With the start of each semester comes numerous changes, and Shippensburg University’s Communication/Journalism Department was no exception after announcing several personnel changes beginning this semester.
On Sept. 1, an email was sent to all communication/journalism students announcing the departure of department Chair Kim Garris. According to the email, Garris accepted a position as SU’s Associate Vice President of Communications and Marketing, and left to begin working in Old Main immediately following the department’s announcement.
Moving forward, the department had planned to promote professors Ted Carlin and Stephanie Witmer to interim co-chair positions. However, Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties (APSCUF) contracts state only one individual may serve as chair of a department at a time, according to Witmer.
Carlin, who previously served as the department’s chairperson from 2000 to 2008, will serve as the sole interim chairperson for the foreseeable future.
Last week, Carlin submitted a request to SU’s administration to formally appoint Witmer as his assistant chairperson, but his request has not yet been approved.
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