Communication Studies Student Resources
Winona State’s Communication Studies department provides students resources to thrive academically, personally, and professionally.
The Communication Studies department invites all WSU students to join the Communication Club.
We are a professional social network that does volunteer work, engages in professional development, and attends local, regional, and national conferences.
Recent activities include:
- Adopt-A-Highway
- Holiday Card making for Watkins Manor
- Homecoming Fundraiser & Club Fair
- Annual attendance of the Central States Communication Association
- Annual attendance of Student Advertising Summit
- Annual department Speech Spotlight Competition
Contact the faculty advisor Stacy Schilling with any questions.
Lambda Pi Eta is the official NCA Honor Society for undergraduate students and alumni. The group’s purpose is to reward academic achievement while providing more opportunities to grow in the field of Communication.
You will be invited to join Winona State’s Nu Pi chapter if you meet the eligibility requirements:
- Be a Communication major or minor
- Have completed 60 credit hours, 12 of which must be communication studies courses
- Have a 3.25 GPA in the communication studies courses they have taken
- Be enrolled full-time at WSU
- Be in good academic standing
Members of Lambda Pi Eta participate in activities with Communication Studies faculty and the Communication Club, as well as conduct their own activities and meetings.
Since Lambda Pi Eta is an academic honorary society, it looks great on a resumé, can help you network with other alumni, and can advance your connections for future education or careers in the communication field.
Contact the Lambda Pi Eta Advisor Jamie Matson at 507.457.5512 for more information.
Tutoring Services
A speech tutor is available to work with you throughout the entire speech making process:
- Choose a topic
- Outline main points
- Final rehearsal
- All other details in between
The tutor is a friendly upper-classman student who has successfully completed the public speaking course. They can offer constructive feedback and assistance.
Tutoring services are available on a drop-in basis and by appointment for longer, more detailed meetings.
In addition to the general scholarships at WSU, students in the Communication Studies programs can apply for many scholarships from the WSU Foundation.
Apply for WSU Foundation ScholarshipsGary Evans is an alumnus of the Communication Studies program at WSU and continues to be one of Winona State’s greatest supporters and fans.
He is the President and CEO of HBC in Winona and also serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors for Winona Health.
Gary Evans’ philosophy on leadership is: “Community betterment is something to which everyone should aspire. It clearly drives me.”
The Frederick & Dina Derocher Communication Studies Mentorship Scholarship in Honor of Professor Rita Rahoi-Gilchrest is an award of $500.
The Communication Studies Faculty Scholarship was established in 2022 through the WSU Foundation.
This $1,000 scholarship benefits and encourages students who are majoring in Communication Studies.
In the Communication Studies Department, we believe in communicating clearly, honestly, openly, and with compassion.
We follow the NCA Credo for Ethical Communication (PDF) as foundational to how we conduct ourselves as faculty and to set expectations for the ethical communication of our students.
Academic integrity and professional behavior are expected of students during all academic and Communication Studies sponsored activities.
Failure to demonstrate academic integrity and/or standards for student behavior may result in:
- failure of a course
- dismissal from the Communication Studies program
- dismissal from Winona State University
Decisions regarding sanctions for violations of academic integrity or for standards for student behavior affecting course grades will be made by the course faculty.
Decisions regarding sanctions involving dismissal from the Communication Studies program will be done in consultation with the teaching faculty.
Recommendations for dismissal from the Communication Studies program will be made by the Communication Studies Student Conduct Committee and voted on by the department faculty.
Decisions regarding University sanctions will be referred to the University Office of Student Conduct and Citizenship.
View the Winona State University Academic Integrity Policy including details about student’s rights and appeal processes.
As a student, your rights include but are not limited to:
- fair evaluations
- advisement and academic counseling
- assistance in identifying and meeting learning goals
- due process and to fair consideration of any appeal
The Communication Studies department strives to provide an environment of mutual respect, cooperation, fair treatment, stewardship of resources, integrity, and quality education and services. Even with this commitment, problems and concerns sometimes occur.
Resources and procedures are available to students and other parties for appealing decisions or policies, addressing concerns, resolving grievances and complaints, and dealing with retaliation.
If you have a concern, you are expected to follow established policies and procedures, which include but not limited to:
- Winona State University Grade Appeal Policy
- WSU Academic Appeal Process
- WSU Academic Integrity Policy
- WSU Student Grievance Procedure
- Minnesota State Board Policies 3.8 and 3.81 Student Complaints and Grievances and Procedures