Congratulations. You're here.
Here being Capstone and for whatever you've heard about it, whatever good or terrible experiences that are circulating out there in your cohort, whatever fears you might have about what this is supposed to be, allow me to set a few things straight.
First, Capstone means to me your best representation and evidence of competency in any or all of the department's program learning outcomes. The trouble is, for many of you, this is the first time you've been made aware of them. Regardless, this is the criteria by which you will be demonstrating your competencies as a Communication major and by which I'll be guiding your projects and evaluating your work. So, we need to get to know them, understand them and decide how to evaluate your abilities with them. I said we, yes. You and I will decide how to measure this according to the department outcomes.
Second, this should be a celebration of your achievement, not an examination of your shortcomings, nor some impossible rubric through which I'm determined to see you fail. Nope. At the end I want to turn to the university, to the community, to the world and say, "Here is (you), one of the best graduates you can employ, and here is evidence of their excellence."
Third, I am honored and humbled to be your advisor. Use me. Drop by, visit, often. Call me. You will have my personal number. And I will have yours and I'll be calling you should you fall off my radar.
Deal?
