Student Organizations
With more than 25 student organizations, there’s always something to get involved with in C&IS!
Submit a Funding Request
Student organizations and individuals pursuing scholarship activities to benefit the College of Communication and Information Sciences are encouraged to submit an application for funding. Funding request are reviewed three times each semester by the Student Executive Council and awards are limited to $500 per student organization or individual each semester.Get the Word Out!
Tisch Student Services and External Relations wants to help you get the word out about events, applications and deadlines related to your student organization. Reference the 2019-20 Media Guide for how to best inform your fellow students about all the exciting things you have going on!.
Student Leadership
C&IS is committed to developing ethical student leaders with a variety of skills who will lead with integrity far beyond their time in the College. C&IS offers three college-wide student leadership opportunities where students are either elected by their C&IS peers or selected through an application and interview process.
Academic Honor Council
The Academic Honor Council is a collective group of student justices from across the college who serve as ambassadors for academic integrity. The justices promote high ethical standards, educate the C&IS community about academic integrity, and encourage others to always act according to the values of the Capstone Creed. A minimum 3.0 GPA is required for a seat on the Academic Honor Council and the formal application process takes place in the spring semester.
Faculty Advisor:
Alyssa Stephens
Alyssa Stephens
C&IS Ambassadors
The C&IS Ambassadors is a leadership organization of students who serve as the official ambassadors for the College of Communication and Information Sciences. Their mission is to promote interest in the field of communication and assist the College with special events and programs. Ambassadors are responsible for meeting with and providing tours for prospective students, parents, transfer students, alumni and other visitors. The C&IS Ambassadors serve with the deans at events such as the C&IS Hall of Fame, Board of Visitors meetings, The Tailgate at Reese Phifer and student recruitment events. Applications are open to all students with a declared major in the College.
Faculty Advisors:
Dr. Litsa Rivers and Lexi McMahon
Dr. Litsa Rivers and Lexi McMahon
First-Year Interest Groups (FIGs)
C&IS FIG Leaders are established student leaders within the College who serve as an upperclassman mentor to first-year students navigating their first academic year on campus. FIG Leaders are assigned a group of first-year students (both freshmen and transfer students) based on interest areas and help facilitate both the academic and social transition to college. Applications open each spring, and membership is open to all students who have held a student leadership position within the College previously.
Faculty Advisors:
Anna Claire Toxey and Morgan Gay
Anna Claire Toxey and Morgan Gay
Industry Immersion
Industry Immersion is a professional development program hosted by the College that strengthens relationships between students, alumni and industry professionals. Industry Immersion offers motivated undergraduates the chance to explore industry and leading job markets as well as engage with high-powered C&IS alumni and leaders in various cities across the country. The Industry Immersion student leader team comprises an Executive Team and a Student Director Team. These Industry Immersion student leaders take proactive roles through the entire trip planning process, including: itinerary building and alumni outreach, student recruitment and professional development, event planning, creative content production and more. Applications for the Industry Immersion leadership team open each spring.
Faculty Advisor:
Alison Beasley
Alison Beasley
Social Media Ambassadors
C&IS Social Media Ambassadors serve as the faces and voices of the College’s social media accounts. The goal of SMA is to increase the exposure of C&IS events, announcements, opportunities and more to C&IS student populations. This is accomplished through mutually beneficial partnerships with students who leverage their social media influence to amplify the College’s message with their own personalized messages. Applications open each spring, and membership is open to all students with a major in the College.
Faculty Advisors:
Anna Claire Toxey and Morgan Gay
Anna Claire Toxey and Morgan Gay
Student Executive Council
The Student Executive Council exists to coordinate the organizations within the College of Communication and Information Sciences while fostering stronger relationships between the students, faculty and alumni of the College and serving as a place for students to voice their concerns. The SEC is responsible for fundraising to support the C&IS Student Organization Fund.
SEC is composed of the president or appointed representative of a C&IS student organization approved by SEC, elected C&IS SGA senator and two delegates elected to represent each C&IS major.
Applications for SEC general membership are available in the spring. Once the SEC general members have been selected, general members will have an opportunity to run for executive officer (President, VP, Secretary) and departmental delegate positions which will be voted on in a College-wide election.
SEC is composed of the president or appointed representative of a C&IS student organization approved by SEC, elected C&IS SGA senator and two delegates elected to represent each C&IS major.
Applications for SEC general membership are available in the spring. Once the SEC general members have been selected, general members will have an opportunity to run for executive officer (President, VP, Secretary) and departmental delegate positions which will be voted on in a College-wide election.
Faculty Advisors:
Dr. Litsa Rivers and Anna Claire Toxey
Dr. Litsa Rivers and Anna Claire Toxey
Collaborative Student Organizations
C&IS has several student organizations that are designed for students in multiple majors.
Capstone Communication Student Society (CCSS)
This organization promotes the fields of communication and offers members special invitations and VIP access ranging from social activities to prominent speakers in the field of communication. CCSS is open to all C&IS majors and minors for membership. There is a membership fee. Upon graduation, students can transition their membership into the alumni group, Capstone Communication Society, that follows the same mission.
Contact:
Tisch Student Services
Tisch Student Services
Kappa Tau Alpha
National journalism and mass communication honor society. Invitations are issued to juniors, seniors and graduate students in advertising, public relations, news media and creative media who rank in the top 10 percent of their class.
