dastmozd, Clark College's Vice President of Instruction, said, "The Communication Studies Department is visionary in promoting communication skills which are critical to success of our graduates, no matter the degree program, which each student will pursue in their academic journey at Clark."

Dr. Ray Korpi, Dean of Developmental Education, English, Communication and Humanities, noted, "Our dedicated and knowledgeable faculty work to provide a rigorous and thorough classroom experience for each of our students, and the quality of instruction within Communication Studies is exemplary."

Division Chair Roxane Sutherland said, "Receiving this award demonstrates the strength of the Communication Studies Department–the programs we develop, the curriculum we design and the innovations we all bring to helping students achieve success in their oral communication skills. This award also illustrates the commitment both full- and part-time faculty bring to the Communication Studies Department."

About the Clark College Communications Studies Department

The Communication Studies Department has a long history of recognition of its faculty members and programs. Faculty honors include two Clark College Faculty Excellence Awards, the National Communication Association Outstanding Community College Educator Award, the George C. Marshall Award for Leadership, and the Washington Community College Humanities Association Exemplary Status Award. Honors to students, faculty and programs include multiple awards from Phi Theta Kappa, the honor society of two-year colleges, and awards to Clark's speech and debate teams.

The department encourages community involvement on local, regional and national levels. Locally, it supports Clark College's Service and Leadership in the Community program, Children's Theatre program, and Speech and Debate program. The department also supports the NorthWest Communication Association, a nonprofit organization that promotes the study, criticism, research, teaching, and practice of communication, as well as the National Communication Association, described as the largest national organization dedicated to communication.

With achievements spanning more than 30 years, Clark's Speech and Debate Program is nationally acclaimed. The department's small group communication courses include a service-learning project that gives students the opportunity to work with community members and organizations to help reduce, resolve or impact a community problem. Thousands of students have taken part in service activities, becoming more aware of issues around them and within the community.

About the Western States Communication Association (WSCA)

The Western States Communication Association (WSCA) is a nonprofit educational association of scholars, teachers, and students of communication with more than 1,000 members throughout the United States and around the world. Information about WSCA can be found at www.westcomm.org.

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