Colleges of Communication, Information merge

Seizing an opportunity to strengthen their traditional programs and explore new interdisciplinary offerings, the College of Communication and the College of Information have merged their programs, effective July 1.

Faculties of both colleges voted to approve the merger in early April, and Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Lawrence G. Abele approved the creation of the new College of Communication & Information.

“Pooling the resources and combining the strengths of both colleges will put the new college in a leadership position to address emerging communication and information challenges of the 21st century,” Abele said.

The merged college includes the School of Communication, the School of Communication Science and Disorders, and the School of Library and Information Studies. Students in existing programs will transition seamlessly into the new college in August.

“The recent climate of cuts in educational funding makes resources at the university very scarce,” said Larry Dennis, formerly dean of the College of Information and now dean of the new combined college. “The merger gives us the opportunity to rethink how we can provide quality education for more students with less money.”

“The beauty of this merger is that it brings together the traditions of innovation and success of three Florida State programs,” said Gary Heald, who served as interim dean of the College of Communication after the February retirement of longtime dean John Mayo. “Communication has cutting-edge programs in communication, advertising, new media, digital video and project management; U.S. News and World Report ranks the programs in Communication Science and Disorders and those in the College of Information among the very best in the nation. We are building our future on a foundation of excellence.”

“The faculty saw this as an outstanding opportunity to create academic and research programs that reflect the information, communication and technology needs of the residents of Florida,” Dennis said. “This merger creates a faculty with the intellectual leadership needed to build programs that teach the skills everyone needs to thrive in the 21st century.”

Stephen McDowell, formerly chair of the Department of Communication, and Juliann Woods, formerly chair of the Department of Communication Disorders, are now directors of their respective schools. Corinne Jorgensen, associate dean of the College of Information, has a dual role as director of the School of Library and Information Studies and the College of Communication & Information's associate dean for research.

Heald is associate dean for academic affairs, Bob Brooks is associate dean for finance and operations, Barbara Robinson is assistant dean for student affairs and Ebrahim Randeree is assistant dean for internships and outreach.