NEW TOPIC: Academia and Industry

[Voss, Daniel W]

An idea:

Institute a formal mentoring program pairing undergraduate and graduate
students in technical communication degree programs with practitioners
in the nearest geographical STC chapter.

The Orlando Chapter has had great success with such a program over the
past 4 years, pairing with the University of Central Florida.  It has
proven to be a win-win-win situation: learning opportunities plus
internships and job placement for mentees, professional satisfaction
(and growth) for mentors, valuable new resource and future leaders for
chapter.

For details, check out the web site:

 http://www.stc-orlando.org/education/mentor/mentor.asp

-----Original Message-----
From: bounce-stc-ac-277425 at lists.stc.org
[mailto:bounce-stc-ac-277425 at lists.stc.org] On Behalf Of Bonni Graham
Sent: Wednesday, December 06, 2006 9:13 AM
To: stc-ac
Subject: [stc-ac] NEW TOPIC: Academia and Industry

I'm curious:

What do you folks see as the best way to forge a tighter link between
academia and industry? In my case, it's
automatic: I run my own tech comm company and work for an employer
(which is why you might see emails from me from either of two
addresses), in addition to being adjunct faculty at two UC campuses
(plus I have three kids - this is what adult hyperactives do with
themselves).

I see some of the following things that STC can do (and in some cases
has done and is continuing to do):

* Sponsor industry internships for students
* Sponsor industry fellowships/sabbaticals for professors
* Provide a list of questions about the practice of tech comm that
practitioners would love to or need to know more about but lack the time
to research themselves (similar to the article about heading frequency
and comprehension that appeared in the most recent Journal)
* Continue to publish the Journal
* Reduce conference rates (or seek corporate partnerships, or provide a
template for how to seek corporate
partnerships)
* Create an academically-focused annual conference
* Invite more local academics to speak at local chapters about current
research (chapter presidents - are you
listening?)

I'm only one brain - help me out! : )

b

Bonni Graham
Manual Labour, Inc.
858-366-0170
www.manuallabour.com
Making Technology Easier

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