New Media Communication Degree Announced
Broward College recently announced it will offer an Associate of Science degree in New Media Communication. The program will address the increasing demand among media agencies and local businesses for employees equipped with the latest technical, creative and evaluative knowledge needed to manage large and small scale communication. Classes will begin in fall of 2017.
The New Media Communication Degree will move students beyond traditional media by broadening the scope of communication to incorporate a range of platforms and technical devices including smart phones, robots, social networking sites, mobile and internet applications. The new program makes Broward College a local leader in the communication field by being the only college in the state to offer a New Media Communication degree.
“Few higher education institutions appreciate the demand among contemporary media communication businesses or organizations for employees equipped with alternative writing approaches, knowledge of digital formats, capacity for nonlinear storytelling, and an appreciation of how culture changes and influences the development and management of communication platforms,” said Henry Mack, associate dean of Academic Affairs for the Arts, Humanities, Communication and Design programs at Broward College.
To ensure the degree is applicable to current trends in the communication field, the College worked closely with industry partners to develop the program structure. In addition to providing students with the skills to use current and emerging technologies for storytelling, the degree also has embedded humanities-based competencies which will focus on creating communication professionals who are “ethically minded,” empathetic, excellent writers, with the kinds of skills necessary to emerge as a confident, savvy communication leader. Other courses include business communication, computer mediated communication, research and design. The program also has an internship component where students will work directly with local media industry employers in order to perfect their particular communication skill-set.
Applications are currently being accepted for the Fall 2017 semester. For more information, please visit Broward.edu/newmediacommunication or contact Henry Mack, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs at [email protected].
Beauty Initiative Hosts Event at Broward College to Provide Hygiene Products for Homeless
A little bit of kindness can go a long way.
More than 50 volunteers found that out on a recent Saturday when they helped the Beauty Initiative fill bags of hygiene products on Central Campus.
The packing party prepared 353 bags from a collection of more than 10,000 sanitary donations for women in need throughout the community. These bags were distributed in the South Florida area and were given to the Broward County Sheriff’s Office and Police Homeless Task Force. The officers keep the bags handy when on patrol and have them at their disposal when they identify someone who can use feminine hygiene and beauty products.
Within one hour the assembly line had completed a majority of the project. The volunteers worked in tandem, organizing the collection of products and putting them in each bag. Spirits were high as they knew their efforts were making a difference.
Ashley Eubanks, who founded the Beauty Initiative in April, was happy to host the gathering for a cause at Broward College. Sponsor organizations were generous enough to contribute as well. Among them was Clean the World, which lent a helping hand by donating 500 soaps, and students from Phi Theta Kappa stopped in to offer cake to the hard-working helpers.
“I can't begin to express my gratitude to the entire Broward College staff for allowing us to host our packing party. Just when we thought we would have to cancel the event…the College made it possible,” Eubanks said.
Eubanks hopes to continue wo
rking with Broward College as she continues to build a network of partners for future drives and packing events.
Another initiative the nonprofit focuses on is teaching beauty, etiquette and self-care. This includes holding workshops taught by beauty professionals for school age girls to build self-esteem and feel good about themselves. For more information on the organization or to help, visit http://beautyinitiativeinc.org/.
Faculty Member Looks Back at Trip to Annual National Collegiate Honors Council Conference
Tai Houser, PhD., recently ventured to the “Emerald City” of Seattle to present at the annual National Collegiate Honors Council (NCHC) Conference. The English professor and Broward College Faculty Senate President was privileged to represent Broward College, along with others from the institution. The conference brings together directors, deans, faculty, staff and students for an exchange of ideas.
Here Houser looks back on his memorable experience:
“For academics, as for other professionals, attending conferences is a vital part of our work. It allows us to engage with other experts, energize our spirits, and explore the nuances of our disciplinary, pedagogical, and professional passions. I was pleased to represent Broward College and the Robert ‘Bob’ Elmore Honors College at the annual meeting of the National Collegiate Honors Council. This is one of my favorite conferences and I’ve been attending, first as Honors director and currently as Honors faculty, for several years.
Working with colleagues from James Madison University and Northern Virginia Community College, I discussed best practices in transfer and articulation between two-year and four-year programs. The session was well attended.
Among the 50 or so guests was the current Honors Director, Quakish Liner, and our previous Honors Director, Dr. Sheila Jones.
How fun to have all three of us in the same room! The audience was especially excited to hear about how our ‘LINK to FAU’ program has students working with FAU advisors while attending Broward College, and how our FIU relationship allows students to have an FIU ID in order to access services at the university. Some younger program directors were eager to implement their own version of our practice of helping Honors students transfer to four-year programs by sending letters of recommendation from the Honors director along with the student application — and the success we see in that letter helping students secure scholarships.
Conferences are also about learning. In fact, it’s the best way to keep up with the state of our art. I was able to attend some exciting sessions and learn about the explosion of Honors programs happening outside of the United States, specifically in Europe, and the increasing practice of offering Honors study abroad programs. Clearly, the Broward College Robert ‘Bob’ Elmore Honors College was at the forefront of offering Honors abroad. I was able to share how I worked with our international partners to offer Honors certificates to our students earning a degree from the College in South America and Asia. And many of our college partners were excited to learn about our spring 
break study abroad trip for Honors college students.
Because NCHC is such a large organization, the meeting requires the resources offered by a large city. This year, Seattle proved to be just as engaging as the conference. From the City as Text experience offered by NCHC, to the famous Pike Place Market, Space Needle, museums, and fine restaurants, we were never without options of things to do in the evenings. Of course, I saw Mount Rainier from the Space Needle, enjoyed an amazing Mediterranean-style dinner with the Broward College crew at Sareavo Restaurant (complete with flaming cheese), and an intimate, locally sourced luncheon.
Throughout my years of activity in the NCHC, the Southern Regional Honors Council — where I sit on the Board of Directors — and among my colleagues at the College, I have formed some exciting professional and personal friendships. I know that I can call on people at major research institutions, folks at liberal arts colleges, friends from community colleges, and co-workers at Broward College to find a support network and engage in mutual academic pursuits to help students succeed at Broward and transfer into strong four-year institutions.”
For more information on the Honors College, visit Link to: http://www.broward.edu/academics/honors/Pages/default.aspx.