Department of Communication, Journalism, and Public Relations

Wilson Hall, Room 316
371 Wilson Boulevard
Rochester, MI 48309-4486
(location map)
(248) 370-4120

General Department Questions:
CJPR

A student seated at a microphone in a recording or broadcasting studio.

Student Organizations

Joining a student organization is an important part of your academic growth at Oakland University. Below are Journalism/Communication student organizations to consider.

The Oakland Post

The Oakland Post is Oakland University's student newspaper. It has a historical presence at OU in providing an independent journalistic student voice. It has a separate governing board and publishes weekly during the fall, winter and spring semesters. The faculty advisor is Garry Gilbert, director of the journalism program. For more information, visit The Oakland Post.

WXOU

WXOU is the student radio station that provides programming seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. on 88.3 FM (exact broadcast schedule varies daily). As of October 2000, WXOU broadcasts are available on the university website. And, WXOU has received university approval to broadcast through Nibblebox, a webcast provider used by universities nationwide. WXOU has a long history at OU beginning its broadcast on 88.3 FM in 1996. Marty Shafer is the faculty advisor. For more information contact Marty, visit the radio station on the lower level of the Oakland Center in room 69 or visit WXOU.

The Association for Women in Communications at OU

The Association for Women in Communications (AWC) at OU is a professional organization that champions the advancement of women across all communications disciplines by recognizing excellence, promoting leadership and positioning its members at the forefront of the evolving communications era. The organization offers programming and leadership opportunities that aim to assist students in launching successful careers. The AWC at OU is open to women and men alike. Our membership drive occurs every fall and we invite you to join us. For more information, please contact Faculty Advisor, Dr. Rebecca Mercado-Jones.

Iota Eta

Iota Eta, is the local chapter of Lambda Pi Eta, the communication national honor organization. Iota Eta began in the winter of 2000 and recognizes outstanding academic scholarship within Communication.  Members will strengthen their academic portfolios and resumes, and may pursue opportunities to attend Communication conferences or apply for research awards through the national organization.  At graduation, members will wear red and white cords denoting their status as members of this honors society. The faculty advisor of the organization is Christine Stover.

Interested students can contact Christine Stover for more information about the group and the application process.

Public Relations Student Society of America

The Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) at OU was established in 2019. Through regular events and opportunities, it helps students develop professional skills, expand national and international networks, and grow into the next generation of leaders in the field of public relations and strategic communication. The PRSSA at OU was the recipient of the 2022 Star Chapter Award and the Pacesetter Award. For more information, please contact Faculty Advisor, Dr. Chiaoning Su.

American Sign Language Student Club

The ASL Club is a place to gather and practice ASL, and learn more about Deaf culture and history. It’s especially helpful if you are currently taking, or planning to take, an ASL class. The faculty advisor for this club is John Kirsh (kirsh@oakland.edu). 

Student Video Production Club 

SVP is a student organization that assists Video Services with their production needs. Students of any major may join the Student Video Club and receive training on industry standard, professional production equipment. Members may crew on staff-produced programming or may work to develop their own original program ideas. SVP strives to provide members with the opportunity to learn about the video production industry while working in a professional environment with quality equipment. Contact Adam Gould (agould@oakland.edu) for additional information.