This is an edited version of the 1996-1997 Annual Report of the UNI Forensics Program consisting of sections discussing the Organization of the program, Scholarships, Academic Credit, On-Campus Activities, Off-Campus Activities, and Yearly Awards. We close with a section identifying the primary needs of, and challenges to, the Forensics Program in 1997-1998.
I. Organization
The UNI Forensics Program is a unit within the Communication Studies Department, and thus, a unit of the College of Humanities and Fine Arts, at the University of Northern Iowa. The Forensics Program has faculty members on both tenure-track and term appointments. The Forensics Program also has graduate students assigned to assist with the program.
Further, Forensics staff on tenure-track lines are expected to engage in research or other creative activities. As with any other faculty member, the Forensics staff on tenure-line contracts are expected to be active participants in conferences, regularly publish, and so on. Even though there is no expectation of scholarly productivity for term appointees, the term members of the Forensics staff also regularly engage in research and other creative activities.
In addition, Forensics staff on tenure-track lines are expected to participate in service activities. These activities involve both on- and off-campus service. Thus, Forensics staff regularly serve on Departmental and University Committees, and are often elected to offices of state, regional, and national organizations. Even though there is no expectation of service activity for term appointees, the term members of the Forensics staff also regularly engage in both on- and off-campus service.
Forensics staff members receive release time in return for their administrative and coaching efforts. Release time is used for on-campus purposes such as pre- and post-tournament administration (reservations, accounting, etc.), meetings, and coaching sessions. Release time is also used as partial compensation for time spent by faculty in travel to tournaments. Most debate tournaments require an absence from campus of 2.5 - 3.5 days (and we traveled to fourteen off-campus debate tournaments during 1996-1997). Most individual events tournaments require an absence from campus of 1.5 - 2.5 days (and we traveled to seventeen off-campus individual events tournaments during 1996-1997). Third, release time is used in association with the various on-campus tournaments and festivals hosted by UNI during an academic year.
The average amount of time spent per week by our faculty for on-campus Forensic activities is 20 hours. The average number of days per year that faculty are absent from campus for off-campus tournaments is 45. The average amount of time spent per week by our graduate student assistant coaches for on-campus Forensic activities is 10-15 hours. The average number of days per year that graduate student assistant coaches are absent from campus for off-campus tournaments is 25-30.
II. Scholarships
In 1996-1997 the Forensics Program was supported by scholarships from the Financial Aid Office in the amount of $23,805. This is significantly lower than the $32,800 allocated for 1994-1995, though $805.00 more than allocated for 1995-1996. In 1996-1997 eighteen students received scholarships from the Forensics Program, with total scholarship amounts ranging from a high of $2370 to a low of $300 (this compares to seventeen students on financial aid in 1995-1996).
In addition, there are two scholarships set aside for first-year debaters. Both of these awards are administered by the UNI Foundation, and need not be awarded every year. The Bartlett-Freeman award is designated for the outstanding first-year debater, while the Kenneth Kohn scholarship is set aside for a first-year debater from Western Iowa
The requirements for Forensics-related financial aid are as follows: The student, 1) must have, and maintain, at least a 3.0 cumulative grade point average, 2) must maintain enrollment of at least 12 credit hours per semester, 3) must participate in competitive forensics to the satisfaction of the coaching staff, including on-campus and community activities, 4) must generate and maintain an appropriate image for the University and UNI Forensics while participating, 5) should be a team leader and exhibit a commitment to UNI Forensics beyond non-scholarship team members, and 6) must agree to abide by the rules and procedures of the Forensics Program. Forensics scholarships may be renewed if the student meets the above requirements.
III. Academic Credit
Students may earn a maximum of four university credit hours for participation in forensic activities. Applied Forensics Credit may be awarded at the rate of one credit per semester of involvement. Decisions regarding Applied Forensics Credits are made by the Director of Forensics, after consultation with members of the coaching staff. In 1996-1997, nineteen students received credit for forensics participation during the Fall Semester, while ten students received credit for forensics participation during the Spring Semester.
These numbers of students receiving Applied Forensics Credit do not necessarily correspond to student participation levels, as students are limited to a maximum of four hours of Applied Forensics Credit while enrolled at UNI. Thus, some students participating in the program had already received the maximum of four hours of Applied Forensics Credit, while other students did not participate at levels appropriate for the receipt of Applied Forensics Credit.
