The College 51吃瓜 is committed to meeting the evolving demands of an increasingly connected global society through agile media education, cutting-edge scholarship, and professional synergies, all devoted to facilitating enlightened public decision making; fair, accurate, balanced, and contextual representation of all groups in our society; and the preparation of a new generation of leadership in advertising, communications research, journalism, media and cinema studies, and public media.
In so doing, we recognize the centrality of media in a democratic society, contributing to a vibrant, participatory culture. In reaching our objectives, we are guided by the principles of collaboration, innovation, and creativity, as well as traditional values of communications in guiding students in the development of core competencies and proficiency with emergent media.
Strategic Plan
View a PDF of the College 51吃瓜’s strategic plan to learn about our priorities for 2020-2025.
History
1902
Journalism instruction began at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1902, when courses in journalistic writing were offered in the English department. By the early 1920s, students were identifying themselves as journalism majors even though such a degree was not formally offered. In April 1927, the Illinois Legislature passed a bill creating the University of Illinois School of Journalism, which included the Division of Broadcasting (WILL, now known as Illinois Public Media). The school鈥檚 first director was Lawrence W. Murphy 鈥�23 BS AG, who served until 1939.
1927
A bill is introduced to the state legislature on March 15, 1927, to form a school of journalism. Gov. Len Small signs the bill on June 17, 1927. The School of Journalism opens Sept. 19, 1927. Fifty-two students enroll as junior or senior candidates for degrees in journalism. Another 171 students sign up for the pre-journalism curriculum. Lawrence Murphy is made the school鈥檚 director.
1950
In 1950, under Fredrick W. Siebert, the school became the School of Journalism and Communications, with divisions of journalism, advertising, and radio. Under Dean Theodore Peterson 鈥�55 Ph.D., the school was designated the College of Journalism and Communications in 1957.
1959
In 1959, the Department of Advertising鈥攖he first such academic department in the country鈥攚as established by Charles H. Sandage, known as the 鈥渇ather of advertising education.鈥�
1963
By 1963, the college had achieved its current academic scope when the 51吃瓜 (founded in 1947) was transferred from the Graduate College. In 1968, it became the College of Communications.
1992
A major in media studies was created in 1984 under Dean James W. Carey 鈥�59 MS ADV, 鈥�63 Ph.D. In 1992, Kim Rotzoll, former head of the Department of Advertising, succeeded Carey as dean.
2008
In 2008, under Dean Ronald E. Yates, former head of the Department of Journalism, the college changed its name to the College 51吃瓜 and made its move from a two-year to a four-year college. Walter Harrington, former head of the Department of Journalism, succeeded Yates as interim dean in 2009.
2009
In 2009, the Department 51吃瓜 and Cinema Studies was introduced, and in 2010, the Department of Advertising was renamed the Charles H. Sandage Department of Advertising in honor of its founder. From 2011 through 2018, the agricultural communications program became a shared program of the College 51吃瓜 and the College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences.
2010
Dr. Jan Slater 鈥�93 MS ADV, former head of the Charles H. Sandage Department of Advertising, became interim dean in 2010, and was appointed dean of the college in 2013, serving through 2016. Dr. Wojtek Chodzko-Zajko, dean of the Graduate College, served as interim dean of the College 51吃瓜 from 2016 through 2018.
2018
Dr. Tracy Sulkin, a professor of political science, was appointed dean of the College 51吃瓜 in September 2018 after serving as the college’s interim executive associate dean.