Speaking program goes under review

Responding to complaints about the Speaking Across the University initiative, a task force has been assembled to investigate expansion possibilities for the fledgling program. The SATU program -- designed to improve students' oral communication skills -- was developed by the Student Committee on Undergraduate Education in 1995. Due to a lack of invested resources, only 16 classes are currently affiliated with the program. College of Arts and Sciences Dean Richard Beeman said that although the program has been relatively successful, there is much room for improvement. "The modest SATU program that we have in place in the College at the present time is a useful start in creating such a support system, but it is only a start," he said. "One important job of the task force is to explore the most efficient means of expanding our efforts." SATU courses give students the opportunity to improve their public speaking ability outside of class. Trained undergraduates work with students at extra help sessions to prepare students' presentations. Beeman convened 11 faculty members to discuss the future of the program and strategies for reaching more students. SATU Program Coordinator and task force member Sara Coelho said the meeting was held to get everyone on the same page. "It was really an opening of an agenda, defining the issues that we need to confront in order to expand SATU into a model that will work with more students," Coelho said. "There's room for growth, but we want to do it in a smart way." According to those involved with the program, the main problem with SATU is the lack of faculty involvement. The key, according to SCUE Chairwoman Lindsey Mathews, is developing more resources that will encourage faculty to get involved. "We hope that the task force will accomplish diverting resources to SATU in the hope that more professors will affiliate their courses with SATU," said Mathews, a College junior. But those involved said they remain optimistic that the task force will help improve the program. Director of Penn's Center for Teaching and Learning Larry Robbins, a member of the task force, said he has high hopes for the group. "I thought good progress was made," Robbins said. "There were some ideas about curriculum and what should be taught." "I really feel that the school needs and wants to provide adequate oral communication skills for its students," he added. Coelho said the task force intends to create a proposal for the program by the end of the semester. She added that although many ideas were tossed around, she does not expect a large-scale overhaul. "I don't see a whole lot being added," Coelho said. "I don't see creating a whole new department or a massive program." Some students have criticized the program, saying that SATU is ineffective in reaching students because it is often not fully integrated into courses. College junior Alexis Sherman recently took an Urban Studies course that was affiliated with SATU. She said the program was brushed aside by many students in the class. "It wasn't really an integral part of the class," Sherman said. "It was very easy to get out of doing anything SATU-related." But Sherman said she believes that with a little more effort on behalf of the administration, more students will begin to take advantage of the faltering program. "If the University or the professor really stressed the importance of public speaking, it could definitely be a success," Sherman said.