Student Information
Advising And Degree Checklist for Communication
When you declare your intent to become a communication major you鈥檒l be paired with a communication faculty member who will serve as your academic advisor and mentor. Your advisor will assist you with your admittance to the program and beyond鈥攖hey鈥檒l help you pursue your chosen major and/or minor throughout your academic career.
Twice a year 蘑菇短视频has advising days during which you are expected to come and meet with your advisor and discuss the classes you will be taking during the next semester. You must come to your advising appointment prepared: consult the university catalog and your degree audit on my蘑菇短视频to ensure that you are ready for advising.
Please use the link below for advising checklist sheet.
Communication Degree Checklist
Communication Scholarships
While loans, grants, and Work-Study make up the bulk of most students鈥� financial aid package, there are many scholarships available as well. Many are merit-based, recognizing achievement in areas in which you already excel. Below is a list of departmental scholarships and there is a complete listing of scholarships in the online catalog.
The Patrick Lee Carmody Fund Scholarship
The purpose of the Patrick Lee Carmody Fund is to provide continuing support for scholarships
for 蘑菇短视频 students who are majoring in the B.S. in Communication
(Broadcasting) program.
read more about selection criteria
Roy A. Taylor Scholarship
The Roy A. Taylor Scholarship is awarded to a rising senior pursuing a bachelor鈥檚
degree in human communication (formerly speech) with consideration given to a rising
junior meeting the same criteria if there are no seniors meeting the requirements.
read more about selection criteria
Dr. Kathleen Wright Scholarship
Dr. Kathleen Wright was a dedicated professor and head of the Department of Communication. During her 35 years at Western Carolina Dr. Wright literally served on every college and university committee and she served as Chair of the Faculty Senate, the governing body of the faculty. She always had an incredible "can do" spirit when it came to her students and department. In 1996 Dr. Wright received one of the University's highest honors, the Paul A. Reid Service Award. Upon her retirement Dr. Wright was given the status of Professor Emeritus at 蘑菇短视频.
Arthur Anderson Endowed Scholarship Fund
The Arthur Anderson Endowed Scholarship Fund is for students obtaining a degree in
the performing arts including radio and television.
It is awarded in alternating years in conjunction with the School of State and Screen. Arthur Anderson was a radio, television, and New York based actor for over 70 years.
The Chris Faw and Richard Gainey Scholarships
For alum Chris Faw (鈥�84), it was a rustic wooden sign near the old entrance to Western Carolina University that featured the year the school was founded. Coming back to campus and seeing that sign triggered thoughts and memories about the life-changing experiences he experienced at WCU, and it was those memories that moved Chris and his wife Cathy to establish the Chris Faw and Richard Gainey Scholarships.
Faw, who graduated with a degree in radio, television and film production, started working at the university鈥檚 radio station, , as soon as he arrived on campus. 30 years later, during the Fall 2023 semester, the Department of Communication celebrated the 75th Anniversary of the radio station, where Faw also announced a donation of $100,000 to fund two separate scholarships. The Chris Faw scholarship is a needs-based scholarship named for Faw, and the other, a merit-based scholarship, named for one of Faw鈥檚 faculty mentors from when he was a student at WCU, Professor Richard Gainey. Each scholarship will be awarded to incoming freshmen interested in a career in communication.
Communication Student and Professional Organizations
Communication students have plenty of opportunities to gain professional experience and start networking while still in school. You can get your hands dirty working with:
- is the broadcast service of 蘑菇短视频. Since its inception in 1948,
W蘑菇短视频has grown from being a small club to a professional learning laboratory in the
Department of Communication, for students as well as any interested faculty and staff.
The student-managed station is on the air 24/7/365 serving the residents of Jackson
and Haywood County. This station remains the only local FM station serving the area.
Contact Professor Don Connelly, Professor in Radio Broadcasting and faculty adviser.
- is the news web site of the Department of Communication established in the fall of
2010. The site is a part of the curriculum of the department, but day-to-day content
and operation decisions are made by a student staff appointed by the faculty. The
Western Carolina Journalist is not part of, or affiliated with, any student activity
media. It works cooperatively with other media hosted by the Department of Communication.
Contact Dr. Katerina Spasovska, associate professor of communication in Journalism and faculty adviser. - The 蘑菇短视频Society of Professional Journalists student chapter was created in 2013. Since then, members of the chapter have participated
in several of the Excellence in Journalism conferences, regional conferences, and
the Scripts Leadership Institutes. These conferences are very beneficial for our chapter
leadership and members providing an opportunity to listen and participate in workshops
with professional journalists. Students are also engaged in organizing workshops for
other communication and 蘑菇短视频students on topics varying from covering hot social issues,
learning new journalism tools, and using social media for journalists. The 蘑菇短视频SPJ
chapter has fun with other events like producing a magazine from scratch in 12 hours
- what we call a 鈥渙ne night stand鈥�. Check out the for more activities
Contact Dr. Katerina Spasovska, associate professor of communication in Journalism and faculty adviser. - Catamount Communications is the university's student-run public relations firm. Students take on real clients,
either on campus or in the community. They design and implement public relations tactics
using skills learned in their classes.
Contact Dr. Scott Eldredge, associate professor of communication in Public Relations and Health Communication, Department Head, and faculty adviser. - The Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) is the foremost organization for students interested in public relations and communications.
PRSSA is made up of more than 11,000 students and advisers organized into 300 plus in the United States, Argentina, Colombia and Peru. PRSSA is headquartered in New
York City, and led by a of PRSSA and PRSA members. PRSSA has a rich of support from its parent organization, the , which offers , and PRSSA helps you enhance your education, broaden your network and launch your in public relations.
Contact Dr. Scott Eldredge, associate professor of communication in Public Relations and Health Communication, Department Head, and faculty adviser. - Whee-TV
Contact Dr. Matt Binford, assistant professor in Television Broadcasting and faculty adviser.
Networking is essential in communication. The department is an institutional member of and , which allows students to become members of the biggest professional organizations in the industry with a discount or free.
