Date Approved
6-9-2009
Embargo Period
4-26-2016
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
M.A. in Public Relations
Department
Public Relations & Advertising
College
Ric Edelman College of Communication & Creative Arts
Advisor
FitzGerald, Suzanne Sparks
Subject(s)
Community and college--United States; Universities and colleges--Public relations--United States
Disciplines
Public Relations and Advertising
Abstract
The purpose of this thesis was to determine what public relations techniques and strategies could be utilized to alleviate or even solve the five most prevalent problems faced by colleges and their communities. This researcher also verified that the top five problems as determined in a 1998 study still reign as the major problems in 2004.
An extensive literature review was conducted in conjunction with in-depth interviews with three college relations directors, surveys sent via email to over 1,000 college relations personnel, and intercept studies within the communities of the three chosen colleges.
It was concluded that the top five problems in 1998 still dominate in 2004. There was an apparent lack of two-way communication between the colleges and their communities that often led to hostility. The survey and in-depth interviews helped this researcher to gain several public relations strategies and techniques to apply to the five major problems, thus helping to alleviate problems for colleges and universities in the future.
Recommended Citation
Leavey, Kristin M., "Communities and colleges: utilizing public relations techniques and strategies to solve chronic town-gown problems" (2009). Theses and Dissertations. 1187.
https://rdw.rowan.edu/etd/1187
