In June 2024, Champlain College announced that it would be cutting 5 majors: Law, Accounting, Finance, Data Analytics, and Broadcast Media Production. Champlain did this to design a new “career-based’ curriculum. This news hit Broadcast students especially hard as the lack of required classes is making it difficult to complete the program. Students and faculty were interviewed about how the program’s future loss is affecting them.
Senior broadcast student Katie Bohan says the school is just pushing her and other broadcast students along, rather than using a “teach out” program that the school initially promised in 2024. She feels that the school does not care about the remaining broadcast students and has forgotten about them, although she highly appreciates the work the professors have done to keep it alive. She says she has had to take classes that have had nothing to do with the broadcast major in order to graduate.
Caleb Neujhar, a junior broadcast student, says that it has not affected him drastically. Class choices for him have become more scarce. He does not know what he wants to gain from the major, because he chose it as a way to explore more than one career path. He prefers to pursue a career in radio.
Program director Dr. Van Dora Williams has pointed out that although the program has been discontinued, classes like audio production, radio production, and podcasting will remain. She will serve at Champlain College as the assistant dean of administration and also teach courses. Due to the college’s new academic model, the specific courses she will teach are still being determined. She has stated that she loved teaching all the broadcasting students and is proud of each of them. According to Williams, Champlain creates amazing journalists, and 80 to 100% have found employment in the broadcasting field.
Former Adjunct and WCAX operations manager Brian Mulhall explains that, as someone who has worked in media for 20+ years, he is sad about the program coming to a close, but he says he loved his journey with Champlain students. Each class that he taught had its own problem-solving opportunities, fixing technology issues, for example, which sets up preparation for any career. Mulhall points out that it is a satisfying experience when former students join the WCAX team after graduation. Brian is also open to teaching at Champlain if any new opportunities arise.
According to both students and staff, it seems like students are feeling uncertain, but grateful towards faculty for teaching and helping them get opportunities in the broadcasting field. As a student myself in the broadcasting program, I am sad about the program leaving. I have learned so much, such as how to write stories and do camera work. I have had so many incredible opportunities and met so many great people during this journey. Thank you, Champlain College, for making my Broadcast journey a reality. I wouldn’t have done it without you!