IV. On-Campus Activities
Each year the UNI Forensics Program hosts a number of on-campus activities for the University, high school forensics, and college forensics communities. The major on-campus events during 1996-1997 were:
V. Off-Campus Activities
UNI continues to be the only institution of higher education in the state of Iowa which maintains active participation in both individual events and debate competition. This allows UNI to offer more competitive opportunities to a wider range of students. Further, the UNI Forensics Program welcomes students of any experience level, and from any academic major.
The first is interpretation, where students find examples of literature and then edit it for presentation in a specified time limit (typically ten minutes). In addition to editing the literature, students write introductions to the cuttings, write transitions between the cuttings, and write conclusions. The typical interpretation events are: 1) Prose - A selection of prose material, often drawn from more than one source. Usually plays and poetry are excluded from this category, 2) Drama - A selection which represents one or more characters from a play or plays, drawn from stage, screen or radio, 3) Poetry - A selection of poetry, often drawn from more than one source. Plays and prose works are usually excluded from this category, 4) Program Oral Interp - A program of thematically-linked selections, chosen from two or three recognized genres of interpretation (prose, poetry, drama), and 5) Dramatic Duo - A selection from a play, humorous or serious, involving the portrayal of two or more characters presented by two or more individuals.
The second form of individual events competition is public address - students identify a topic, conduct research, and then write a complete speech related to that event category (again, typically ten minutes in length). The typical public address events are: 1) Informative Speaking - An original and factual speech on a realistic subject to fulfill the general aim of informing the audience, 2) Persuasive Speaking - An original speech designed to inspire, reinforce or change the beliefs, attitudes, values or actions of the audience, 3) After-Dinner Speaking - An original, humorous speech designed to exhibit sound speech composition, thematic coherence, direct communicative public speaking skills, and good taste. There typically should be a serious point, rather than having the speech resemble a night club act, an impersonation, or comic dialogue, and 4) Communication Analysis - An original speech designed to offer an explanation and/or evaluation of a communication event such as a speech, speaker, movement, poem, poster, film, campaign, etc., through the use of rhetorical principles.
The third type of individual events competition are the limited preparation events - with only a limited amount of preparation, students write and deliver a speech (speeches are typically seven minutes in length). Usual limited prep events are: 1) Impromptu - Speakers have a total of seven minutes for both preparation and speaking. Speakers receive one or two topics, typically of a proverb nature, select one, and then deliver a serious speech on that topic, and 2) Extemporaneous - Students receive three topics in the general area of current events, and select one that they will write a speech on. Students have thirty minutes of preparation time to prepare an original speech on the topic. Students typically conduct research in advance of the tournament and have files available that they can consult for supporting materials for the speech.
Over the course of the competitive season, students develop and refine their various events. Most students participate in multiple individual events by the end of the season, and participate in multiple individual events at each off-campus tournament.
In 1996-1997, fifteen students participated in one or more of seventeen individual events tournaments hosted by other colleges and universities, in addition to participation in the on-campus events mentioned earlier.
Highlights from this yearÕs individual events competition included the following: 1) UNIÕs 12th consecutive state championship at the Iowa Intercollegiate Forensics Association State Tournament, 2) UNI students, for the 2nd consecutive year, earning both of the qualifying slots from the state of Iowa for the Interstate Oratorical Association National Competition, 3) UNI students reaching the quarter-finals in three events at the American Forensic Association National Individual Events Tournament, 4) UNIÕs 4th place finish in the Division 1 sweepstakes at the National Forensic Association National Individual Events Tournament, and 5) Kristin MichaelÕs 3rd place finish in Informative Speaking at the National Forensic Association National Individual Events Tournament (Kristin was also in the semi-finals of Persuasive Speaking).
Students learn approximately _ hour before a debate which team they will be debating, and on what side. Debaters make arguments for or against the resolution, and all arguments are supported either by reasoning or by evidence they have researched prior to the debate. There is an emphasis on research conducted prior to attending the tournament, and advance preparation of materials that can be used in the actual debates. Debaters typically conduct research every week that is the equivalent of the research used in a major term paper. Students continue to research and refine arguments throughout the year. Judges typically decide policy debates based on which team made the more convincing case in favor of, or in opposition to, the resolution.
In 1996-1997, fifteen students participated in one or more of fourteen debate tournaments hosted by other colleges and universities, in addition to participation in the on-campus Season Opener mentioned earlier.
Beyond awards at individual tournaments, the primary highlight for the debate program for 1996-1997 was UNIÕs qualifying for the National Debate Tournament for the 17th consecutive season.
