PR Students, Keep that book!

As many universities are approaching the end of the semester, they all have one thing in common–students looking to get some money during buy back week. Approximately two weeks ago I asked the question to professionals and professors “Which PR course textbooks should students keep?” I was pleasantly surprised and shocked by some of the responses.

In regards to PR courses, keep whichever textbook you have for the following:

• Law & Ethics
• Research
• Writing and/or Media course
• Campaigns
• A course of specific interest to your desired field

In regards to specific PR textbooks, responses included:

• AP Stylebook (hard copy or online subscription)
• Handbook of Public Relations
• Who Moved My Cheese?
• Effective Public Relations
• The Elements of Style by Strunk and White
• Full Frontal PR

Additional comments varied from don’t keep any of your PR books due to the evolving nature of the profession, to subscribing to various RSS feeds. Check out the comments for yourself. Thanks to all who responded.

Any additional books or courses you would add? All suggestions welcomed.

10 Commandments for Listening

When I discussed the chapter on Listening earlier this semester with my Public Speaking students, I decided to do something different- let them develop the code of conduct for listening during speeches, along with appropriate consequences. The students devised the “10 Commandments for Listening” in the PowerPoint below. Of course there are consequences for breaking the commandments and I allowed the students to develop those as well. One student wanted “eternal damnation” as the consequence for breaking a commandment, but the group decided on the following instead:

• 1st offense: You are first to speak during the next set of speeches
• 2nd offense: In addition to the first consequence, you recieve 2-3 points off your speech

What are your thoughts on the groups “10 Commandments for Listening.” Anything you would add?

And yes, they have stuck to these all semester. There haven’t been any complaints from violaters either.

Making it to Thanksgiving Break

As you all know Thanksgiving Break is around the corner (Woo hoo!!). Yet, the problem with knowing the end is in sight is when become lazy and desire to quit working before we should. So before you get too caught up in your holiday plans, here are a few tips to get you through the remaining two weeks.

1. Schedule daily breaks. Our body and brain need rest. You are physically at your best when you feel refreshed and not overwhelmed. Besides, you bring fresh eyes to the table when you come back to a task. Your break may consist of a walk around the park, a trip to the gym, or a short drive to get something to eat. Don’t work and eat as that defeats the purpose.  
   

   Photo credit: basykes

2. Map out your next two weeks in detail. Make yourself a spreadsheet, on paper or electronically, that highlights the remaining days and times you intend to complete various tasks. Be as detailed as possible, inserting times you will work to complete tasks if necessary. If you have a visual reminder of everything that needs to be completed it should (key word should) help you stay focused as task completion will put you one step closer to Thanksgiving Break.
3. Break-up long tasks. Do you really have 5 hours to put aside on one day to one task? Yes, some people are great at this, but the average person, looking at their schedule, wouldn’t have the time. Instead of attempting to do 5 hour chuncks at a time, choose to focus 1-2 hours on a specific task instead. If you do this throughout the the day you’ll eventually complete 5 hours on that task.
4. Gradually plan your break. The problem with breaks is that we become so consumed in planning them, because it is fun, we fail to recognize the amount of time we are devoting to the upcoming break that should be directed elsewhere. Should you plan your holidays, of course, but really, do you need one day to plan out whose house you’ll be visiting this break? Remember, the holidays are UPON US, they aren’t here yet.
5. Treat yourself. Whenever you complete a task reward yourself. This could be something as simple as going to your favorite coffee shop or picking up that pair of earrings you been debating over. Your reward doesn’t have to be elaborate, just significant to you.

What are some things you do to stay sane and focused before upcoming holiday breaks?

Students, are you professional?

I recently read “Survey: College grads unprofessional” and began thinking, I hope no one says that about our department graduates. Although I have some issues with the information presented in the short excerpt (I’m sure my issues will be cleared up once I listen to the podcast), such as methodology, research sponsor, questions asked, ecetera, it did get me thinking about what I am doing to prepare students for life after graduation.

Photo credit: Amber Rhea

Students complete internships, participate in various organizations, maintain a job, etc. , but do not always make the connection between now and then. This is evident through the rumblings in the hall. For example, a colleague overhead a student exiting a course say to a fellow classmate, “Man this class isn’t called ‘Public Speaking Outlining”; it’s ‘Public Speaking!’ I just don’t get why we have to do outlines at all!! They should NOT be part of our grades!” It’s statements of this nature that make me wonder if they will ever “get it.”

