Communicating Inside/Outside the Organization
"Working at the USU really opened my eyes to working in an office setting. I now have experience with staff meetings and speaking to managers from various departments. I don't think many jobs offer such a wide range of experiences to a college student with little work experience."
Communication begins with understanding the message, audience and venue. USU student employees are presented with opportunities to engage with both the corporation’s internal and external customers via email correspondence, presentations and marketing materials.
Twice each academic year, more than 12 Student Assistant Employees (SAEs) are selected as workshop presenters for Student Summit — the USU’s on-site conference for its 350+ student employees. The conference is held each term prior to the start of the semester.
To strengthen the presentations, a team of mentors from the professional staff, guide the students in trainings and mock sessions that are aimed at polishing the presentations for great impact.
This is one of the foundations offered to students to hone the presentation communication skill.
COMMUNICATING INSIDE THE ORGANIZATION
The practice of professional communication often takes place during summits and department meetings where students practice relaying information to student and staff employees.
Prior to each summit, students who are selected as presenters participate in multiple practice sessions where the elements of presenting are reviewed by staff and students and their techniques are critiqued.
Student Assistant Employees in Administration read, Developing the Leader Within You by John C. Maxwell (2018). Each month, a student presented a chapter about Leadership from the book. Here are several of their presentations.
At the Oasis Wellness Center, presentation partnerships between staff and students cultivate both experience and training.
STUDENT-CREATED INSTRUCTION
In 2019-2020, student asstants in Administration were challenged to utilize technology to create how-to videos as self-paced instructional tools for future employees. The students wrote and published 16 videos about how to manage intranet content, order corporate supplies, write assessment reports and more. Supervisors provide feedback. All utilized Dr. Peck's rubric as a guide for discussion and development (see Communication Resources section).
How to Create & Structure an Assessment Report
By Student Assessment Assistant Christopher Hernandez
Powered by Microsoft Stream
How to Edit the Intranet's Left Column
By Student Clerical Assistant Diego Tapia
How to Distribute StrengthsQuest Tutorials to Staff via Email
By Student Clerical Assistat Bethany Flores
Ryan Campbell, a former events assistant for Fitness Programs, demonstrated his ability to verbally communicate with persons inside and outside the organization and influence others. Below are his examples from the Summertime Grind Program.
COMMUNICATING OUTSIDE THE ORGANIZATION
Co-presenting with professional staff at regional, annual and national conferences is another method used to provide student employees with experience in delivering messages to external audiences. Teams collaborate about topics, presentation styles, dress, delivery, audience participation and how to deliver a clear message.
Live performances offer students experience with managing expressions, maintaining composure, and engaging audience participation - key components to effective professional communication, according to Peck.
