Graduate students have a multitude of opportunities to become involved in activities in the Communication Arts Department, the University, and in various academic, professional, and disciplinary organizations. Participation in these activities may enhance a student’s academic and professional development. Further, participation may develop leadership skills, facilitate networking, and build scholarly communities.
Department Opportunities
Center for Communication Research: The Center acts as a resource and form of outreach related to social scientific research in the department. The Center hosts grants and funds outside speakers. In addition, the Center’s lab facilities and human subject pool enable faculty and graduate students to conduct their research projects. Graduate students in Communication Science help curate the Center’s website. http://ccr.commarts.wisc.edu
The Cinematheque: The Cinematheque, hosted by the Department of Communication Arts, is a coalition of UW-Madison academic departments and student film groups dedicated to showcasing archival and other rare prints from around the world. The Cinematheque screens films every Friday and Saturday night, and has one of the finest projection facilities in Madison. Admission is free and open to the UW and Madison community. http://cinema.wisc.edu/
Playback: Playback is a multi-media blog devoted to timely criticism and new perspectives on media and culture. It serves as a forum in which emerging and established scholars can share analysis, conversation, and experiments in new media such as podcasting, video essays, interactive works, and games. Playback aims to not only spotlight exciting research but also serve as a useful space for exchange on works-in-progress, welcoming reflections on research, writing, and publishing. Playback is run by an editorial board comprised of graduate students in Media & Cultural Studies and Film and welcomes contributions from scholars from all stages, disciplines, and departments.
Rhetoric Society of UW-Madison: The local student chapter of the Rhetoric Society of America (see Professional Organizations below), the Rhetoric Society of UW-Madison presents opportunities for students interested in rhetorical studies to interact with students in the English Department in developing and coordinating scholarly, professional, and social activities. These activities include (among others) creating opportunities for students to present their scholarly work and bringing guest speakers to campus. Leadership rotates among graduate students in Communication Arts and English.
The Velvet Light Trap: The Velvet Light Trap is a journal devoted to investigating historical questions that illuminate the understanding of film, television, and related media. It is edited entirely by graduate students at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and at the University of Texas-Austin. Each group puts together one issue yearly, usually organized around a particular theme. It is published by the University of Texas Press. The journal has published contributions from around the world by scholars at all levels. http://utpress.utexas.edu/index.php/journals/the-velvet-light-trap
Student Representation in Governance
Associated Students of Madison (ASM) – The Associated Students of Madison (ASM) is the campus-wide student governance organization at UW–Madison. Graduate and undergraduate representatives are elected to the 33-member ASM Student Council based on their respective college or school. The student council has regular biweekly meetings open to all students. Learn more here: http://www.asm.wisc.edu/
Teaching Assistants’ Association (TAA) – The Teaching Assistants’ Association (AFT Local 3220) is the labor union for TAs and PAs at UW-Madison. Although the TAA no longer represents graduate students in collective bargaining, the union continues to serve as a voice of graduate students at the University. As a result of decades of organizing and by working together as a union, graduate students at UW-Madison have achieved good health benefits, tuition remission, and many other gains. The TAA is a democratic union run by the members. All key policy decisions are made at monthly membership meetings. Learn more here: http://taa-madison.org/
Professional Organizations
American Forensic Association: The American Forensic Association (AFA) is an organization of scholars, teachers, and practitioners of debate dedicated to the study and engagement of public advocacy. Founded in 1949, the AFA sponsors the collegiate debate tournaments as well as the biennial Alta Conference on Argumentation, which brings together scholars from across the globe. Graduate students may submit papers to the Alta conference. http://www.americanforensics.org/
International Communication Association: The International Communication Association (ICA) is an academic association of scholars interested in all types of human and mediated communication. Founded in 1950, the ICA brings together over 4,800 scholars from more than 75 countries. Graduate students may submit papers for the annual conference to multiple divisions and interest groups as well as participate in governance on the Board of Directors. http://www.icahdq.org/
National Communication Association: Founded in 1914, the National Communication Association (NCA) brings together scholars, teachers, and practitioners interested in all forms, modes, and media of communication through humanistic and social scientific methods of inquiry. Graduate students may submit papers to more than 60 divisions, sections, and caucuses for the annual convention. In addition, NCA sponsors an annual summer doctoral honors seminar, where graduate students may interact with distinguished scholars to address issues in the field and workshop their dissertations. Graduate students may participate in governance in divisions, such as the Student Section, and the Legislative Assembly. http://www.natcom.org
Rhetoric Society of America: The Rhetoric Society of America (RSA) brings together scholars, teachers, and students interested in the study of rhetoric. The RSA embraces a broad vision of rhetoric that includes multiple modalities of expression, diverse media, and historical and contemporary practices. The RSA sponsors a biennial conference where students may present their research and an alternating, biennial summer institute where students may participant in numerous workshops and seminars. Students may participate in governance on the Board of Directors and in student chapters, including the UW-Madison chapter. http://www.rhetoricsociety.org
Society for Cinema and Media Studies: The Society for Cinema and Media Studies (SCMS) was founded in 1959 and has grown to an organization of over 3,300 members interested in issues of film and media studies. The SCMS sponsors an annual conference, which presents graduate students, who constitute the largest membership group in the SCMS, opportunities to present papers and interact with scholars affiliated with 7 caucuses and 25 scholarly interest groups. The Graduate Student Organization (GSO) provides fellowship, support, and advocacy for graduate student members of SCMS. A GSO representative serves on the Board of Directors of the SCMS. Further, GSO members maintain coordinate networking and mentoring opportunities for students. http://www.cmstudies.org/