Although we (professors) attempt to prepare students for entry into the job force, students must desire to better themselves. It is heartbreaking to hear and see students view assignments as irrelevant. As shown through some of the comments provided in the story excerpt regarding the survey, employers are seeking graduates with good grammar, hard work ethics, professionalism, ecetera. These are not attributes that magically appear. They require consistent practice and the ability to take constructive criticism and move forward. How can you hone these skills if you are not provided the work to practice them? You don’t become an expert overnight. Therefore, I’d rather you fail an assignment in class, which is a designated place of learning, as oppose to losing a job.

I can’t recount the number of times I’ve had past graduates send me an e-mail or stop by my office when they return to campus and express their gratitude to me for pushing them to complete tasks beyond their comfort level while maintaining integrity and professionalism. Many of them admit they didn’t understand why my expectations were so high, until they were working in an office, but are nevertheless thankful. They also check-in with me every now and then to make sure that I’m not slacking on the job These are the alumni that remind me and allow me to share their stories with current students in hopes that these students will realize that the workload is NOT a form of punishment, but a strategic decision to make them better. A degree may get you the job, but it is the traits learned/honed while obtaining the degree that dictactes whether or not you keep the job.

What are your thoughts on the survey findings? How or can this issue of unprofessionalism be combated?

Univeristy Dress Policy

Over the last few years more and more Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) have implemented a dress code policy of some kind with Morehouse College (ATL) being the latest. View the CNN clip.

Granted a dress code policy is fairly easy to implement at a private university, but what about those of us who work for public universities?
I clearly remember asking my department chair during my first week on the job if I could implement a dress policy in my classroom. Of course the answer was no, but the point was how do I get students to understand that neither I nor their classmates wish to see their pajamas, do-rags, unmentionables, or anything else that should stay in the privacy of their home.

Photo credit:Mike Benedetti

I’m sure your thinking, “Well your working, you should be dressed everyday.” True, but you can be appropriately dressed in a pair of blue  jeans, and that’s my point.  Regardless of whether your university is public or private, at minimum have respect for your family. Really, do you think your parents, grandparents, or whomever else you respect would approve of you wearing pajamas to class (or Wal-Mart) after they’ve spent money on your education? Uh…..NO. Besides, your professor is NOT the only one working in the classrooms. As a student you are working as well, for recommendation letters,  as representatives of a campus organization, to increase your GPA for potential job employment, etc.

So next time  you see someone or you consider walking around in pajama pants and what have you, ask yourself “Did I just pass a future employer, misrepresent my organization, misrepresent myself, etc?”

These are just my thoughts, but I’d like to hear your comments. What are your dress expectations when you walk onto a college campus?

Why students should have a Twitter account

Due to the popularity of Twitter, one would assume that EVERY student has a Twitter account right? Wrong! I come across students everyday who make comments like “Twitter is just another Facebook. Why do I need an account?” Or one of my favorites, “I’m just suppose to follow and read tweets. This is pointless.” This lead me to thinking, “Why should students have a Twitter account?”

Photo credit: 10ch

Below is a list of reasons I’ve compiled to answer that question, along with reasons submitted via Twitter.

1. Connections. This is the most obvious as Twitter is a social networking site. The idea is that you will connect with others that have the same interest as you.
2. To Learn. Learn about the business you wish to enter. Listen to what others are saying about an organization or career path.
3. Self-promotion. If you are good at something (i.e. strong writer, producing YouTube videos, etc.) and want to share it with others, Twitter can help with that.  Twitter is also an ideal platform to let others know if you are looking for an internship or job. However, this could be a double-edge sword, so be cautious of how you promote yourself.
4. Research. What does the competition for the job market look like? Are there skill sets you need to acquire prior to graduation to remain current in your desired field?
5. Brevity. You must get your meaning across in 140 characters. Twitter will force you to be concise. That’s not a bad habit.
6. Stay current. What are the trends in your area of interest? What’s the talk around the water cooler?
7. Access. Your new found connections come with access to a plethora of information. People are willing to help, even if that means just pointing you in the right direction.

What are some additional reasons you believe students should have a Twitter account? Why do you (or don’t you) have a Twitter account?

