Our Research

Through this research, we found that consultants believe the most helpful training content to be material about feedback strategies, basic services of the center, public speaking skills and strategies, and training on interpersonal skills. Of course, what consultants find helpful is limited to what training is offered by the center. 

 

According to administrators, most communication centers currently prioritize basic training that teaches consultants how to: navigate the daily operations of the center; utilize technological equipment; provide effective and accurate feedback; reinforce the culture and values of the center; and strengthen their knowledge of public speaking practices. Naturally, this is highly important material to cover as it allows the leadership of the communication center to ensure that the organization runs efficiently with consistent protocols. These training topics are also prioritized by the National Association of Communication Centers in their endorsed "Tutor Training and Certification Programs" (2010) which lists four necessary topics of training as 1.) an overview of communication and the role of the communication center, 2.) tutoring expertise for how to run a successful session, 3.) communication instructional expertise including knowledge of effective public speaking and how to navigate communication apprehension, and 4.) administrative expertise mostly addressing the operations of the center (p. 2-3).

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While the National Association of Communication Centers (NACC) offers the option to certify a communication center's training, many centers have not taken advantage of this opportunity. Currently, there are 158 communication centers listed on NACC's Directory of Centers, yet only 19 centers are noted as Communication Centers with Certified Training Programs and no centers have been certified since 2020. Currently, NACC (2010) states that certification is not required, however:

"University administrators (and the parents of undergraduates) have a growing expectation that students providing consulting services in a communication center receive the training that the profession deems appropriate for their important role. Certification also provides these students with a credential that might enhance their job or graduate school opportunities" (p.1).

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During our research we discovered that 80% of administrators are located at a center whose training program is not certified. When asked why they have not certified their training, 17.5% admitted they were unaware of the certification process while 13% stated they were uninterested in certifying their training. Further research should investigate the value of training certification and the effectiveness of the certification process. Depending on findings, it may be necessary to clarify and update the guidelines so that they may align with modern campus needs.