ATLAS building on the University of Colorado campus in Boulder. (CU Independent file/Lee Pruitt)
A task force is in the process of determining the possible formation of a new school at CU that will unite the curriculum and resources of the School of Journalism and Mass Communication and ATLAS, according to the School of Information Rationale document.
Many universities across the nation, including the University of Washington, Penn State and UC Berkeley, have founded Information Schools that focus on interdisciplinary studies in communications and technology.
The new task force will examine current academic programs at CU and analyze the potential benefits of a School of Information.
Paul Voakes, dean of the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, said the motivation for exploring the creation of a School of Information comes from the influence of technology in today’s world.
“Technology is transforming all of mass media and that includes journalism,” said Voakes, who is a co-chair of the task force for the School of Information. “Journalism is taking forms that people couldn’t imagine 15 years ago.”
The common trend within the industry is showing widespread advances in information and communication technologies.
“What’s really important for me and a lot of other people in this school is that the technologies always include principles of journalism: fairness, verification, accuracy, social responsibility and communication,” Voakes said.
The School of Information will incorporate studies that explore “the creation, manipulation, storage, presentation, distribution and delivery of information,” according to the School of Information Rationale document released by the task force.
It is becoming apparent to many within the journalism profession that technology may become a problem if journalists do not embrace its power.
“If it simply becomes run-away technology, we could lose out on one of the most important institutions we have in our society, which is ethical journalism,” Voakes said.
John Bennett, Institute Director of ATLAS and co-chair of the task force, said students could benefit from a School of Information.
“It’s not always easy for students to find or take interdisciplinary courses or courses out of their majors,” Bennett said. “This will make it easier for students to work across interdisciplinary boundaries.”
The Armory building, which houses the School of Journalism and Mass Communication for the University of Colorado in Boulder. (CU Independent file/Lee Pruitt)
Devin Moeser, a 21-year-old senior advertising major, said many journalism and ATLAS students have already started to take courses that penetrate disciplinary boundaries.
“I think blending them into one school is already happening organically and a new school is the natural progression,” Moeser said.
In addition, the School of Information will work to create an environment that will bring faculty across campus together.
“The idea is that faculty from all over campus can work together; it will encourage collaboration,” Bennett said.
Concrete details about the School of Information, such as a budget or timeline to implement the program, will not be considered until the task force’s research is completed. But it is clear that students want a program that will benefit them and their studies.
“I think it’s kind of that way already so if it means more funding and smaller class sizes by making a new school then that’s great,” said Sarah Leighton, a 21-year-old senior advertising major and Technology, Arts and Media minor.
Bennett said student input will be essential to the process, and that public forums will be held later this semester to hear student opinion.
Many students, like Elly Collins, a 21-year-old senior broadcast news major, said they are already in favor of this proposal.
“I think it’s good because I can take more technologically-oriented classes and that’s important for jobs,” Collins said.
Voakes said the new school will offer opportunities for students that are valuable for their careers after graduation.
“If students come out of the journalism program as good writers and very capable gatherers of information, that’s great,” Voakes said. “But if they come out and are also integrative thinks and can work creatively, computationally and critically then they are employable.”
The task force will continue to research and present a report and recommendation to the provost by the end of this semester.
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Lauren Knobbe at Lauren.knobbe@colorado.edu.
