The Institute for Hispanic and International Communication

ihic

Mission

The Institute for Hispanic and International Communication (IHIC), a new initiative of the College of Mass Communications at Texas Tech University, promotes research and better understanding of Hispanic-related and international mass communication and the significant connections between them. The IHIC researchers’ goal is to inform and interact with groups including community organizations, representatives of communication industries, students and fellow researchers. The Institute supports on-campus activities and interdisciplinary collaboration as well as relationships with external organizations. Initially, the Institute for Hispanic and International Communication will take a regional focus with the objective of becoming a key repository for Hispanic-related mass communication research in Texas and the U.S. Southwest. As our experience and resources grow, we will broaden our attention to the entire Western Hemisphere. 

Advancing Academics

The IHIC’s principal mission is supporting education and research which we pursue by:

  • Offering Hispanic-related and international communication courses at Texas Tech.
  • Supporting Hispanic-related and international communication research at Texas Tech through outreach, collaborations and grant writing.
  • Identifying pertinent research on Hispanic and international communication.
  • Funding lectures, media screenings, and other events relevant to the goals and objectives of the Institute.
  • Collaboration with researchers in other academic departments of Texas Tech University and Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center.
  • Active involvement in university efforts to recruit and retain Hispanic and international students pursuing mass communications degrees.
  • Facilitating international exchange of faculty and students.


ihic

Resources

Affiliated Faculty and Graduate Students

EM&C 6315: Ethnic-Oriented Media

Links

Contact us

Informing and Interacting with Industry

The Institute’s faculty and graduate students strive to develop and maintain mutually-beneficial relationships with media organizations in the commercial and non-profit sectors by:

  • Providing basic information regarding demographic and mass communication trends and preferences among Hispanics in Texas and the U.S. Southwest.
  • Identifying pertinent research on trends of Hispanic and international communication.
  • Helping place promising young professionals in internships and jobs related to Hispanic and/or international communication. Sponsoring faculty and student attendance at professional conferences.
  • Encouraging industry and non-profit representatives to attend College lectures and other events. Connecting with Community IHIC-affiliated faculty and students understand that many academic endeavors may benefit individuals and communities. We encourage service to the community through
  • Active involvement in university efforts to recruit and retain Hispanic students who will become community leaders.
  • Participation in outreach events such as back-to-school fairs and education summits sponsored by the Texas Tech alumni group, Raiders Rojos.
  • Involvement in collaborative research with the Texas Tech Health Sciences Center to improve public understanding of threatening diseases such as obesity and diabetes.

Institute Activities in 2006-07

  • Secured and administered a $50,000 seed grant to study the effectiveness of diabetes-related media messages among rural Hispanic populations in West Texas.
  • Collaborated on multidisciplinary research projects concerning community-based media, pandemic flu and health organization management.
  • Initiated an annual series of lectures by experts in Hispanic and/or international communication.
  • Organized and co-sponsored a media production exhibit at an education summit for local junior and senior high school students.
  • Launched a Spanish-language interest group among faculty and students in the College of Mass Communications.