Think before you drop that course

With drop/add without academic penalty around the corner, the question becomes “Should I drop this course?” Before you answer yes or no, let’s consider a few things.

1. What’s your TRUE grade? It’s one thing to estimate your grade based on returned assignments, but an estimate is not a true account. Write down all the grades you have, along with how much each assignment was worth and determine your true grade.
2. Attendance Policy. Where do  you stand with the class attendance policy? Does your professor deduct points after missing a certain amount of classes? Is attendance counted towards your overall grade? Also consider if there is a departmental attendance policy.
3. Withdraw Policy. Some universities, such as Georgia Southern, dictate a maximum number of withdrawals throughout your college career. Make sure that you carefully consider the withdraw policy prior to making your decision.
4. Course offerings. Is this a course that is offered multiple times throughout the academic year? Is a it a prerequisite for the next course in your program? Will withdrawing from this course hinder your personal graduation plan?
5. Be proactive. No one knows better about what you need to do to successfully pass a course than the individual teaching the course. Don’t wait till the day before withdrawal to talk with your professor about your success in the course.

Withdrawing from a college course is not an issue that should be taken lightly.

I would like to hear from you. What are some additional things one should consider prior to withdrawing from a course?

Take the L.E.A.P.

So you’ve signed up for the L.E.A.P. certification, now what? Now you need to confirm your interest in the certification by accepting our invitation to join the Ning site created specifically for L.E.A.P. members. This site can only be viewed by the Public Relations Advisory Board members and your fellow L.E.A.P.sters. Once you’ve been approved as a member of the site, begin blogging about your experiences and tracking your points.

Below is an example from the L.E.A.P. website:

On September 17, 2009, I attended the Mocktail Reception to kickoff the new L.E.A.P. Certification Program at GSU.  At the event, I had the opportunity to network with PR professionals and celebrate the beginning of this new program.  (Leadership “Networking” 1 point)

As you will note in the example, you should indicate the area in which the points can be counted and the point equivalency of that activity. There are several FAQ’s listed on the site to answer your questions regarding points necessary for certification, site usage, portfolio review/interview schedule, etc. Don’t forget the public relations faculty is available to answer questions as well.

So get in there and take the L.E.A.P. You have several experiences to share with the Public Relations Advisory Board and we are eager to read about them.

The mystery of course numbers

Have you ever stopped to consider the purpose of course numbers? Yes we must have them to identify classes and to make sure the appropriate degree credits are received, but what do the numbers mean?

It’s obvious there is a sequential pattern with the first number, but what about the following numbers? Are they just there?

During a meeting to review course changes in one of our major programs the conversation quickly turned to whether  a proposed course number could be used for a new course. The short answer: no. Course numbers are structured to reflect the level of the course, course type, credit hours, and sequence.

When looking at course numbers keep the following in mind:

• The first number is the classification level of the course according to the  university standards.
• The second number denotes the type of course, such as a lecture, seminar, internship, etc.
• The third number indicates the number of credit hours one can receive for the course. (Keep in mind that 1:1 and 3:3 are used interchangeably when devising course numbers, so it is likely to receive 3 credit hours although this number maybe listed as a 1.)
• The fourth number provides where the course falls within your degree sequence.

For example, if you are taking PRCA 2330 or Intro to Public Relations, the course numbers let you know that this course is classified by the university as a sophomore level course, it’s lectured based, worth three credit hours, and is the first course in the major area for your degree.

So the next time you consider a course review the numbers. Don’t think the course will be easy or difficult based on the title.

L.E.A.P. Mocktail Kickoff

Last night many public relations students attended a mocktail party to kickoff L.E.A.P., a certification program sponsored by the Georgia Southern University Public Relations Advisory Board.

As stated in the websites own words,

Focusing on four key components, the acronym L.E.A.P. stands for Leadership, Experience in Communication, Academics, and Professionalism. Students can achieve certification through earning points in each of these four areas.

During this event students received the opportunity to mingle with fellow classmates, advisory board members and local practitioners.

Upon completion of certification points, students will receive a certificate and letter from the board recognizing their achievements in public relations beyond the classroom experience. In essence, L.E.A.P. is a student version of APR, Accredited in Public Relations, that one can acquire through PRSA.

I’m looking forward to watching students tackle this new certification program with great success.