VI. Yearly Awards
Each year the UNI Forensics Program recognizes several students for their accomplishments during the competitive season. The awards presented during 1996-1997 were as follows: Most Dedicated Individual Events Student; Best Novice Debater; R. Forrest Conklin Top Debate Student (this award was named in honor of Dr. Conklin during 1996-1997 on the occasion of his retirement from the University, and in recognition of his many years of service to UNI and the UNI Forensics Program); Forensic Service Award; Purple and Gold Award for Conspicuous Achievement in Oratory (awarded to a graduating senior exemplifying both academic and forensic excellence Š noted at graduation and on the diploma); and the Brindley Public Address Award (awarded to a major in our Department who exemplifies both academic and forensic excellence).
VII. Needs and Challenges
The 1996-1997 competitive season was one of our most successful in recent years. We continue to rebuild the Program, we continue to attract outstanding students to UNI Forensics, and our students continue to excel in intercollegiate competition.
While forensic practice remains strong at the University of Northern Iowa, the program has a number of needs, and faces several challenges, in the coming years. The primary issues facing the program for 1997-1998 are outlined in this section.
The following list offers a few of the primary responsibilities of the UNI Director of Forensics:
Hiring someone to fill a tenure-line Director of Forensics position will allow that individual to make long-term decisions for the benefit of the Forensics Program. At present the year-to-year situation hampers effective long-range planning, as staff members do not know which personnel will be on staff in the long-term, and thus do not know which operational philosophies to advance. Without long-term stability in the Director of Forensics position, it will be difficult for the Forensics Program to maintain its current level of excellence, let alone improve on its existing strong base.
Similarly, a tenure-line Director of Forensics will make more administrative sense. At present a one-year acting Director of Forensics is responsible for supervising a tenured Debate Coach. At present a one-year acting Director of Forensics is responsible for overseeing significant budgetary resources allocated to the program.
Additional benefits of a tenure-line Director of Forensics are listed below:
There is no corresponding list of benefits to a one-year temporary Instructor Director of Forensics. The only benefit associated with such a position is that it costs the University a few thousand dollars less in salary and benefits. A one-year appointee teaches the same number of courses, but does not provide stability to the Forensics Program, does not have an expectation of scholarly activity, and has no expectation of service beyond Forensics duties. In sum, while a one-year temporary position costs the University less money, the University also receives far less in return from such a position.
During the 1996-1997 academic year, the Department faculty passed a recommendation stating they "encourage an effort be made to fund, search, and hire a Director of Forensics on a tenure-track line." The staff and students of the Forensics Program hope the Department and University administration will follow that recommendation during the 1997-1998 academic year.
A priority must be to reclaim the previous staffing level if the program is to maintain its traditional level of excellence. To assure a one-year Director of Forensics would be in place for the 1995-1996 academic year, one of the Individual Events Coach lines was converted to a Director of Forensics line. When a tenure-line Director of Forensics is hired in the future, the present line occupied by the Acting Director of Forensics should optimally revert to a second Individual Events Coach. Further, the Program needs to continue to receive at least two, and ideally three, graduate student assistant coaches to assure adequate levels of staff support.
The first issue is increasing existing budget allocations. In 1996-1997 the Forensics Program received travel support from three sources. The first of those was Fine Arts Support provided by student activity fees. In 1996-1997 the Fine Arts Support allocation was $26,750. This allocation was $2,650 more than the allocation for 1995-1996.
The second primary source of support was a grant from the University President. On two separate occasions in the past, the University President permanently increased the Supplies and Services budget of the Department of Communication Studies by $5,000, with both increases earmarked for Forensics Program travel. This $10,000 allocation remains constant from year-to-year.
The third primary source of support was the Intercollegiate Academics Fund. In 1996-1997 the IAF provided $3,880 to help partially offset the costs associated with travel to our "post season" qualifying tournaments for the national tournaments, and for the travel to the concluding national tournaments. This amount was substantially higher than in 1995-1996, though IAF funding levels vary from year-to-year based on a number of factors, including number of students participating in a particular off-campus event, anticipated expenses of a particular event, and the number of other on-campus student activities that request funding support.
The combined total from the three sources was thus $40,630 for 1996-1997. While the overall allocation increased from the previous year, the expenses associated with Forensics Program travel also increased, through both normal inflation and increased student participation. The Forensics Program thus needs an increased budget allocation from Fine Arts Support from Student Fees just to maintain its current level of participation in Debate and Individual Events competition. However, rather than receiving an increased allocation for 1997-1998, the allocation from Fine Arts Support will again decrease, this time to $25,000.
