ABSTRACT
In response to a need in government and industry, technical communication programs have burgeoned in universities all over the United States in the past two decades. Without that demand by employers, academic technical communication programs certainly would not have flourished as they have. Academic and industry professionals hold a mutual interest in managing the education of future technical communication professionals, and representatives from both camps wish to share their interests and concerns. Many academics who designed technical communications programs at their universities had their own vision for program goals, curricula, and requirements. A collaboration with government and industry representatives can offer valuable insights into a program’s curriculum, but several safeguards assure that the relationship will be collaborative, providing guidance for the program and benefits for the corporate organization. Most industries eagerly tap the talent pool of recent graduates and internship candidates.
