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Association for Communication Administration Bulletin

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The Wisdom Of Reclaiming A Legacy, Allen S. White Aug 1986

The Wisdom Of Reclaiming A Legacy, Allen S. White

Association for Communication Administration Bulletin

This essay responds to William J. Bennett’s To Reclaim a Legacy, offering a balanced perspective on the report’s critique of the humanities and its relevance to theatre education. The author acknowledges the value of reaffirming the study of Western civilization and the great books but contends that Bennett’s vision is incomplete without a more inclusive, pragmatic, and pedagogically dynamic approach. The argument emphasizes that higher education in a democratic society must balance excellence with accessibility, teaching the humanities as living, applicable knowledge rather than static tradition. Using theatre as a model discipline, the essay illustrates how creative interpretation, performance, and …

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Teaching New Dogs Old Tricks, Judy H. Goldberg, Mark A. Laurin Aug 1986

Teaching New Dogs Old Tricks, Judy H. Goldberg, Mark A. Laurin

Association for Communication Administration Bulletin

This essay examines the process of socialization, mentorship, and instructional development for new faculty members in community colleges. Framed metaphorically as “teaching new dogs old tricks,” it explores how novice instructors acquire institutional knowledge, pedagogical competence, and professional identity through stages of growth: neophyte, transitional, and competent. Each stage is characterized by shifting information needs, from managing overload and uncertainty to developing reflective practice and autonomy. The authors argue that mentoring is central to this progression, functioning as a dialogic relationship that helps instructors refine philosophy, improve confidence, and integrate effectively into the academic community. The discussion extends to the …

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Teaparties In Wonderland, Or The Plight Of Theatre Technicians At Tenure Time, Paul A. Distler Aug 1986

Teaparties In Wonderland, Or The Plight Of Theatre Technicians At Tenure Time, Paul A. Distler

Association for Communication Administration Bulletin

This essay addresses the distinctive challenges faced by technical theatre faculty during tenure and promotion evaluations. It argues that the work of theatre technicians, though integral to production, is often misunderstood by faculty committees grounded in traditional academic disciplines. The author identifies two primary obstacles: the lack of comprehension of the technician’s specialized domain and the mismatch between evaluative emphasis on product rather than process. Unlike directors and designers, whose contributions are visible in performance, technicians demonstrate expertise through planning, construction, and problem solving—processes largely invisible to evaluators. To address this, the essay proposes a structured strategy of documentation, selection, …

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Aca Seminar And Programs In New Format, J. Robert Willis Aug 1986

Aca Seminar And Programs In New Format, J. Robert Willis

Association for Communication Administration Bulletin

This report outlines the organization and thematic focus of the Association for Communication Administration’s fourteenth annual seminar and related programs held in November 1986 in Chicago. The seminar, structured around the theme of management and leadership, featured prominent scholars who examined evolving perspectives on organizational and educational leadership in communication contexts. Complementing the seminar, six distinct programs addressed critical administrative and pedagogical concerns, including training for new administrators, the dynamics of dual-career communication professionals, the impact of grade inflation, tenure considerations for nontraditional faculty, future management concepts, and the socialization of academic chairpersons. The events emphasized discussion and interaction among …

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Why A Department Of Communication? Hanging Together Or Hanging Separately, Robert O. Blanchard Aug 1986

Why A Department Of Communication? Hanging Together Or Hanging Separately, Robert O. Blanchard

Association for Communication Administration Bulletin

This essay argues for the unification of the fragmented academic fields that study human communication, contending that the separation among speech, journalism, mass communication, and related disciplines weakens their collective intellectual and institutional standing. The author identifies three revolutions reshaping the field: the communication revolution, driven by interactive technologies that collapse distinctions between interpersonal and mass communication; the intellectual revolution, which demands integrative theoretical frameworks; and the campus revolution, which pressures academic programs to justify their disciplinary coherence and relevance to liberal education. The discussion critiques the persistence of outdated departmental divisions and vocational curricula, emphasizing the need for convergence …

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Speech And Mass Communication: Together Again, E. Culpepper Clark Aug 1986

Speech And Mass Communication: Together Again, E. Culpepper Clark

Association for Communication Administration Bulletin

This essay examines the historical development and administrative philosophy behind the integration of speech and mass communication programs at the University of Alabama, Birmingham. It situates the merger within broader debates over the relationship between professional and liberal arts education, arguing that the disciplines share enough theoretical and pedagogical ground to justify collaboration at the undergraduate level. Through a detailed account of departmental structure, curriculum, faculty composition, and tenure policy, the essay demonstrates how institutional design can balance academic and professional objectives. The author advocates for a liberal arts orientation rooted in rhetoric, hermeneutics, and language-based theory, even within career-oriented …

