Buffalo News Scholarship

Two Communication freshmen have received $1,000 scholarships provided by The Buffalo News. Lakisha Forde of Brooklyn and Lauren Kirchmyer of West Seneca are the department's newest Buffalo News Scholars. The scholarship is competitive and is based on high school grades, SAT scores, and writing samples. See Buffalo News Scholars.

Attendance Policy

The Communication faculty adopted a common attendance policy for all COM and SPC courses. Because active participation is necessary for academic success, the policy outlines student responsibilities on class prticipation. It also outlines penalties for non-attendance, identifies excusable absences, and sets norms for make-up work. See Communication Attendance Policy.

Honor Society

Nineteen students have been inducted into the department chapter of the Communication Honor Society. Eligibility requirements are a 3.0 GPA overall and a 3.25 GPA in the major. The department's Psi Rho chapter is one of more than 400 campus chapters affiliated with Lambda Pi Eta honor society of the National Communication Association. See Honor Society Members.

Piquette Scholar

Jon D'Avolio, a junior Media Production major, is the first recipient of a $1,000 Dr. Julia A. Piquette Communication Scholarship.

D'Avlio, of Buffalo, is involved in several class-related and free-lance video projects. His productions range from silent movies to parodies of radio commercials, and from comedy sketches to Buffalo State sports. His work involves writing, shooting, producing and editing.

Dr. Julia Piquette is a retired member of the department who established the broadcasting sequence and created what was then called the Journalism, Broadcasting and Speech department. Juniors with a 3.7 GPA in the majors are eligible for the scholarship. Applicants prepare a personal statement, and finalists present a speech to the scholarship selection committee.

An Intern's Log

Media Production senior Andrew Burstein kept a daily log of his experiences as an intern working on a film with Warner Brothers TV in New York City during summer 2009. He details "every grueling, agonizing day of my internship without any commercial breaks." It's an honest, sometimes funny, day-by-day recount of his experiences -- and a great read. See An Intern's Log.

Girl Scouts TV

Twenty Girl Scouts from Erie and Niagara counties participated in a department-sponsored video production Oct. 24. The production, part of a careers programs of the local Girl Scout council, is an element of the department's community-service agenda.

Department chair Ron Smith and Professor Marian Deutschman helped the girls create a script for a 60-second public-service advertisement. Professor Paul DeWald supervised the videotaping in the department TV studio, with the girls providing both the on-camera talent and assistance as camera operators and floor directors. Professor Lou Rera helped the girls edit the final video.

Here's the Girl Scout TV spot posted at the department's YouTube page.

Advisement & Registration

Registration begins Nov. 4.  Faculty advisers have posted advisement sign-up sheets by their office door, so sign up for your appointment. Advisers do not select classes for you. Instead, they review your intended courses in light of your graduation requirements.Don't know your adviser? See our Adviser List.