The amounts discussed above cover the costs of travel to, and participation in, tournaments hosted by other colleges and universities. These expenses fall into four general categories. The first is registration fees - we must pay an entry fee for every debate team, or every individual event, entered in competition at tournaments during the year. The second is meals. We pay a modest per diem to our students to partially offset the cost of food during participation in off-campus events. Our average per diem is $10.70 per day (the specific amount varies depending on whether we are in a high-cost or low-cost area). This compares to the amounts that University, and State of Iowa, policy allows for meal reimbursement - up to $22.00 per day for in-state travel, and up to $25.00 per day for out-of-state travel. The third category of expenses is lodging - we typically make reservations at the facility recommended by the host institution, as those facilities generally offer a special rate that is substantially lower than the rate charged ordinary travelers. The fourth expense category is transportation. When available, we use the University Car Pool.
Other expenses incurred by the Forensics Program are covered by our fundraising activities. Those resources offset the costs of hosting on-campus tournaments, the costs of producing and shipping videotapes, and the normal operating expenses of the program (office supplies, photocopying, postage, etc.). However, as with travel expenses, administrative costs continue to increase across time due to normal inflation and increased student participation. Further, the Forensics Program will assume all long distance charges associated with Forensics during 1997-1998. Thus, there is a need for continued fundraising efforts across time.
The second budget issue facing the Forensics Program is thus assuring adequate budget allocations for the future. In the past, funding of the Forensics Program was a relative certainty, given the support of the Department and the upper administration within the University. As the University moves to a decentralized budgetary process, and as the competition for funding within the University increases, the Forensics Program needs to demonstrate the value of forensics competition for an undergraduate education to better assure future financial stability for the Program.
A second issue related to financial aid is the late date on which the Forensics Program was notified of its financial aid allocation for 1997-1998. Across time we have typically learned our allocation for the following year by approximately April 1. However, this year we did not learn our allocation level until May 19. The late notification date creates at least two problems. The first problem created by the May 19 notification date was our failure to adhere to our published May 1 deadline for notifying applicants regarding whether they would receive a Forensics Scholarship the following year. This creates an obvious image problem for the Forensics Program and the University, as we failed to meet our published commitments. The second problem is that such a late notification date substantially impairs our ability to recruit outstanding students to the UNI program. By mid-April, several students had already received their aid packages from other post-secondary institutions. Many are thus placed in a position of turning down UNI without knowing whether they would receive a scholarship from our program, and, in turn, the UNI program is impaired as outstanding students choose alternative schools because they know they will receive scholarship funds at competing institutions.
Over the past three years the space allocation for Forensics has been significantly eroded, leaving Forensics fragmented. In 1994-1995 the College of Humanities and Fine Arts took the CAC 266 office space for use by the College. This meant the relocation of the Individual Events Coach to another office in CAC. In 1995-1996 the Department of Communication Studies took CAC 264B and 264D from Forensics for use by the DepartmentÕs Directors of the Basic Course and Graduate Studies. This move meant the relocation of the Director of Forensics to another office in CAC, and the relocation of the student workroom to Art II, a building which is partially condemned. Finally, the 263 classroom is no longer set aside as being reserved for first priority by Forensics. Instead, Forensics now can only use that room when it is not scheduled for any other purpose.
The fragmentation resulting from these moves is a long-term danger to the successful operation of the Forensics Program. Rather than being housed in a single area, the program is now located on two different floors of CAC, and in Art II. Rather than allowing ease of communication and coordination between parts of the program, the current space allocation frustrates efforts at communication and coordination.
As a future challenge, we also must note that the Lang Hall renovation process will significantly impair our ability to host on-campus events during the years when the construction occurs. At present we use approximately 85 classrooms on-campus during the Season Opener Debate and Individual Events Tournaments. Those classrooms are in Lang, Seerley, Wright, Business, SEC, CAC, and Art II. Approximately 23 of the rooms we use are located in Lang. While Lang is under renovation, we will lose the use of those classrooms, and no additional rooms will become available for tournament use (while alternative spaces will be found for classes, we presently use all of the space that Scheduling will provide for tournament use). This will have two implications for our hosting tournaments during the construction period. First, we will not be able to host the Debate and Individual Events Tournaments on the same weekend, as we will have an inadequate number of available classrooms. Second, our hosting costs will increase as we will have to rent University vehicles for the weekend to shuttle debate teams from one side of the campus to the other (at present we can host the Debate Tournament on one side of campus, and the Individual Events tournament on the other side of campus. Without Lang, however, we will have to use the entire campus for the Debate Tournament).
