The statements below contain the positions officially endorsed by the researchers, teachers, and practitioners allied as the National Communication Association related to issues vital to the professional endeavors of Communication educators and scholars. The Association is committed to including within each statement only positions:
- Upon which the organization and membership have engaged in ample and careful deliberation
- Upon which a substantial consensus of supporting knowledge has been developed
- Addressing issues that have attracted the concerted inquiry of an acknowledged segment of the discipline
- Central to the enhancement of the ability of Communication educators/scholars to do their work effectively and/or to the enhancement of the stature of the discipline in the academy or more broadly
This policy platform contains the positions officially endorsed by the researchers, teachers, and practitioners allied as the National Communication Association on issues vital to human communication. The Association is committed to include within this document only positions: (1) upon which the organization and membership have engaged in ample and careful deliberation; (2) upon which a substantial consensus of supporting knowledge has been developed; (3) addressing issues which have attracted the concerted inquiry of an acknowledged segment of the discipline, and (4) central to the contribution of communication to the health and richness of the human condition, or to the commitments of the membership to the study, teaching, or practice of communication.
- Resolution Denouncing the Dehumanization of Palestinians and its Impacts (adopted 2024)
- Extended Solitary Confinement and Torture (adopted 2010; reaffirmed 2018)
- Discontinuing the Use of Native American Logos, Mascots, and Nicknames (adopted 2017)
- Resolution Regarding State Legislative Limits on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (adopted 2017, revised 2024)
Public Policy Statement Archive
The following public policy statements are no longer active because they are not currently central to the contribution of communication but are listed here for historic purposes.
- California’s Proposition 187 (adopted 1995; archived 2011)
- English as the Official Language of the United States (adopted 1996; archived 2012)
- Political Communication (adopted 1995; archived 2013)
- Digital Divide (approved 1999; adopted 2013; archived 2018)
This ethical statements platform contains the positions officially endorsed by the researchers, teachers, and practitioners allied as the National Communication Association related to general beliefs of right and wrong that can guide more specific decisions of the association and members of the discipline. The Association is committed to include within this document only positions: (1) upon which the organization and membership have engaged in ample and careful deliberation; (2) upon which a substantial consensus of supporting knowledge has been developed; (3) addressing issues which have attracted the concerted inquiry of an acknowledged segment of the discipline, and (4) central to the concerns of communication scholars and teachers.
- Credo for Ethical Communication (adopted 1999, reaffirmed 2017, revised 2024)
- Credo for Net Neutrality, Free and Responsible Use of Electronic Networks, and the Digital Divide (adopted 1994; revised 2013; revised 2018)
- Credo for Free and Responsible Communication in a Democratic Society (adopted 1963, revised 2011, reaffirmed 2017, revised 2024)
- Resolution Condemning White Supremacy in Political Discourse (adopted 2019)
This academic/professional statements platform contains the positions officially endorsed by the researchers, teachers, and practitioners allied as the National Communication Association related to issues that are vital to the professional endeavors of communication educators and scholars. The Association is committed to include within this document only positions: (1) upon which the organization and membership have engaged in ample and careful deliberation; (2) upon which a substantial consensus of supporting knowledge has been developed; (3) addressing issues which have attracted the concerted inquiry of an acknowledged segment of the discipline, and (4) central to the enhancement of the ability of communication educators/scholars to do their work effectively and/or to the enhancement of the stature of the discipline in the academy or more broadly.
- Resolution Supporting the Inclusion of the Foundational Communication Course in U. S. College and University Core Requirements (adopted April 2023)
- Statement Affirming the Importance of Academic Freedom within the Classroom (adopted by the Executive Committee March 2022)
- NCA Statement on Free and Responsible Communication (adopted September 2019)
- Statement on the Protection and Defense of Academic Freedom and Freedom of Expression for Communication Scholars (adopted 2018)
- High School Communication Education (Speaking, Listening & Media Literacy) as a Graduation Requirement (adopted 2010; revised 2012, revised 2017, revised 2024)
- A Code of Professional Ethics for the Communication Scholar/Teacher (adopted 1999; reaffirmed 2017)
- Policy on Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination (adopted 1995; revised 2012, revised 2017, revised 2024)
- Statement on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (adopted 1995; revised 2012, revised 2017;revised 2018)
- Role of Communication Courses and Communication Faculty in General Education (adopted 1996; revised 2012, revised 2017; reaffirmed 2018)
Academic/Professional Statements Archive
The following academic/professional statements are no longer active because they are not currently central to the contribution of communication but are listed here for historic purposes.
