M'Liss Hindman, Ann Shofner and Lacye Matejowsky have secured 2-3 administrators, 2 business people (who are former speech students), and one TSCA rep (Lacye) to testify to the SBOE January 28th. Testimonies will attempt to convince the SBOE to add speech to the graduation requirements. (The decision to use administrators and business people primarily as our testifiers is due to a suggestion by a SBOE member.) TSCA leadership sent an email In December and then again last week urging members to contact their SBOE rep. Talking points were provided. Governmental Affairs Committee members have held off on targeting SBOE members who voted against speech in November because TEA has still not posted the minutes of the meeting (in order for us to make sure we're accurate). Lacye feels confident that the following SBOE members voted against speech- Maynard, Ratliff, Rowley, Allen, and Perez. The following voted to keep speech- Miller, Bradley, and Dominguez. TSCA MEMBERS- If your rep voted for speech, call them, say thank you, and urge them to change the minds of their peers on the Board. If your rep voted against speech, call or write them and persuade them to change their minds.
At this point, an SBOE rep must make a motion to ADD language to the law mandating the speech credit. Then SBOE members will vote and we'll have an answer to our fate. Rep. Ratliff plans to propose the amendment below. It doesn't really do anything for us. It mandates communication skills be taught (vaguely- no TEKS) but allows a school to put them into any course. Essentially this helps him feel like he tried to help us. Ratliff is our biggest hurdle as he is very close with Senator Aycock (author of HB 5) who has directed the SBOE to NOT add anything (including speech). If anyone knows Senator Aycock it would probably help to contact him as well.
Proposed inclusion for HB 5 graduation requirement:
The TSCA URGES members to contact their SBOE rep AND get non-members to do so (parents, students, business people, administrators). Many SBOE members give the TEA office number/email for their contact info so you may have to dig around if you want to reach them on a more personal level. It is urgent that you make this communication as soon as possible. January 28th is fast approaching.
SBOE Members
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TSCA TESTIMONY REPONSE
LETTER TO SBOE MEMBERS
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12/2/23 The Texas Speech Communication Association invites submissions of scholarly posters, papers and panel presentations by undergraduate and graduate students for its 2024 annual convention. Click here to view the full call and find the online submission form. |
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10/14/23 Congratulations go to Jeremy Hutchins our new Vice-President Elect. Read more about Jeremy and his background here. |
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9/26/23 The Nominating Committee has presented two candidates for consideration as Vice President-Elect. Check out the Convention page to view the packets for Justin Blacklock and Jeremy Hutchins. |
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9/25/23 Our annual convention is just around the corner. Make plans to join us October 12-14 in Houston. The program has been sent to the printer. Click here to view the convention program. |
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8/28/23 The 47th volume of the Texas Speech Communication Journal has been printed and shipped. Members who signed up to receive a printed version of the journal should receive their copy soon. |
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6/24/23 The call for manuscripts and teaching activities has been issued for Volume 48, Issue 1 of the Texas Speech Communication Journal. Deadline for submissions is December 31, 2023. Read the full journal call here. |
Developing a New Generation of Leaders Date: October 10-12, 2024 |
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