Graduation may not be arriving for some Mass Communications students if they do not adhere to some new departmental requirements, according to department officials.
The start of the academic year brought some changes in “MCO” involving not only a new leader but also new policies. MCO department chair, Dr. David Marshall, has implemented and has started enforcing the policies.
One part of the new policy states that MCO majors with a grade point average lower than 2.5 must attend the “MCO Academy”, the name Marshall has given to a study hall run by the department.
Students without the recommended “2.5” will be required to devote at least three hours per week every week to study and extra help sessions. Marshall also said that internships, a portfolio and a resume must be completed before being cleared for graduation.
Reaction to the changes have been wide ranging. Earlier this month some MCO majors delivered a letter of complaint against Marshall and the new policies to Shaw University President Dr. Clarence Newsome.
MCO senior Kiyah Jenkins said, “I do see the vision Dr. Marshall has but I don’t think it is right to force them on seniors that are right there at graduating.” Although Jenkins says she disagrees with the way the policy is being implemented she says it will be beneficial to lower classmen.
MCO senior Steven Starks says he is waiting to see how things pan out. Starks says he thinks that the policy is being implemented at a perfect time. “It doesn’t matter whether or not you are a senior or a freshman, this new policy will help you in the long run. Yes it’s going to be a lot of work but it’s preparing us for the future.”
According to Shaw’s Office of the Registrar, there are 179 MCO majors. The MCO Department reports an estimated 16 seniors are scheduled for graduation in May 2009.
Marshall, who was appointed chair of the department in July said he is very aware of the controversy created by the new initiatives, but said he feels it is the right thing to do.
“Some of our most recent alumni told me they cannot find jobs in their field. This is partly due to the fact they have not completed internships, have no portfolios and have G.P.A.’s below 2.5. This is heartbreaking and as chair I am responsible for doing something about this,” said Marshall.
“A policy is only as strong as the people who participate in it. I can not make students work harder and meet their academic responsibilities, but I can make sure that we have standards in place so that students will get the best they can from the program. After that, all of it falls on them,” said Marshall.
Some MCO students said they are still not convinced and consider the whole thing a waste of time. Others said they will wait and see noting, “that time will tell”.