An Innovative and Experiential Program in Communication

Ron LaFayette, College President: North Seattle Community College is looking for some new things; some fresh things. And I think this program will bring it to us.

Bob Schuessler, Communication Professor: We're moving more and more toward what I call a hands-on, minds-on, experiential kind of learning environment for our students.

Karen Demetre, Instructional Vice President: I think it's innovative. I think that it is more sophisticated; and that it gives students far more choices.

Schuessler: So we have anchored our new Communication curriculum in the traditional liberal arts; with studies in interpersonal, in group, in organizational, in intercultural and in media communication.

Demetre: It's quite a departure from the standard curricula that we have seen related to Speech studies in community colleges.

Schuessler: We're also planning and working on developing more and more professional applications with the new media and the new technologies. So, getting into the idea of professional training for management, and production, research, and obviously what draws a lot of young people, the idea of being on air, being a personality.

Demetre: We are able to take selected Communication courses and combine them, match them up with other disciplines, courses in other areas of the college, and have interdisciplinary studies; so that students can learn thinking skills, and they can have a very supportive and dynamic environment.

Mark Mitsui, Student Success Services Director: I think it's one of those fundamental student success skills. When we as people are better able to communicate, we can advocate for ourselves more effectively.

Meg Coyle, Anchor, Northwest Cable News: Well, I think classes in communication are essential; because those are the classes, that's where you learn how to communicate.

Nene Nguyen, Student, Preparing for Studies in International Business: My favorite part of the Communication class is being able to relate and to talk with individuals about the topics that are in the class; about the different assignments that are going on, and the projects and everything. I really, really enjoy that group closeness, of getting to know everybody, and then just being able to talk to them.

Mitsui: We can develop friendships that we wouldn't otherwise develop. And that's an important part of the school experience, too, connecting with others, folks that you otherwise wouldn't have met.

Coyle: We all think we know how to communicate. You talk on the phone. You surf the internet. You email your friends. But it's much different when its one-on-one. It's much different you're part of a team, or a part of a group, part of a project.

John Mach, Student, Preparing for Studies in Psychology: We get into coaching groups and interact with, like, two to three people. And I really enjoy that, because you are able to initiate conversations with others, and really get to know these people.

LaFayette: Who isn't interested in media? And who isn't interested in communication. And who doesn't have an opinion about communication and how it plays a role in our lives?

Schuessler: What we do for our students does make them smarter. Smarter students, smarter citizens, smarter consumers for themselves in their own individual private lives. But also, smarter practitioners.

Demetre: I think it offers more.

Schuessler: Getting beyond the theory and the textbook; and getting into real life, real world expectations and applications.

Demetre: The range of offerings here is such that it serves students with many different focuses; and I think it'll help them succeed in future endeavors.

For more information, call or e-mail Dr. Bob Schuessler, Coordinator for the Program in Communication: Communication Program Contact Information

Return to the Communication video page.