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Change, The Only Constant In The Communication Discipline: From Administrative Structures To Curricular Requirements: A Response, Ronald L. Applbaum Aug 1986

Change, The Only Constant In The Communication Discipline: From Administrative Structures To Curricular Requirements: A Response, Ronald L. Applbaum

Association for Communication Administration Bulletin

This response essay addresses the ongoing evolution of the communication discipline, emphasizing the need for adaptive academic and administrative structures capable of responding to institutional and societal change. Using a metaphor from Mark Twain to illustrate the challenges of coexistence among diverse academic actors, the author critiques the fragmentation and duplication of programs that have emerged from disciplinary divisions since the mid-twentieth century. The argument supports efforts to integrate communication subfields under unified departmental or school structures, which can strengthen shared curricular foundations and administrative efficiency. While acknowledging the limitations of large-scale reorganizations, particularly for smaller institutions, the essay calls …

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The Oxford Accord: Documenting Off-Campus Professional Productivity, James M. Symons Aug 1986

The Oxford Accord: Documenting Off-Campus Professional Productivity, James M. Symons

Association for Communication Administration Bulletin

This essay analyzes the treatment of off-campus professional productivity in the Oxford Accord, a document establishing guidelines for evaluating theatre faculty. It argues that the Accord represents a significant evolution from earlier standards by broadening the concept of professional accomplishment beyond employment in commercial or professional theatre. The discussion reframes off-campus activity as a means of demonstrating professional recognition and quality rather than replicating the scholarly publication model used in other disciplines. The author emphasizes that faculty may document their achievements through multiple forms of evidence, including leadership in professional organizations, competitive recognition, invited teaching, or demonstrated artistic competence. The …

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Artists And Campuses: A Rationale For Honoring On-Campus Creative Work, Donald L. Rosenberg Aug 1986

Artists And Campuses: A Rationale For Honoring On-Campus Creative Work, Donald L. Rosenberg

Association for Communication Administration Bulletin

This essay presents a rationale for recognizing on-campus creative work as a valid and essential component of faculty evaluation in theatre education. It critiques the historical inconsistency and lack of consensus surrounding the assessment of creative activity for promotion and tenure, particularly regarding the equivalence between scholarly publication and artistic production. Through analysis of policy developments from the American Theatre Association and related professional discussions, the essay argues that on-campus creative work constitutes legitimate evidence of professional achievement when it demonstrates public visibility, pedagogical integration, and artistic excellence. The author identifies three central justifications for such recognition: public presentation enables …

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Documenting On-Campus Creative Activity, Jon Whitmare Aug 1986

Documenting On-Campus Creative Activity, Jon Whitmare

Association for Communication Administration Bulletin

This report analyzes the procedures and principles outlined in the “Guidelines for Evaluating Teacher/Artists for Promotion and Tenure,” focusing specifically on the documentation and evaluation of on-campus creative activity. It argues that effective evaluation depends on contextual factors such as institutional mission, departmental size, faculty roles, and degree programs, which collectively determine the expectations for artistic work. The essay proposes a structured, multi-level evaluation process that includes input from chairs, peers, and external experts to ensure fairness, accountability, and professional validation. Emphasizing both process and product, it provides detailed examples of how chairs might engage in formative assessment by observing …

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To Reclaim A Legacy: What Manner Of Anthology Is This?, Richard J. Dieker Aug 1986

To Reclaim A Legacy: What Manner Of Anthology Is This?, Richard J. Dieker

Association for Communication Administration Bulletin

This essay offers a critical analysis of William J. Bennett’s To Reclaim a Legacy, a report advocating for a core humanities curriculum in American higher education. It argues that while Bennett’s call to strengthen the humanities and emphasize cultural literacy is commendable, his approach is ideologically narrow, privileging Western thought and promoting a prescriptive, conservative model of education. The author challenges the report’s assumption of scholarly consensus, its exclusionary canon, and its disregard for intellectual diversity. Through examples drawn from communication and the humanities, the essay contends that Bennett’s framework risks transforming education into indoctrination by privileging uniformity over inquiry …

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Surviving In A Research University, Philip Emmert Aug 1986

