MCOM masters faces cut

 
Students and faculty are shocked over the proposed closure of the Mass Communication graduate program.  Students in mass communication might soon have to look for another home in order to pursue a higher degree in their program.
Many students were not aware of this upcoming change, however some faculty have been informed, but are not sure why.
“We still don’t know exactly why the graduate program will be deleted because the department’s enrollment and graduation numbers satisfy and far exceeded required numbers of the Board of Regents,” said chair of the department of mass communication and professor Mahmoud A. M. Braima.
He went on to mention how the reasons for deleting the program have not been articulated to the faculty in the department yet.
Students were unaware of the upcoming change, and also wondered how it was possible this could be occurring.
” No, I have not, and I don’t think it is a low graduating program,” said Nele Trepp, a mass communication graduate student from Estonia, Europe. 
She continued on to say how Southern’s graduate program for mass communication is a strong program.
Other students were not surprised of the upcoming changes to their department.
“Never heard such rumors, but I have heard that not too many people have been in it,” said Cassandra Mullens, senior mass communication major from Baton Rouge.  She added on how ​if students from graduate programs find a job in their field somehow they lose it because of inadequate skills.
Faculty as well as students sees the student population in the mass communication program a large reason of why the graduate program should not be closed.
“The department has 185 declared majors mainly juniors and seniors and 23 graduate students,” said Braima. He continued on to speak on how the mass communication program graduates more than 50 students annually.
Students believe there are some improvements needed in the mass communication department that could help prevent the phasing out of the graduate program.
“Some of the professors need to update their technological use so students can be prepared when they leave here, ” said Mullens. She also said that getting rid of instructors won’t help, but having workshops could be greatly beneficial to the faculty and students.
“More Staff, but quality staff because hiring more people who aren’t interested is not helpful,” said Trepp. She later mentioned how high level people in good spots come speak more would be great.
Students differ on solutions to preventing this change from occurring.
“Students can take it seriously, and stop trying to get by,” said Baton Rouge mass communication senior Kayla Tate. She then spoke on professors in the department being to lenient.
“Make it know that the mass communication undergraduate students want a graduate program,” said Mullens.
Faculty suggested different methods of fighting this upcoming change.
“Students and faculty can always show adequate support for their major, but most importantly they ​may engage in recruitment efforts to increase the number of students in the department,” said Braima. He finally mentioned how the more students that declare mass communication as a major, the less likely the administration develops plans to phase out the program.
For more information students can contact the mass communication department or to help submit ideas to fight the change.