By Kristie Schiefer
Assistant News Editor
After two years in the making, St. Bonaventure University enrolled its Strategic Communication and Digital Media (SCDM) class this year in the Russell J. Jandoli School of Journalism and Mass Communication.
SCDM equips students with the practical skills and ethical decision-making needed to guide the future of interpersonal, organizational and cultural communication within businesses and organizations, according to the university’s website.
“A group of us, Chris Mackowski, associate professor; Shelley Jack, visiting professor; Br. Basil Valente, O.S.F; and I, decided it was time to create a second major to complement the existing journalism and mass communication (JMC) major, Pauline Hoffmann, P.H.D., dean of Russell J. Jandoli School of Journalism and Mass Communication, said.
Currently, eight freshmen and five transfer and current students are SCDM majors. The students take the same courses as other JMC students this semester, ensuring the same experience as everyone else and begin the SCDM courses this spring, according to Hoffmann.
One student expressed her excitement over SCDM, as an avid fan of Tumblr and other social networks.
“I really wasn’t interested in JMC and I didn’t want to write. I’m interested in social networks and digital media, I feel like SCDM will focus more on social media,” junior Jair Neverson said. “I want to do public relations and see what other fields communications has to offer.”
SCDM will also put students directly in the field of communications.
“The hallmark for me is the Semester in the Stalwart Group which is our semester in an agency setting. Students will get hands-on experience working with live clients,” Hoffmann said.
Hoffmann also says the school hopes to hire a new faculty member next year or the year after for SCDM.
“We have new faculty members, but they are replacing members who left or moved on, Hoffmann said. “We will certainly evaluate the program as appropriate moving forward to determine if we will need additional hires.”
SCDM also had its own website, www.sbustratcomm.net, focusing on attracting potential students and drawing feedback from current students, faculty and alumni.
“We are asking that folks comment on broadcast, print, digital and emerging media. Also, there are two videos – one tells you how to use the site; the other describes the agency model and the program a bit,” Hoffmann said.
schiefkm10@bonaventure.edu
