Episode 32 of Liberal Arts Voices highlights the Excellence in Communication Certificate (ECC).

ECC Director and Lecturer in English Jessica O’Hara, ECC Adviser and Lecturer in Communication, Arts & Sciences Robin Kramer, English major Ryan Fisher, and English major and Paterno Fellow Genevieve Farrell join the program to discuss the Liberal Arts Excellence in Communication Certificate.

ECC Director Jessica O’Hara begins the podcast by explaining more about the Excellence in Communication Certificate, an e-portfolio liberal arts students design to demonstrate their proficiency in various types of communication. Students are able to draw from their experiences inside and outside the classroom to create this e-portfolio which can provide an effective way to articulate their skills and achievements to graduate schools, professional schools, and prospective employers.

ECC Adviser Robin Kramer talks about some of the specific components involved in the e-portfolio, including: examples of written discourse (i.e. essays, research papers, etc.); demonstration of success in oral communication (i.e. speeches, podcasts, etc.); and proficiency with electronic media (i.e. blog posts, visual design, etc.).

Ryan and Genevieve spend some time during the podcast discussing how the ECC has impacted their undergraduate experiences at Penn State. Ryan discusses how the digital components of his e-portfolio, including a blog he kept during his summer study abroad program in Ireland, helped him to cultivate the skill of public writing. Genevieve talks about how the assignments she completed for L A 101H (a course available to freshmen Paterno Fellows) laid the foundation for her e-portfolio, which she plans on using to fulfill the Paterno Fellows Program Communications Requirement.

Ryan and Genevieve discuss how their e-portfolios will function as electronic r�sum�s that will better situate them for post-graduation plans. Both students also agree that the ECC provides an excellent opportunity to reflect on their undergraduate experiences at Penn State and to see how they have grown, developed, and ultimately emerged as more versatile communicators.

For more information about the Excellence in Communication Certificate listen to the podcast below and visit the ECC website.

Liberal Arts Voices: Episode 32 “The Excellence in Communication Certificate”

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