COLLEGE OF CANYONS GETS WSCA AWARD COMMUNICATION STUDY PROGRAMS CITED.

Byline: Daily News

VALENCIA - College of the Canyons' Communication Studies department won the Model Teaching Program Award sponsored by the Western States Communication Association.

Department chairwoman Victoria Leonard accepted the award on behalf of the college during the WSCA conference last month in Palm Springs.

``Our most recent innovation has been to take our existing curricula and expand our methods of delivery to open the door to students who cannot attend regular college classes,'' Leonard said.

The public-speaking course and some theory courses have been written in online/hybrid format for students who cannot attend regular class sessions. Leonard credited the faculty for working as a team, contributing to the success of department programs.

Other courses in the program are Essentials of Persuasive Speaking, Interpersonal Communication, Communication and Gender, Intercultural Communication, Rhetoric and Contemporary Culture, and Forensics (speech and debate.)

``I am continually excited by the fact that our program - although not particularly old - is so diverse, rich in curriculum, and advanced in its focus. I am so proud to be a part of the department and our college,'' instructor Karyl Kicenski said.

``I think the department now has the esteem of the community colleges of the greater Western states. This is an award that looks at programs across this span of geography and so I am thrilled that a small community college like COC is getting the attention it deserves. We are not always on the map, so to speak, since we are away from greater L.A. and the only college in our district. Perhaps this award will serve to change this fact.''

The award is given to a communication studies department program that reflects the breadth of the communication discipline, has teaching personnel with specialized training in communication, integrates curricular and co-curricular activities, has strong administrative support, and relates to the mission of its institution. The program had a nomination from a former College of the Canyons instructor and supporting documentation to prove the program's excellence.