The TCU Board of Trustees unanimously voted today to name the University’s College of Communication the Schieffer College of Communication in honor of 1959 graduate Bob Schieffer and current host of CBS’ Face the Nation. Previously Mr. Schieffer’s name had been affiliated with only the School of Journalism and Strategic Communication, which is located within the College of Communication.

The Schieffer College of Communication naming will take effect immediately. The School of Journalism and Strategic Communication will remain a school within the Schieffer College.

“Placing Bob’s name over the entire College of Communication rather than a singular school within the college better aligns it with other named schools and colleges across the University,” said Chancellor Victor J. Boschini, Jr. “The alignment also leads to better integration of resources for students and will result in more well-rounded graduates from the newly named Schieffer College of Communication.”

“We live in a connected communication world,” said David Whillock, dean of the College of Communication. “Information is being delivered via a dynamic process that utilizes multiple platforms. Our students have to understand how to use all communication tools to develop and deliver content-rich experiences. Additionally, a deeper understanding of how individuals communicate with one another also is vitally important in today’s world. Solidifying all the units in the College under one name will allow us to review our curriculum and determine how to best integrate the parts into a whole so as to deliver a comprehensive, integrated experience to our students.”

Over the years the Schieffer College of Communication has slowly begun that integration. The name of the radio, film, television department (RTVF) was changed to film, television and digital media (FTDM), acknowledging the importance and evolution of digital media. Journalism students tape, edit and air TCU News Now broadcasts, the student television news show. Communication studies students take journalism courses and journalism students report the news on KTCU.

“I am deeply honored because this is a terrific vote of confidence and recognition from the Board and the TCU leadership of the great things that have been happening in the college,” said Bob Schieffer. “We have moved to a new level in nearly every program. The Schieffer School in Washington, a program that brings TCU students to the nation's capital where they intern at leading news and communications organizations, has become a model for journalism schools across the country, and the creation of TCU 360, the school's digital website, has become the place to find news about TCU and is already winning awards, some of them in competition with professional news organizations. The new state-of-the-art television studio and newsroom are showplaces that have become popular stops on the campus tour for all students, not just those
interested in communications careers. I couldn't be prouder as we try to be the best communications school in the country."

The Schieffer College of Communication consists of the department of communication studies, FTDM and the School of Journalism and Strategic Communication.