On behalf of the Association for Communication Administration (an NCA affiliate group), the Executive Board affirms our support for the changes that NCA has made to the Distinguished Scholar awards process and categorically reject the notion that diversity and merit are mutually exclusive. We hold a responsibility to advocate for diversity at every level of leadership in our discipline and in the academy. Our members are in unique positions to encourage the growth and health of the Communication discipline in a time of adversity in higher education. We can only do this if we are united in our orientation toward building just, diverse, and ethical organizations where we support our colleagues, students, and communities.
We have worked to provide our members with strategies, research, and mentorship on the variety of challenges administrators face. We are committed to promoting recruiting, hiring, promoting and tenuring practices that engage diversity at every level, from contingent to tenure-track faculty to directors and deans.
We propose two concrete actions to address the need for meaningful accomplishments in efforts toward diversity and inclusion.
First, we invite contributions to an upcoming special issue of the Journal of the Association of Communication Administration whose theme will be Administrative Practices for Transforming Institutional Cultures. While much has been written about the need to diversify higher education broadly, we are seeking scholarship that demonstrates how communication can advance administrative strategies for identifying, addressing, and fostering practices that promote the flourishing of all members of a scholarly community.
Second, we invite your participation at our business meeting at NCA in November to discuss suggestions, concerns, and solutions to diversifying the academy and the Communication discipline.
The ACA recognizes the work to be done and we pledge to engage our membership in this work.
Co-Signed, the executive committee of the Association for Communication Administration
July 2019