Radio SLCC provides Salt Lake Community College students with a unique opportunity: the ability to improve their communication skills in an entertaining way while fulfilling SLCC’s required interdisciplinary credit.
Alison Arndt-Wild, Mass Communications Program Manager at SLCC says, “It’s easy to get involved. All you have to do is take COMM 1560, Beginning Radio.”
Scot Singpiel, Adjunct Professor and former Station Manager at SLCC and current Senior Producer at the University of Utah Public Affairs office, says there are big opportunities for students who take COMM 1560. “The biggest opportunity that Radio SLCC offers is the opportunity to become a better communicator. The radio provides a medium to practice different forms of communication in a learning environment.”
Once students sign up for COMM 1560, they will have an hour-long radio show that they can personalize. Whether students prefer talk radio, playing their own style of music or playing the newest hits, there is something for everyone at Radio SLCC. “My favorite part of the radio program at SLCC is all of the student-produced content. There are so many different styles, preferences and opinions, so it provides the station with a lot of variety.”
“The radio program at SLCC provides an opportunity for students to have their very own radio show,” says Arndt-Wild, “Not only that but to have their show in a learning environment. This makes it so students are better prepared to work in this field or in any field they go into.”
On top of radio experience, students will be given the chance to grow and advance as communicators.
This process is Singpiel’s favorite part of the job. “My favorite parts of Radio SLCC are the first day of class where I meet the students and watch them progress throughout the semester. I love hearing them improve.”
In addition to having their own one-hour shows, COMM 1560 students will also have the opportunity to do live remotes and color commentary for SLCC men’s and women’s volleyball and basketball.
Radio SLCC used to be located at the Taylorsville-Redwood Campus on the third floor of the Technology Building. There, the station had a small recording room and a small studio. This is not the case anymore. They will be moving into the Center for New Media at South City campus for the fall semester.
“We have a brand new, state-of-the-art facility,” says Arndt-Wild. “I would say it is better than some of the local radio stations in the area.”
With the new studio and brand-new equipment, the Radio SLCC staff hopes that the student experience will become even better than it already is.
Singpiel believes that this is more than just a radio station teaching communication skills. Rather it is an environment in which one can learn lessons that are broadly applicable. He states, “These skills will help you for the rest of your life. COMM 1560 is the funnest and most rewarding 3 credits you’ll ever take.”
