Internships, Scholarships, & Student Organizations

I.  Eligibility

A. The student must be a Speech Communication major with a minimum 3.0 GPA in Speech Communication courses and minimum 2.8 cumulative GPA.

B. The student must have completed at least one speech course at the 1000- or 2000-level; and either SPCM 3300 or SPCM 3700; and one additional speech course at the 3000-or 4000-level.

C. The student must have a grade of C or better in all major courses taken thus far.

D. The student should sign up for SPCM 4910 for a maximum of six hours.  This course may count as an upper-division course toward the major and may not be repeated.  Grade S/U.

II. Requirements

A. The intern must make contact and confirm the assignment with the prospective organization.

B. The intern’s faculty advisor will usually serve as the supervising professor.  If the intern has not yet been assigned a faculty advisor, a faculty member other than the student’s advisor may be selected.

C. Internship credit is granted at the discretion of the supervising professor; it is not a student entitlement and is not automatically granted upon request.  The student must present their supervising professor with their one page summary and the internship credit form.  Once the professor has signed the form this signifies that the student has been granted permission to receive credit.

D. The student must prepare a purpose statement and projected work program of at least one typed page to present to the supervising professor, which must be handed in with the permission for internship credit form.

E. Interns are expected to work a minimum of 150 hours per semester in order to receive 3 credit hours.

F. The intern must keep a daily log or journal.  This may run from two paragraphs to two pages per entry.  The first half of this assignment should be turned in at the midpoint of the semester in which the intern is working.  The other half of the assignment should be turned in at the end of the internship.

G. The student is encouraged to include with the journal submission any examples of work materials (brochures, pamphlets, PR releases, public service announcements), training procedures, etc. to which he/she has contributed.

H. A minimum 15-20 page paper must be submitted at the end of the internship involving related readings in theory and research.

I. Finally, a letter from the intern’s supervisor at the internship thoroughly evaluating the intern’s performance must be submitted to the supervising professor at the end of the semester/internship duration.

A. Criteria

1. Recipient must be a Speech Communication major
2. The candidate must have demonstrated high academic achievement.  His/her record will be evaluated in rank of importance:  (1) overall GPA; (2) GPA in the major; (3) GPA in the core course.  (The candidate should include these three records at the beginning of their letter.
3. The candidate will submit a letter describing his/her commitment to the speech communication discipline.

B. Procedure

1. Announcement of the award will be made through major classes and through the major advisor.
2. Letters of self nomination will be requested through the announcement to classes and to the advisor.
3. The Scholarship Committee will make the final decision with appropriate input from the faculty.
4. The award will be administered through the treasurer's office.  The award for 1998-1999 is close to $700.
5. A Check Request will be made through the University of Georgia Foundation with appropriate clearance through the Financial Aid office.
6. Appropriate public announcements of the award will be made such as (1) official recognition on Honors Day; (2) announcement sent to recipient's hometown newspaper, etc.

* The Award comes from a memorial established by Mr. L. W. Cone of Crawford, GA, in honor of his wife, Olive M. Cone.  To quote from the Perpetual Fund Agreement, "The purpose of the Fund is to award an annual scholarship to a University of Georgia student majoring in Speech Communication.  Selection of the recipient shall be made by a committee appointed by the Head of the Department of Speech Communication.  The Department will establish the criteria with major emphasis on academic achievement.  Financial need may also be considered."  Earlier the agreement says:  "Because of Mrs. Cone's regard for the University Episcopal Center, the Fund shall be knows as the Olive M. Cone Episcopal Scholarship Fund.  However, it is understood that religion shall not be a factor in determining eligibility for the scholarship award."

Lambda Pi Eta was founded in 1985.  It became an affiliate of SCA in 1988.  The present inclusion of the honor society as an official element of SCA gives a new credibility to the society.  It also brings about changes in both the chapter operation and student membership requirements.  Lambda Pi Eta will operate as an honor society in the image of those organizations which belong to The Association of College Honor Societies.  With that in mind, the entrance requirements reflect the honor of membership.  To gain recognition the student must be an academic honor student and actively involved in the field of communication studies.

To become a member of a Lambda Pi Eta chapter, students must:

-have completed 60 semester hours, though they may be considered for affiliation before completing the necessary number of hours:

-have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 for all courses taken:

-have a communication studies GPA of at least 3.25:

-academically be in the upper 35% of their class:

-have completed the equivalent of 12 semester hours in communication studies course work:

-currently be enrolled as a full-time student in good standing, as determined by the institution's policies:

-should have displayed commitment to the field of speech communication (criteria for displaying commitment to the field will be determined by individual chapters).

-new members are inducted annually each Fall.

Students who are members of Lambda Pi Eta and transfer to another school which has a chapter will automatically be considered a member.  Local chapters have the option of increasing the national requirements and interpreting the national guidelines for transfer students and in special cases.  Student membership in Lambda Pi Eta does not entitle the student to automatic membership in SCA.  A student who is interested in affiliating with SCA must enroll and pay the fee for SCA student membership.

The Department of Speech Communication has an undergraduate association which meets formally about 4-6 times a semester and offers additional social events. The association’s goals are to promote understanding of the role of speech communication in society, to assist members with career planning and networking, to share information about job and internship opportunities, and to have fun meeting other speech communication students and faculty.

Why should students join UNCA?
UNCA is your link to a broad range of resources available to you as a speech communication major. One of the most valuable opportunities provided by UNCA is the chance to develop relationships with the speech communication faculty outside the classroom. As you get to know the faculty and become a familiar face to them, you will learn more about the field of study you have chosen and the possibilities for applying your skills once you graduate.

UNCA also helps students learn about internships and career opportunities by inviting speakers including alumni, professionals working in the field, and other guests from on campus and the surrounding community. These events provide opportunities for students to gain valuable career information and to establish professional contacts. Speakers in the past have addressed topics such as resume writing, interviewing skills, getting an internship, conducting a job search, networking, getting into graduate school, stress and time management skills, and what students can do with a speech communication major.

In addition to these benefits, UNCA encourages undergraduates to attend conferences and present papers at regional conventions. In the past, students have presented papers at the Undergraduate Honors Conference, sponsored by The Southern States Communication Association. Attending conferences provides an additional avenue for networking, resume building, and learning about career and graduate school opportunities.

Finally, UNCA offers a chance for speech communication majors to meet one another in an informal context to hold discussions, develop friendships, and just have fun. Along with formal meetings and speakers, UNCA holds social events that give students and faculty a chance for social interaction. Past events have included pizza parties, softball games, and an annual reception honoring graduating speech communication majors.

Is there any cost to join UNCA?
Members pay a modest annual fee to join UNCA. The amount of the fee is decided in the fall of each year.

When are UNCA meetings held?
Meetings are held approximately 4-6 times a semester, with the exact days and times decided by members each fall.

Who can I contact to find out more about the UNCA?
Contact the Speech Communication Degree Program Assistant, Sarah McQuade (smcquade@uga.edu), for details.