Dawn Russell announced last week St. Thomas University will create a new communications and public policy major, in conjunction with the Frank McKenna Centre for Communications and Public Policy.
“This new program will explore the connection between communicating with citizens, engaging citizens and creating public policy,” Russell said.
Jeffrey Carleton, the university’s communication director, says they’re waiting for final approval from the MPHEC (Maritime Provinces Higher Education Commission) on the new major. They will be reviewing the major in late November.
“If it has been approved, we intend to start offering the new courses in September of 2013,” Carleton said.
The new major will draw on courses related to politics and governance, law and justice, social policy and social justice, science, technology, the environment, and international relations.
Russell said McKenna’s name will help STU become a leader in educating students in communications and public policy.
The former Premier of New Brunswick hopes putting his name with the centre will bring more attention to the communications program.
“There’s never been a greater need in our country or in fact our province to have this marriage that we’re seeing developing on this campus,” McKenna said.
“I think that it’s a huge honour to be asked to be something like this and I guess my hope is that by associating this program with someone who was a part of the political leadership of New Brunswick will end up giving it some recognition.”
St. Thomas University will also establish a renewable Frank McKenna scholarship for full tuition based on academic achievement and financial need. Russell says if the major is accepted they plan to offer communications and public policy courses in English and French to ensure more students graduate with communications skills in both official languages.
“The modern study of communications now demands an understanding of complex ways of engaging citizens rather than simply informing them, and this conversation happens while public policy is being developed, while it’s being approved, and implemented,” Russell said.
Carleton says there are no plans to build a physical centre. He says other centres at STU have an office, a web presence and events. They plan to find an office on campus and work from there.
“This is very much a centre that’s going to be built around activities and engagement, and you don’t need a large office complex for that. You just need good organizational skills, great contacts and lots of energy,” Carleton said.
The launch also kicked off a new distinguished speaker series, which will bring prominent people, like Paul Martin to campus. Martin was Prime Minister of Canada while McKenna was the Finance Minister.
