by Alissa Davis
Staff Writer
Journalism, radio-television and speech communication students who have been concerned about the recommendation for a unified communication degree can rest easy for now.
Even though Robert Musburger, director of the school of communication, was expecting a vote by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board on the issue Friday, the board did not discuss the university's proposal at its quarterly meetings on Thursday and Friday.
The degree-plan change is the brainchild of Musburger. He said he has been trying to push the proposal through the Coordinating Board for over three years, keeping in contact with the board every step of the way to ensure a nonsubstantive change consideration, and, therefore, a quicker approval.
The proposal was sent to the coordinating board for state-level review on Feb. 20, the day it was approved by the University of Houston Board of Regents.
However, guidelines for Coordinating Board approval of new degree programs state that the board has until January 1998 to make a decision if proposals are received before April 1997.
While Musburger titled the proposal "Nonsubstantive Degree Program Proposal," Ray Grasshoff, a public information officer for the Coordinating Board, said the alterations made to the communication degree plan are viewed as substantive changes, warranting a longer consideration by the board's staff.
"There is a concern that the changes are major, and we need to take more time to look at it," Grasshoff said. "Just because someone says it is nonsubstantive doesn't mean the staff agrees with it. But even so, it takes several board meetings to make some kind of a decision or recommendation on it."
When asked why he thought the proposal is now considered a substantive change by the Coordinating Board, Musburger said, "because reporters (from the Cougar) were calling, asking (about the new curriculum)."
"I'm not blaming reporters at the Cougar, but state agencies get concerned when students start waving a red flag," Musburger added.
"I don't think inquiries from a reporter will make a staff person think the program is bad or good," Grasshoff responded. "We get calls from students, reporters and legislators all the time."
Grasshoff explained the hesitation in approving degree changes lies in the availability of such programs within Texas. "We want to make sure students are protected and programs aren't duplicated across the state. We ask, 'what's the need for this program in the state?' If there's not much of a need, you had better justify (the changes) before our staff will approve it."
Several communication students lacking the core classes necessary to specify their major have been in a state of limbo, unsure which degree plan they would be allowed to graduate under.
The concern has been that, without specification, students would have no choice but to follow the new degree plan, with different required classes and the possibility of a later graduation. In addition, these students have said they prefer to have an area of expertise on their diploma, not just "communication."
"A diploma that doesn't reflect what you set out to study for could be misleading," said John Gonzales, a sophomore communication-unspecified major.
But according to Musburger, it turns out there was never a cause for concern. The undergraduate studies catalog states, "Students normally are entitled to graduate under the degree provisions of the catalog in effect at the time of their first completed semester of enrollment."
Musburger added, "Once you start under a catalog, you have the right to graduate under that catalog. We cannot force you to do either one (of the communication degrees)."