Professional Women in Communication and Business
Develops successful leaders through networking events, professional etiquette lessons and business literacy seminars.
Faculty Advisor:
Keely Latopolski
Keely Latopolski
Association for Women in Sports Media (AWSM)
The Association for Women in Sports Media assists aspiring sports media professionals in mentorship and networking with women in the sports media industry and provides an avenue for internships, scholarships and career-enhancing opportunities.
Faculty Advisor:
Kenon Brown
Kenon Brown
WVUA FM
WVUA-FM is the University’s only student-operated radio station. WVUA-FM is staffed by approximately 70-90 student volunteers from C&IS and across the campus of The University of Alabama.
Faculty Advisor:
Terry Siggers
Terry Siggers
Travel Programs
At C&IS, learning isn’t limited to the classroom. With an emphasis on experiential learning and an understanding of the value of cultural immersion, C&IS has travel programs specifically designed for students in the College.
C&IS In L.A.
C&IS In Los Angeles is a faculty-led, summer internship experience. This immersive program brings students to live and intern in Los Angeles where they study the media and entertainment industries alongside faculty who are experienced in the industry.
Visit:
cisinla.ua.edu
cisinla.ua.edu
Industry Immersion
Offered during UA breaks, Industry Immersion helps students launch their career through participation in professional development and high- powered networking. Students travel to New York, Nashville, LA, Seattle and other flourishing cities where many participants have secured jobs and internships after participating in a trip.
Visit:
Industry.ua.edu
Industry.ua.edu
Major-Related Organizations
Many of our student organizations are aimed at a specific area of study, to bring a supplemental and experiential learning experience for their members.
Advertising and Public Relations Related:
Advertising and Public Relations Student Initiative Board (SIB)
The purpose of the Student Initiative Board is to act as a liaison between students and faculty of the Advertising and Public Relations Department in C&IS. SIB prepares members to become leaders now and in the future by working alongside students as a mentor, as well as working alongside faculty to perform duties such as conducting interviews for candidates for positions in the A+PR Department.
Faculty Advisor:
Susan Daria
Susan Daria
Capstone Agency
Students research, plan, execute and evaluate communication campaigns as part of their work at this student-run, integrated communications rm that serves clients both on and off campus.
Faculty Advisor:
Teri Henley
Teri Henley
Capstone Advertising Federation
This club is af liated with the American Advertising Federation. Members must have had at least one advertising course, be in good academic standing and be interested in an advertising career.
Faculty Advisor:
Mike Little
Mike Little
The Public Relations Council of Alabama (PRCA)
As members of this statewide organization that’s part of the Southern Public Relations Federation, students participate in competitions and annual conferences.
Faculty Advisor:
Matt Wisla
Matt Wisla
The Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA)
This nationally recognized organization’s chapter offers career-building activities, scholarships, mentorship programs, national conferences and more.
Faculty Advisor:
Tracy Sims
Tracy Sims
National Student Advertising Competition (NSAC)
Juniors and seniors are competitively selected to compete in the American Advertising Federation’s National Student Advertising Competition.
Faculty Advisor:
Jay Waters
Jay Waters
Communication Studies Related:
Alabama Debate Society
The Alabama Debate Society is an organization aimed at bringing debate and its educational benefits to high school students in the Tuscaloosa community and across Alabama.
Faculty Advisor:
Sim Butler
Sim Butler
Alabama Forensic Council (AFC)
As part of the University’s competitive speech program, members attend regional and national intercollegiate forensic competitions. Thirty scholarships are awarded each year to active students.
Faculty Advisor:
Ben Pyle
Ben Pyle
Delta Sigma Rho / Tau Kappa Alpha
This national honor society is for those who have excelled in forensics and have distinguished academic records.
Faculty Advisor:
Ben Pyle
Ben Pyle
Lambda Pi Eta
Invitations to join this national communication studies honor society are issued to juniors and seniors in communication studies who rank in the top 10 percent of their class.
Faculty Advisor:
Caroline Parsons
Caroline Parsons
Journalism and Creative Media Related:
The Associated Press Sports Editors Tuscaloosa Student Chapter
The APSE Tuscaloosa Student Chapter provides UA students with career-building tools and opportunities in the sports media world by hosting guest speakers, workshops and other creative learning and networking events.
Faculty Advisor:
Tom Arenberg
Tom Arenberg
Black Warrior Film Festival
The Black Warrior Film Festival (BWFF) is a competitive, annual showcase of student films and emerging talent from college students across the South. BWFF is an annual event produced by students, for students.
Faculty Advisor:
Maya Champion
Maya Champion
The Capstone Association of Black Journalists (CABJ)
Affiliated with a national organization, this club provides information on careers, jobs, internships, scholarships and other opportunities, with a focus on minorities.
Faculty Advisor:
Meredith Cummings
Meredith Cummings
The Radio-Television Digital News Association (RTDNA)
Part of the world’s largest professional organization exclusively serving the electronic news profession, this club is open to all students.
Faculty Advisor:
Chandra Clark
Chandra Clark
The Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ)
This group is open to all students interested in all areas of professional news media regardless of medium.
Faculty Advisor:
Chris Roberts
Chris Roberts