Consider this an invitation - an invitation to an exciting adventure. We're creating a top journalism-communications program. The kind that teaches students the professional skills they'll need in the job market. The kind that sends students on to the best graduate schools. The kind that turns young dreamers into young achievers, leaders and success stories in print journalism, broadcast journalism, public relations, advertising and media management.

To make that possible, we have some extraordinary resources. We have a mission from University President William R. Harvey, who has designated us a "program of distinction," to become one of the best programs in the country. We have a $10-million, 10-year commitment from the Scripps Howard Foundation, the philanthropic arm of media giant E. W. Scripps Co.

That funding will build our new home, endow a professorship and scholarships, buy equipment, bring prominent professionals to teach classes, provide internships and enrich our students' education in many other ways. We have a partnership with the National Association of Black Journalists, the largest organization of African-American journalists and communications professionals, to bring several programs to our campus. We have the Scripps Howard Center, a state-of-the-art building for educating journalists and communications professionals. It's expected to open in spring 2002.

And did I mention what goes on in our classrooms? We have the curricula to match our mission: Innovative. Challenging. Exciting. Our program is hands-on education. Students report and write news stories - for print, for TV and radio, for the Web - in class and on deadline. Our public relations and advertising students create campaigns for real clients. Our media management students learn from the best in the business.

Students, parents, alumni - we welcome you to our exciting adventure.

Charlotte Grimes
Chair and Scripps Howard Professor of Journalism