Speaking Across the University (SATU)

SCUE’s 1995 White Paper discusses the need for the University of Pennsylvania to provide its students with the opportunity to develop their rhetorical skills. The White Paper states that a key component of effective scholarship is the ability to communicate and express one’s viewpoint. Penn addresses students’ writing needs through the Writing Across The University program, yet lacks any formal program targeted at students’ oral communication skills. Due to the absence of a formal speaking program, SCUE would again like to present the University community with a plan to elevate communication skills across the campus.

Speaking Across The University (SATU) is a University-wide program that enhances Penn students’ oratorical abilities in both formal and informal settings. This program is designed to give students a formal opportunity to practice their speaking skills with the aid of a certified advisor. The advisors for SATU are Penn students who have completed a rigorous semester long course taught by a faculty whose focus centers around basic speaking skills. Speaking Across The University follows closely in the footsteps of the already successful Writing Across The University (WATU) program, which SCUE helped to implement ten years ago.

SATU has two goals. First, Speaking Across The University will bring greater student participation to the classroom. This intensive program will provide Penn students with the tools needed to succeed both during and after their University careers. Second, it will culminate in the creation of a one-credit (c.u.) speaking requirement which students at Penn would fulfill in a manner similar to the already existing writing requirement. The speaking requirement will assure that all students improve upon their communication skills during their time at Penn.

SATU-affiliated classes would include those deemed appropriate the previous semester and various classes which encourage student participation beyond traditional classroom discussions. Freshman writing seminars and senior seminars would be conducive to implementing a program like SATU because they require students to give both formal and informal presentations along with intensive classroom discussion. These classes should be looked at carefully as the possible next phase of classes to be integrated into the SATU program.

This program will greatly enhance the undergraduate experience at Penn by cultivating an essential skill often not addressed in the classroom. SCUE is confident that this program will ultimately benefit all involved. Students will benefit by receiving the tools needed to convey their ideas in a professional manner. Administrators will benefit because this program creates a wellrounded Penn graduate. Finally, faculty will benefit by creating innovative new courses that spark students’ interest through increased participation. If Penn wants to create future leaders, it must give them the tools to succeed. Only with the integration of SATU into the Penn curriculum can students be given the necessary skills to lead in the 2lst century.