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Program name change survey for FIMS undergraduate alumni

Dear FIMS undergraduate alumni,

Is it time to rebrand undergraduate programs at FIMS?

In 1997 there was one undergraduate module in the newly minted Faculty of Information and Media Studies: Media, Information, and Technoculture (MIT). In 2023, 25 years later, our undergraduate offerings have grown and in addition to MIT, we have modules in Media and the Public Interest, Creative Arts and Production, and Digital Communication. At the same time, the overarching name of the undergraduate program remains Media, Information, and Technoculture, just as it was in 1997. The MIT program name no longer captures all of what FIMS undergraduate programs offer; this has a detrimental effect on recruitment into the program and poses barriers to current students and graduates who are seeking employment. As a result, FIMS is considering changing the name of the undergraduate program (but not the individual modules) to better reflect what we do. The survey linked here is a way for you to be part of this conversation.

Here is the TL;DR summary:

  1. The current program name no longer accurately reflects the full scope of undergraduate offerings at FIMS.
  2. The current program name adversely affects undergraduate recruitment to the Faculty, which has budget implications for the entire Faculty.
  3. Some graduates and current students feel that the name is a barrier to explaining their expertise to others, including prospective employers.
  4. There would be NO change to the current undergraduate modules (MIT, MPI, CAP, and DC).
  5. Survey is anonymous and intended to explore alumni thoughts about potential alternative names.

 

Thank you for taking the time to add your thoughts to the conversation. If you have questions about the survey, please email fims@uwo.ca.