The William and Grace Dial Center for Written and Oral Communication assists in preparing University of Florida students to speak and write effectively using the major conventions governing the presentation of knowledge in their chosen disciplines.
Additionally, the students gain an understanding of the importance of communicating information from within their discipline to general audiences.
Our classes are separated in to two areas, written and oral courses in communications. Our written communication courses focus on working with other disciplines including political science, prelaw, sociology and the health professions.
We offer a minor in Communications Studies and offer a variety of communication and speech courses. Our Public Speaking — SPC2608 — classes both fulfill a part of the minor and are a required course in many majors at UF. Our upper division courses in communication studies offer students the opportunity to hone skills they can draw on in all parts of their lives. Our classes focus on the skills that might prepare students for the business world.
The Dial Center hosts the Public Speaking Lab in Rolfs 415 to assist the university community members in preparing for public speeches and presentations. The Center also offers a special one-credit-hour course called the SPA — the Speech in Public Anxiety Lab with Dr. Kim McCall to help students overcome any fear and anxiety they have about speaking in public.
Located on the 4th floor of Rolfs Hall, the Dial Center is the home of UF’s Speech and Debate Team.