After four decades of the longstanding COM Week tradition, the time has come to reimage professional development in the School of Communication at Illinois State University. Beginning this fall, the Career COM-petency program will replace the former model and mark the start of a new era. From monthly professional development workshops to innovative, unique opportunities to engage with alumni, this new initiative will offer more for students than ever before.
“The new Career COM-petency program will elevate the School of Communication as a top choice for future communicators, journalists, and leaders,” said Tom Lamonica, instructional assistant professor and longtime COM Week advocate. “While COM Week has been a huge success for more than 40 years, professional development for students now requires way more than just one week to give students the knowledge, resources, and connections they need to succeed.”
“The School of Communication strives to prepare students for fulfilling careers, but we also want our graduates to be more than just marketable candidates with a skillset in communication,” said Dr. Stephen Hunt, director of the School of Communication. “We want our students to reflect our values and embody professionalism—creating alumni employers covet. The job market is changing, so the timing for this shift is ideal.”
The Career COM-petency program is a series of professional development workshops, tasks, and opportunities designed to elevate student success. Each monthly workshop embodies a core competency the School of Communication values: professionalism; creativity and innovation; communication; digital media; equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility; technology; leadership; and civic engagement.
“I’m really excited to see this new initiative take off,” added Hunt. “It will significantly expand the number of professional development opportunities for our students and better prepare them for the workplace and graduate studies.”
The first workshop will kick off on September 13, 2023, with the first topic focused on ‘Creating in Canva’—a session earmarked for the creativity and innovation core competency. Facilitated by Victoria Padilla, M.S. ’18, communications director at the Regional Office of Education #17, it’s a great topic to draw in students from the start.
Like all past COM Week events, the Career COM-petency program is optional for all students in the School of Communication but is guaranteed to elevate student success for all those who choose to participate.
“From accessing internships to enhanced self-branding, the Career COM-petency program will without a doubt expand opportunities for students to compliment their learning in the classroom with career growth,” added Lamonica.
Along with the implementation of the new Career COM-petency program, another shift in tradition is coming. For many years, COM Week has been planned and executed by the School of Communication Promotion and Development team, fondly known as “SOCPD.” However, with the shift in programming plans, a new name is on the horizon as well. Replacing “SOCPD,” the group of interns will now take on the title of the Communication Special Events Team—nicknamed “COMSET” for short.
“I noticed that we participated in so many events and activities beyond COM Week,” said Kyah Joseph ’23, former ‘SOCPD’ lead intern. “So, when I was asked to reimagine a new internship team title for the future, I knew I wanted the name to highlight all the special events we plan. I really like ‘COMSET.’ It’s catchy, and I think it embodies all of what we’ll do. And I consider it an honor to still be a part of this team, even after I graduated!”
“While COM Week has been a huge success for more than 40 years, professional development for students now requires way more than just one week to give students the knowledge, resources, and connections they need to succeed.”
Tom Lamonica
The new COMSET internship team will begin work in August and will primarily be responsible for planning each Career COM-petency workshop and promoting each opportunity to students. However, the team will also assist with the School of Communication’s staple special events like family day, the Homecoming tailgate, and the annual scholarship and awards luncheon.
“We’re learning and working through the details still, but I’m really excited to see where this new direction is going to take us,” said Denise Thomas, business manager and special events coordinator in the School of Communication. “We have an awesome team of interns and incredible support staff to really get this year going.”
Students wishing to participate in the new Career COM-petency program can sign up here. Upon completion of all competencies, students will earn a cord for commencement and graduate from Illinois State University as a well-rounded, marketable individual well-prepared for a professional career.
“It’s not goodbye COM Week, it’s just reimagined into something much better,” said Thomas.
And a new era begins.
