The Metropolitan Online - October 2005 - New student group gets fired up for success

Metropolitan State University Technical Communications students, alumni and staff have established a networking organization called TC3: Twin Cities, Technical Communications, Technical Community. The initial meeting took place Saturday, Sept. 10 in the Department of Communications, Writing and the Arts Office on the Midway Campus.TC3’s mission is to serve as a learning and networking community to promote the exchange of ideas among technical communications’ professionals and Metropolitan State University technical communications’ students. Students and alumni of all majors are welcome, particularly those who engage in or plan to engage in writing professionally—either creative or technical materials, print or electronic media.

Students and alumni enthusiastically brainstormed about future programs to motivate, inform and offer networking opportunities for communications professionals. Future meetings include plans for panel discussions, workshops, software demonstrations, member presentations, and a variety of special events.

One attendee, a student of creative writing and public relations, queried the group to understand what exactly is technical communication. A hail of definitions, long and short with a wide array of professional examples, poured from all the technical communications majors.

Generally, the group concluded that technical communication is any form of explaining a process in the simplest manner appropriate so that a given audience can readily understand and execute the process. Examples include instruction manuals, policy and procedures, reports, proposals, research papers, sales, customer service, training, brochures, newsletters, Web sites, public relations, etc.

All fields use technical communicators including corporations, nonprofits, small businesses, service industries, publications and academia. All professions benefit from improved communication skills whether it is verbal, written or electronic.

As one alumnus put it, “the art of good technical communication is taking the mud out of ‘clear as mud.’”

TC3’s next meeting is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 8, 2005, 10–11:30 a.m. in the Department of Communications, Writing and the Arts Office, 1380 Energy Lane, Midway Campus

All communicators—technical, creative, business or academic—are encouraged to bring their unique skills to the networking table and exchange ideas with other professionals seeking to build relationships and leverage opportunities in the communications marketplace.

For more information, call Alice at 651-483-1994.

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