Lab17, Roy H Park School of Communications
Department of Strategic Communications
iclab17.weebly.com
Contact: Katie O’Hara, Director of Communications
icprlab16@gmail.com
Lab17, a communications lab course housed in the Roy H. Park School of Communications at Ithaca College that simulates a public relations agency entered the fall term with twenty clients committed to its portfolio for the semester.
This is the second year that the Department of Strategic Communication has incorporated the apprentice-style course in its fall course offerings. During the fall of 2016, the first student-run agency, Lab16 completed its curriculum with a portfolio of 19 clients.
“PR Lab is unlike any other communications class I’ve taken thus far. After working with mostly hypothetical clients in previous courses, it’s nice to finally take on real-world clients and put our skills to the test,” says Katie O’Hara, Director of Communications.
Led by Adjunct Professor Ann-Marie Adams, Lab17 is staffed by 19 seniors in the Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC) degree. Students participating in the lab build professional portfolios and consulting skillsets to conduct the work of a public relations agency in a real world context. As such, the experience includes developing strategic plans, managing events, designing and developing publicity and promotional campaigns, grasping the operational component of client management and implementing corporate communications initiatives. Lab17’s client base for fall 2017 includes consumer brands, micro-influencers, small businesses, nonprofits, local events and Ithaca College sports teams.
"Our goal with senior capstone courses in the Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC) major is to provide students with real-world immersions within which they will bring to bear all of their previous education and experience. The outcomes are some substantial deliverables which benefit the client organizations and enhance the students' learning portfolios,” says Scott Hamula, Chair of the Strategic Communications Department.
On December 14, 2017 Lab17 will host a showcase of its portfolio experiences in the Park School from 4:30-6:00 p.m. This event is free and open to the public, but reservations to attend are encouraged.
“Lab17 provides a rich learning opportunity for students to integrate theory with practice while making real-time strategic communication decisions in an environment that embraces failure as much as it applauds success,” says Adams, Agency CEO.
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About Lab17
PR Lab is one of five capstone courses offered within the Integrated Marketing Communications degree. Lab17 operates in a simulated agency environment to prepare students for entering the industry after graduation.
https://www.ithaca.edu/intercom/article.php/20171017121131596