Communications acquires new space in Gooch

Recently, the UTM campus has seen renovations and improvements, one of which is the new Fine Arts Building, which now allows free space in several of the buildings on campus.
One of these buildings with free space includes Gooch Hall, where now on the second floor, the Communications Department has added some much-needed space for a new classroom, office space and media space.
The UTM Department of Communications Chair Dr. Robert Nanney said that these changes include some professors relocating their offices, with Instructor of Communications Rodney Freed and Associate Professor of Communications Dr. Richard Robinson moving to 217A and 217B.
“They relocated to comply with the Federal Communications Commission’s requirement that their offices be in the same location as our broadcasting studios,” Nanney said.
Nanney assures students that these changes will not affect the Communications Department’s day-to-day operations but will vastly improve their learning experience.
“We have needed a large classroom for several years and had been borrowing one from another department. Fortunately, when Visual and Theater Arts left the building, we gained permission to transform the old ‘black box theater’ room into a classroom that is large enough for about 75 students but also can be used for two smaller public speaking classes with a partition,” Nanney said.
Another urgent need was addressed concerning the lack of media room space for the radio and TV studios, including basic office space for student staff and faculty advisers.
“These changes have enabled us to install a larger set for the TV studio because we’ve moved our photojournalism and digital editing equipment out of the studio and into an adjacent area. And we’ve found space for multimedia editing in that same area, which is great for our Media Design students. The department itself has needed more storage for years, and we’re excited that part of the new second-floor area meets that need,” Nanney said.
These changes have brought about the relocation of two other members of the Communications faculty as well. Assistant Professor of Communications Dr. Tracy Rutledge has moved to Freed’s former office, Gooch 305M, and Assistant Professor of Communications Dr. Chara Van Horn will be moving to Robinson’s former office, 305E, later this semester.
The UTM Department of Communications recently celebrated its 35th anniversary, and Nanney is grateful to continue the department’s momentum with the new space.
“It’s been a win-win all around, and we so appreciate the support and cooperation of the administration for making this possible,” Nanney said.
The Department of Communications is located in 305 Gooch Hall and can be reached at 731-881-7750.