Story By: Amanda Boothe
MONTEVALLO, Ala. — During the Board of Trustees meeting on Feb. 13, the board voted to close nine majors and seven concentrations. Along with the decision to close these programs the university also decided to open a new major: civic leadership.
This major will be housed in the Department of Communications and will consist of introductory courses, a capstone, research methods training, as well as other courses from other subjects. This includes: civic advocacy, citizenship and society, and organizational management. Students can also participate in experiential learning opportunities. This can be an internship or other that can get the student involved in a real-world application of the course material.
Students will have the opportunity to gain experience in management. The purpose of the program is to prepare students for roles of leadership in the community. The departments goal is that students leave prepared to lead community initiatives and get a broad understanding on how to get involved in their communities.
It has not been determined when this program will be available but the hope is that it will be available next fall, however the department is still waiting on approval from the Alabama Commission on Higher Education.
Alabama Commission on Higher Education, or ACHE, is the state agency responsible for the overall statewide planning and coordination of higher education. They manage various student aid programs, and the performance of designated regulatory functions. The Commission seeks to provide reasonable access to quality collegiate and university education for the citizens of Alabama.
Professor of communication and department chair Dr. Ozley says, “We see this a great opportunity to amplify with the university, in terms of employment and career readiness of students.”
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