Surviving In A Research University, Philip Emmert

Association for Communication Administration Bulletin

This study investigates the criteria and institutional expectations shaping tenure, promotion, and merit decisions in research-oriented universities, with particular attention to the communication discipline. Drawing on a pilot survey of twenty-one graduate programs, the analysis compares faculty workload distribution with evaluative weighting, revealing significant discrepancies between assigned duties and assessment standards. While assistant professors devote roughly sixty percent of their time to teaching, tenure and promotion decisions prioritize research productivity, which receives over half of evaluative weight. Quantitative expectations typically include approximately seven refereed journal articles before tenure consideration, with textbooks and conference papers valued substantially lower. The discussion contextualizes …

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Tenure For The Technical Director, Mary Frances Hopkins Aug 1986

Tenure For The Technical Director, Mary Frances Hopkins

Association for Communication Administration Bulletin

This essay explores the challenges of securing academic tenure for technical theatre directors, arguing that their contributions to university theatre programs are both scholarly and indispensable yet often undervalued due to the process-oriented and collaborative nature of their work. The author situates the discussion within broader tensions between artistic practice and institutional evaluation, noting that the original purpose of tenure (protecting academic freedom) has shifted toward ensuring job security in a climate of fiscal restraint and accountability. Technical directors, whose expertise encompasses both artistic and managerial domains, are frequently excluded from tenure eligibility because their work produces few tangible artifacts …

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The Big Click: Burnout And The University Td, William R. Peeler Aug 1986

The Big Click: Burnout And The University Td, William R. Peeler

Association for Communication Administration Bulletin

This empirical study investigates professional burnout among university technical directors and designers, a population often neglected in research on faculty stress. Using a nationwide mailed questionnaire distributed to 373 faculty members listed in a directory of design and technical theatre staff, the study achieved a 61 percent response rate, with 83 percent of respondents reporting burnout at some point in their careers. Analysis of survey data reveals that burnout is pervasive but multifactorial, arising from excessive workload, inadequate recognition, limited peer support, and undervaluation of technical contributions within academic hierarchies. Although respondents frequently cited long hours and production pressures, the …

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The Oxford Accord: Further Guidelines For Evaluation And Implementation, Beverley Byers-Pevitts Aug 1986

The Oxford Accord: Further Guidelines For Evaluation And Implementation, Beverley Byers-Pevitts

Association for Communication Administration Bulletin

This essay extends the discussion of the “Guidelines for Evaluating Teacher/Artists for Promotion and Tenure,” emphasizing the need for consistent implementation and further refinement of evaluation procedures within theatre programs. It situates the Oxford Accord within a broader effort by professional associations to establish equitable standards for assessing creative and pedagogical work in higher education. The analysis identifies two primary objectives: developing comprehensive guidelines for evaluation and ensuring their effective institutional application. The author argues that evaluation must encompass both process and product, recognizing that artistic success cannot be judged solely by outcomes but must consider the educational and creative …

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The Tenuring Of Technical Theatre Faculty: A Call For Assistance, Donald L. Loeffler Aug 1986

The Tenuring Of Technical Theatre Faculty: A Call For Assistance, Donald L. Loeffler

Association for Communication Administration Bulletin

This essay examines the inequitable standards and institutional inconsistencies affecting the tenure and promotion of technical theatre faculty, using Western Carolina University as a case example. It outlines the university’s policies requiring terminal degrees for tenure-track appointments and highlights the undervaluation of creative and technical work relative to scholarly publication. Despite departmental acknowledgment of creative activity as equivalent to research, university-level decisions consistently privilege traditional academic outputs, leaving technical faculty vulnerable to exclusion or demotion. The author describes cases where qualified designers were denied advancement despite exceptional performance and professional recognition, emphasizing the structural biases embedded in faculty evaluation systems. …

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The Evaluation Of Creative Activity: A Definition And Measurement, I. Joe Filippo Aug 1986

The Evaluation Of Creative Activity: A Definition And Measurement, I. Joe Filippo

Association for Communication Administration Bulletin

This essay proposes a framework for defining and assessing creative activity in theatre as an evaluative equivalent to scholarly publication in tenure, promotion, and retention decisions. It argues that administrative difficulty in valuing artistic work stems from a lack of standardized measures and conceptual clarity. The author defines creative activity broadly to include the work of actors, directors, designers, playwrights, and technicians engaged in theatrical or related productions. Evaluation is divided into quantitative and qualitative components. Quantitative measures involve documenting time invested and tangible artifacts such as prompt books, renderings, and production notes, which parallel research outputs in other disciplines. …

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Tenuring Our Designers And Theatre Technologists, August W. Staub, Sylvia J. Hillyard Aug 1986

Tenuring Our Designers And Theatre Technologists, August W. Staub, Sylvia J. Hillyard