The primary issue related to outreach is the Brindley Speech and Debate Tournament. In 1995-1996, Cedar Rapids Washington High School decided to schedule their tournament on our traditional weekend. That decision resulted in the cancellation of team policy debate at the 1995 Brindley. While Cedar Rapids Washington High School moved off that weekend for 1996-1997, we encountered a new conflict when St. Mark's in Texas rescheduled its national tournament to that weekend. Many Iowa schools attend the St. Mark's tournament, and most of the schools lack the staffing resources to be able to attend two tournaments on the same weekend. Unfortunately, the St. Mark's conflict will occur again in 1997-1998. While the schools that did attend the 1995 and 1996 Brindley tournaments were pleased with our hosting of the event, we need to be able to offer a revitalized policy debate event to truly rebuild the Brindley to its former stature. That will likely force us to reschedule the event on a different weekend for 1998-1999.
While the UNI Forensics Program continues to be successful, the past three years have problems in three areas of staff, budget, and space.
In terms of staff, as we noted above, there has not been a permanent Director of Forensics since the 1993-1994 academic year. 1997-1998 will be the fourth consecutive year where a one-year Director of Forensics has been in place. Other than impairing the day-to-day operation of the Program, this also impairs the ability of the Program to create and enact a long-term strategic plan for the future of UNI Forensics. Further, by converting one of the Individual Events coaching positions to the Director of Forensics position, the Forensics Program will have operated with one less staff member for three years. This stretching of staff time risks a decrease in the quality of Forensics education provided to our students.
In terms of budget, we noted above the need to focus on long-term stability related to the budget as the University increases its move toward a decentralized budget process. In addition, the allocation provided from Fine Arts Support will decline for 1997-1998. Further, our fundraising abilities are hampered by the lack of a tenure-line Director of Forensics. The problems associated with monetary support are also noticeable in the area of scholarships, where we received no increase in allocation for 1997-1998.
In terms of space, we have noted that reallocation of the 264 space has resulted in the Forensics Program being fragmented, impairing our ability to work together as a unified entity. Further, our students occupy work space in a partially-condemned building. Finally, sharing space with other programs in the 264 area presents unnecessary security problems.
Despite these problems, the Forensics Program continues to offer a quality program to our students. We have been rebuilding the program for the past several years, significantly increasing student participation. We attract exceptional students to the program, and those students excel in their competitive events. The staff and students of the Forensics Program will continue to work to improve our Program in the future, and we have identified in this document the priorities for action on our part.
After several meetings during the 1996-1997 academic year, the Department faculty passed several clauses of a resolution regarding the UNI Forensics Program. We hope Departmental and University administrators will take the actions necessary to implement that resolution:
Be it Resolved:
That the Department of Communication Studies supports a Forensics Program at the University of Northern Iowa, and further,
That the Department of Communication Studies supports a Forensics Program that is responsive to departmental input and needs, and further,
That the Department of Communication Studies supports leaving to the judgment of the forensics professionals associated with the Program the day-to-day decisions regarding operation of the Forensics Program, and further,
That the Department of Communication Studies supports a Policy Debate Program that competes at the regional and national levels, and further,
That the Department of Communication Studies supports an Individual Events Program that competes at the regional and national levels, and further,
That moneys allocated by former President Curris for Forensics to the Department Supplies and Services budget will continue to be set aside for the sole use of the Forensics Program, and further,
That other financial resources used in support of the Forensics Program should be generated through student activity fees, fundraising, and other similar mechanisms, and further,
That the Department of Communication Studies agrees we need to have a Debate Coach, and further,
That the Department of Communication Studies agrees we need to have an Individual Events Coach, and further,
That the Department of Communication Studies agrees we need to provide graduate student support for the Forensics Program, and further,
That the Department of Communication Studies agrees we need to have a Director of Forensics, and further,
That the Forensics Program should be integrated into the Department's Strategic Plan, and further,
That the Department of Communication Studies encourages an effort be made to fund, search, and hire a Director of Forensics on a tenure-track line.
Report submitted by
Dr. Arnie Madsen, Director of Forensics