Dear Will Prescott,

As a result of some of my frustrations with my PW Capstone class this semester, I talked with some fellow students and drew up some consensus opinions about what undergraduate students need in a capstone course. I talked to the dean informally instead of presenting the list, but I thought I would offer it to you if it helps.

Aside from what I've included in the attachment, I've felt that the PW program lacks presence in the college. To remedy this, I think all PW students should be required to send out something for publishing. I think the Intro course or the Short story course should spend a few classtime preparing something to send out for publishing. If this is done early enough in the semester, everyone should receive a letter rejecting or accepting their piece. It would be a great way to break into the publishing world, and those who receive rejection letters also learn a valueable lesson: they won't die from rejection!

The PW program also needs to seek internships for PW students and encourage students to intern. I didn't get an internship, because I couldn't find any available that weren't either news writing, pr, or broadcast. The same was true at the last Journalism Job Fair. I know there are some magazines in the city, and I'd imagine Sooner Magazine would hire student interns for research if they don't already. Perhaps they do, but that information was not easily available.

I hope this helps! Let me know how it goes.

-Lauren Kula



----- Original Message -----
From: William Prescott <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Tuesday, May 15, 2007 4:42 pm
Subject: [pwa-l] strengths and Weaknesses of the PW program
To: [log in to unmask]


> Dear all,
>
> All those things you think and don't say about our PW program... say it.
>
> As many of you know, I have been documenting the history and future of
> the PW program in an independent study course this past semester.
>
> My final drafts are due by the end of the month. The most important
> document includes an analysis of the program's:
>
> 1. strengths
> 2. weaknesses
> 3. opportunities to improve --- what can be done to strengthen the program?
> 4. Threats -- possible threats that would weaken the program
>
> My work would be strengthened with any comments from PW students and
> alums. Feel free to reply to the listserv or, if you prefer, call me
> at 343-4096.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Will Prescott
>
>
>
> William D. Prescott
>
> University of Oklahoma
>
> office no. 405-325-2710
>
> [log in to unmask]