- Communication Across the Curriculum (approved 1996; archived 2012)
- Education Policy on ESL Coursework (approved 1997; archived 2012)
- Endorsing Comprehensive Language Arts (approved 1996; archived 2013)
- Opposing Campus Speech Codes (approved 1996; archived 2013)
- Standards for Speaking, Listening, and Media Literacy in K-12
- (K-12 Speaking, Listening, and Media Literacy Standards and Competency Statements; approved 1996; archived 2013)
Public Policy Statements
The National Communication Association should only take an official stand on those policy issues that are central to the contribution of Communication to the health and richness of the human condition or to the commitments of the membership to the study, teaching, or practice of Communication.
Ethical Statements
The National Communication Association should only take an official stand on those ethical issues that can guide more specific decisions of the association and members of the discipline.
Academic/Professional Statements
The National Communication Association should only take an official stand on those academic/professional issues for which support for a particular position would enhance the ability of Communication educators/scholars to do their work effectively and/or enhance the stature of the discipline in the academy or more broadly.
Procedure for Proposing and Adopting Resolutions for Inclusion into NCA’s Resolution Platform:
- Members of the Association shall be invited to submit resolutions to the Resolutions Committee for consideration for inclusion in the NCA Resolution and Statement Platform. The procedures for submitting resolutions shall be printed annually in the Association’s newsletter or similar outlet. In addition, the Executive Director shall remind all NCA members that they are invited to contact the Resolutions Committee Chair directly to discuss a resolution proposal.
- Proposed resolutions must include the following content to be considered appropriate for Legislative Assembly consideration:
- The type of Resolution/Statement under consideration (Public Policy, Ethical, Academic/Professional)
- Rationale for why it merits Legislative Assembly consideration and how it meets the criteria for inclusion in the platform specified in the Preamble
- Background information regarding the public policy issue being addressed
- Demonstration of the relationship of the issue to existing Communication scholarship, including specific citations
- Specific action being requested
- Specific actions the Association will be expected to take if the resolution passes
- An assessment of the resources required to implement the resolution.
- NCA members may submit proposed resolutions to the Resolutions Committee from the end of the Annual Convention until June 30th of the following year. The Legislative Assembly will consider proposed resolutions submitted by June 30th if the Resolutions Committee determines they meet the specified requirements. Provided that the Resolutions Committee determines the specified requirements have been met, proposed resolutions submitted after the June 30th deadline will require a majority vote by the Legislative Assembly to be considered by the body.
- The Resolutions Committee is required to review all proposed resolutions it receives. The review must include confirmation that the necessary content is included in the proposal and a determination that enough information is provided to allow the LA to make a thoughtful judgment about the issue. The Resolutions Committee may contact proposal submitters to request additional information and/or do due diligence research on its own with support from the National Office. The Resolutions Committee can determine that a proposed resolution does not meet the requirements for submission and, therefore, should not be considered by the LA. If the Resolutions Committee determines that the LA should consider a proposed resolution, it must make one of the following recommendations: accept, reject, no recommendation, accept with the following amendments. Before making its recommendation, the Resolutions Committee may refer the proposed resolution to another committee with particular expertise on the issue for recommendation.
- The Chair of the Resolutions Committee shall present resolutions to the Legislative Assembly. Presentations should include a summary of the proposal, the results of any additional inquiry undertaken by the Resolutions Committee, and the recommendation of the Resolutions Committee. The recommendation of the Resolutions Committee should be presented with substantial justification.
- Resolutions shall require the affirmative vote of a majority of those present and voting at the Legislative Assembly meeting to be included in the Public Policy Platform.
NCA Members are invited to submit resolution proposals for consideration by the Resolutions Committee by June 30. All proposed resolutions submitted by the June 30 deadline shall be published on the website prior to September 1. All resolutions are reviewed by the Resolutions Committee for its recommendation to the Legislative Assembly, who will review, deliberate, and vote on approval.
Please review the procedures for submission and review of public statement proposals or contact Justin Danowski, Executive Director (jdanowski@natcom.org) with questions about submitting a proposal.
Resolutions Committee
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- Curtis Ladrillo Chamblee, University of Memphis
- Margaret R. LaWare, Iowa State University
- Jacqueline Peters, Concordia University
- Heather L. Walters, Missouri State University
- Mathieu Balay, Université de Montréal
- Clover Baker-Brown, Prince George’s Community College