As of July 1st 2010, West Liberty has a fifth college: The College of Arts and Communications. The new College is made-up of the Department of Journalism, Communication Studies and Visual Art and the Department of Music and Theater. The new College will be led by Interim Dean Bill Baronak and will be housed in the Hall of Fine Arts, the Media Arts Center, and College Hall.
The former Department of Arts and Communication was the largest academic department at West Liberty University with twenty-five faculty members. It offers some of the most technologically driven degrees, and is the main provider of cultural activities on campus. It is also responsible for a large portion of the University’s community engagement. The new College of Arts and Communications will be larger than the College of Business and the College of Education. There are currently over 275 students enrolled in programs housed in the new College of Arts and Communications. The programs within the new College have enjoyed growth in student enrollment by almost 17% over the last five years.
The move better positions West Liberty to fulfill its educational mission, meet the needs of rapidly changing field, and build on the investment made by the University when it created the Media Arts Center. From journalism, to design, to music technology, new methods of communication are transforming every industry and every discipline. The creation of the new College of Arts and Communications is the first step to creating flexible spaces and programs that will meet the needs of current and future students.