Association for Communication Administration Bulletin

This essay examines the persistent challenges facing designers and theatre technologists in achieving tenure within academic theatre programs. Drawing on administrative experience, the authors argue that attrition among design and technical faculty is not inevitable but rather the product of systemic undervaluation and misunderstanding of their artistic and pedagogical roles. They advocate recognizing these specialists as creative collaborators rather than subservient technicians, urging departments to adopt accurate professional terminology and to treat design and technology as equal to directing, acting, and playwriting. The discussion differentiates among three types of theatre programs: professional training, liberal arts based, and comprehensive, and contends …

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Program Self-Evaluation, An Ongoing Process, Donald A. Drapeau Apr 1986

Program Self-Evaluation, An Ongoing Process, Donald A. Drapeau

Association for Communication Administration Bulletin

This article argues that program self evaluation should function as a continuous administrative practice rather than an episodic accreditation exercise. Prompted by shifts such as faculty departures, enrollment changes, and adjustments to general education requirements, the process begins with a mission statement authored and endorsed by all members of the program. The statement specifies aims suited to local conditions, including the relation between classroom instruction and production, the appropriate number and scale of performances, and the level of financial support required. Self evaluation then examines the relation among three components. These are program expectations, financial and physical resources, and human …

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Program Evaluation In A Major University, Annabel Dunham Hagood Apr 1986

Program Evaluation In A Major University, Annabel Dunham Hagood

Association for Communication Administration Bulletin

This article describes the development of systematic review and planning processes at the University of Alabama in the early 1980s under President Joab Thomas. In response to calls for accountability and clearer institutional priorities, the university implemented three interrelated mechanisms: a five year cycle of divisional and departmental program and leadership reviews, an academic program review aligned with state level criteria for quality, utility, and efficiency, and an institution wide five year planning process. The program and leadership reviews combine faculty driven evaluation of curricula, scholarship, student quality, resources, and internal management with confidential recommendations on leadership continuation. The academic …

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Program Evaluation In Undergraduate Only Institutions, Beverly Reynolds Apr 1986

Program Evaluation In Undergraduate Only Institutions, Beverly Reynolds

Association for Communication Administration Bulletin

This article examines program evaluation from the perspective of a community college communication program, contrasting conditions at undergraduate only institutions with those at universities. The discussion identifies distinctive faculty characteristics, including small departmental size, geographic isolation, generalist teaching demands, heavy instructional loads, and limited emphasis on research. It emphasizes the need for faculty involvement in advising and cocurricular activities as well as participation in peer review and shared governance. Student demographics are described as heterogeneous, older, and often part time, with many entering through open admissions and possessing varied communication preparedness. The article outlines multiple motivations for evaluation such as …

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A Discipline At Risk, Stanley G. Rives Apr 1986

A Discipline At Risk, Stanley G. Rives

Association for Communication Administration Bulletin

This address examines the national educational reform movement initiated by A Nation at Risk and argues that the discipline of speech communication faces significant marginalization if it does not proactively engage in reform efforts. The discussion analyzes the rhetoric and substance of reform discourse, emphasizing its powerful economic and political justification for renewed academic standards and accountability. A case study from Illinois demonstrates how statewide admission requirements, structured around a traditional academic core, threaten to displace oral communication from secondary curricula by leaving minimal room for electives. The essay contends that higher education is entering a similar phase of reform …

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Mbo: Faculty Evaluation And Development, Betty Jo Welch Apr 1986

Mbo: Faculty Evaluation And Development, Betty Jo Welch

Association for Communication Administration Bulletin

This article examines the adoption of management by objectives as a system for faculty evaluation and development in higher education, situating the approach within broader pressures for accountability that intensified from the 1970s into the 1980s. The author argues that MBO offers a means to preserve faculty autonomy and academic values while meeting demands for documented performance and clear standards. Drawing on the speech communication program at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, the article outlines key components of the model, including shared goal setting, measurable expectations for teaching, research, and service, and structured annual review and planning processes. …

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Censorship In College And University Theatres: The Administrative Point Of View, Donald L. Loeffler Apr 1986

Censorship In College And University Theatres: The Administrative Point Of View, Donald L. Loeffler

