Cal Poly Reaffirms Commitment to Student-run Radio Station, KCPR-FM

In an era when the trend in college radio is to sell the license or bring in professional management, the campus station will remain student run with increased guidance from Cal Poly Journalism Department faculty and staff.

The Journalism Department has created a set of operational policies to align the station, KCPR-FM, more closely with the academic mission of the university.

The new policies are designed to provide a better experience for the students at the station and for the KCPR audience. They reflect the desire of the department to provide a safe and stimulating environment where students learn various aspects of running a media organization.

Highlights include:

• Creating a new journalism class that covers the fundamentals of radio announcing, operations and management.
• Designating a faculty adviser whose sole advising responsibilities are with KCPR.
• Strengthening opportunities for eclectic, live programming.
• Involving station alumni and industry professionals as coaches and mentors.

The College of Liberal Arts, which houses the Journalism Department, recently provided funds to replace the station’s transmitter and purchase equipment that will allow greater flexibility in live, remote programming and integration with other student media.

“I appreciate the work of the students, faculty, alumni and industry professionals who generated the new recommendations and guidelines for KCPR,” said Douglas Epperson, dean of the College of Liberal Arts. “These will preserve the constructive creativity and independence of students working at KCPR.  At the same time, student learning will be enhanced through greater integration with the Journalism Department’s curriculum and active advising.”

KCPR has been broadcasting at 91.3 FM as student-run radio for nearly 50 years. A committee of faculty, staff, students, KCPR alumni and industry professionals convened in 2014 and recently presented its recommendations for ensuring that the station has a secure future for the next 50 years.