This policy platform contains the positions officially endorsed by the researchers, teachers, and practitioners allied as the National Communication Association on issues vital to human communication. The Association is committed to include within this document only positions: (1) upon which the organization and membership have engaged in ample and careful deliberation; (2) upon which a substantial consensus of supporting knowledge has been developed; (3) addressing issues which have attracted the concerted inquiry of an acknowledged segment of the discipline, and (4) central to the contribution of communication to the health and richness of the human condition, or to the commitments of the membership to the study, teaching, or practice of communication.
- Extended Solitary Confinement and Torture (adopted 2010; reaffirmed 2018)
- Discontinuing the Use of Native American Logos, Mascots and Nicknames (adopted 2017)
- Resolution Regarding State Legislative Limits on Diversity and Inclusion (adopted 2017)
Public Policy Statements Platform Archive (click to expand)
The following public policy statements are no longer active because they are not currently central to the contribution of communication but are listed here for historic purposes.
- California’s Proposition 187 (adopted 1995; archived 2011)
- English as the Official Language of the United States (adopted 1996; archived 2012)
- Political Communication (adopted 1995; archived 2013)
- Digital Divide (approved 1999; adopted 2013; archived 2018)
This ethical statements platform contains the positions officially endorsed by the researchers, teachers, and practitioners allied as the National Communication Association related to general beliefs of right and wrong that can guide more specific decisions of the association and members of the discipline. The Association is committed to include within this document only positions: (1) upon which the organization and membership have engaged in ample and careful deliberation; (2) upon which a substantial consensus of supporting knowledge has been developed; (3) addressing issues which have attracted the concerted inquiry of an acknowledged segment of the discipline, and (4) central to the concerns of communication scholars and teachers.
- Credo for Ethical Communication (adopted 1999, reaffirmed 2017)
- Credo for Net Neutrality, Free and Responsible Use of Electronic Networks, and the Digital Divide (adopted 1994; revised 2013; revised 2018)
- Credo for Free and Responsible Communication in a Democratic Society (adopted 1963, revised 2011, reaffirmed 2017)
- Resolution Condemning White Supremacy in Political Discourse (adopted 2019)
- NCA Public Statement on the Insurrection of January 6, 2021 (adopted 2021)
This academic/professional statements platform contains the positions officially endorsed by the researchers, teachers, and practitioners allied as the National Communication Association related to issues that are vital to the professional endeavors of communication educators and scholars. The Association is committed to include within this document only positions: (1) upon which the organization and membership have engaged in ample and careful deliberation; (2) upon which a substantial consensus of supporting knowledge has been developed; (3) addressing issues which have attracted the concerted inquiry of an acknowledged segment of the discipline, and (4) central to the enhancement of the ability of communication educators/scholars to do their work effectively and/or to the enhancement of the stature of the discipline in the academy or more broadly.
- Resolution Supporting the Inclusion of the Foundational Communication Course in U. S. College and University Core Requirements (adopted April 2023)
- Statement Affirming the Importance of Academic Freedom within the Classroom (adopted by the Executive Committee March 2022)
- Statement on COVID-19 Pandemic (adopted by the Executive Committee, March 2020)
- NCA Statement on Free and Responsible Communication (adopted September 2019)
- Statement on the Protection and Defense of Academic Freedom and Freedom of Expression for Communication Scholars (adopted 2018)
- High School Communication Education (Speaking, Listening & Media Literacy) as a Graduation Requirement (adopted 2010; revised 2012, revised 2017)
- A Code of Professional Ethics for the Communication Scholar/Teacher (adopted 1999; reaffirmed 2017)
- Policy on Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination (adopted 1995; revised 2012, revised 2017)
- Statement on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (adopted 1995; revised 2012, revised 2017;revised 2018)
- Role of Communication Courses and Communication Faculty in General Education (adopted 1996; revised 2012, revised 2017; reaffirmed 2018)
Academic/Professional Statements Platform Archive
The following academic/professional statements are no longer active because they are not currently central to the contribution of communication but are listed here for historic purposes.
- Communication Across the Curriculum (approved 1996; archived 2012)
- Education Policy on ESL Coursework (approved 1997; archived 2012)
- Endorsing Comprehensive Language Arts (approved 1996; archived 2013)
- Opposing Campus Speech Codes (approved 1996; archived 2013)
- Standards for Speaking, Listening, and Media Literacy in K-12 (K-12 Speaking, Listening, and Media Literacy Standards and Competency Statements; approved 1996; archived 2013)
NCA Members are invited to submit resolution proposals for consideration by the Resolutions Committee by June 30. All proposed resolutions submitted by the June 30 deadline shall be published on the website prior to September 1. All resolutions are reviewed by the Resolutions Committee for its recommendation to the Legislative Assembly, who will review, deliberate, and vote on approval.
Please review the procedures for submission and review of public statement proposals or contact Justin Danowski, Interim Executive Director (jdanowski@natcom.org) with questions about submitting a proposal.
Resolutions Committee
- Curtis Ladrillo Chamblee, University of Memphis
- Margaret R. LaWare, Iowa State University
- Jacqueline Peters, Concordia University
- Amy Aldridge Sanford, Middle Tennessee State University
- Michelle T. Violanti, University of Tennessee
- Heather L. Walters, Missouri State University