Association for Communication Administration Bulletin

This article analyzes censorship practices in college and university theatre programs from an administrative perspective. Drawing on experiences at Western Carolina University, the discussion illustrates how institutions negotiate artistic freedom alongside sensitivity to community values. Examples of productions that elicited varied audience reactions highlight challenges associated with language, sexual content, violence, nudity, and casting choices. Administrative interviews emphasize a philosophy favoring minimal formal restrictions while encouraging informal consultation between directors and senior leadership to avoid avoidable controversy. Statements from university officials stress the importance of professional judgment, proactive communication, and transparency with audiences, particularly through content advisories and clear publicity. …

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Does Censorship Exist On College And University Campuses?, Bob Yowell Apr 1986

Does Censorship Exist On College And University Campuses?, Bob Yowell

Association for Communication Administration Bulletin

This article argues that censorship does exist in higher education, though its form and intensity vary across institutional types, missions, and community contexts. Drawing on examples from public and private colleges, the discussion distinguishes legal obligations for public universities, which are bound by First Amendment protections, from the broader discretionary authority of private institutions to restrict theatrical content. Illustrations from urban universities demonstrate the feasibility of staging productions involving nudity, explicit language, and controversial themes. The article contrasts this environment with more restrictive settings such as religious colleges, where administrative priorities and contractual employment terms limit faculty autonomy. Legal standards …

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Equus: A Case For Censorship?, Abe J. Bassett Apr 1986

Equus: A Case For Censorship?, Abe J. Bassett

Association for Communication Administration Bulletin

This article analyzes a public controversy surrounding a university production of Equus that included a brief nude scene. The account documents the sequence from initial audience acceptance to a later wave of organized criticism that framed the production as immoral and harmful, culminating in letters to state officials, attempts to reduce institutional funding, and a proposed state bill prohibiting sexual conduct on academic stages. The narrative details the department’s preparations, including informed casting, content advisories, and artistic rationale for the scene within the dramatic structure. Administrative responses by the president, provost, and chancellor are presented as affirmations of academic freedom …

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When The Faculty Evaluate The Chairperson, Mary Frances Hopkins Apr 1986

When The Faculty Evaluate The Chairperson, Mary Frances Hopkins

Association for Communication Administration Bulletin

This article provides a reflective account of being evaluated as a department chair by a large and diverse faculty across three communication units at Louisiana State University. The author critiques the mandated evaluation instrument, noting dissatisfaction with rating scales and skepticism about their ability to measure administrative performance accurately. The narrative situates the evaluation within the complex structure of the department, where unit chairs hold responsibility for many functions on which the department chair was nevertheless evaluated. Despite concerns about the appropriateness of the instrument, the author reports supportive results attributed to strong faculty goodwill amid departmental restructuring. The discussion …

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Some Often Overlooked Considerations In Academic Theatre Program Evaluation, Lorayne W. Lester Apr 1986

Some Often Overlooked Considerations In Academic Theatre Program Evaluation, Lorayne W. Lester

Association for Communication Administration Bulletin

This article examines factors that influence the effectiveness of academic theatre program evaluation, emphasizing the central importance of faculty attitudes and administrative leadership. The discussion argues that self evaluations conducted during periods of low morale often yield distorted conclusions and unproductive reform efforts. Similarly, externally mandated reviews can generate defensiveness if perceived as punitive. The author contends that the chief academic officer must cultivate faculty confidence in the value and fairness of the process, reduce anxiety, and frame evaluation as a collective endeavor akin to theatrical production. Strategies include individualized communication about benefits, early formation of faculty committees to identify …

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Successful Women In Speech Communication: A National Survey Of Strategies And Skills, Contributions And Conflicts, Judy C. Pearson, Judith S. Trent Apr 1986

Successful Women In Speech Communication: A National Survey Of Strategies And Skills, Contributions And Conflicts, Judy C. Pearson, Judith S. Trent

Association for Communication Administration Bulletin

This article reports a national survey of successful women in speech communication and analyzes pathways to advancement, mentoring, communicative practices, and self perception. Using a six page questionnaire sent to women at the associate and professor ranks listed in the 1983 disciplinary directory, the study obtained 163 responses, a 52 percent rate. Respondents typically achieved promotion through traditional academic markers, including publications in communication journals, national conference presentations, professional service, and strong student evaluations, while external grants and books were less common. About two thirds reported having a mentor, most often a man, and many served as mentors to junior …

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Directory Of Aca Members Apr 1986

Directory Of Aca Members

Association for Communication Administration Bulletin

This document is the 1986 membership directory of the American Communication Association. It lists institutional affiliations, mailing addresses, and telephone numbers for members active during that period. The directory reflects the professional landscape of the discipline in the mid nineteen eighties and offers historical insight into departmental structures, academic roles, and communication programs of the era. All contact information in this directory is archival and no longer current.

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