School is back in session, and the School of Communications (SOC) students are eager to find their new home. At the end of the 2024-2025 school year, Howard announced that the MET Building, SOC’s former location, will cease all operations on campus.

The School of Communications has been divided into three areas: the Academic Advising Center, now located in Academic Support Building A; the Tech Center and Media, Journalism, and Film students are based at WHUT; and the Office of the Dean is situated on U Street.

The constant need to relocate to a new area on campus has, unfortunately, not been a new occurrence for students and faculty. In 1982, SOC started its journey in the C.B. Powell Building. Decades later, it relocated to the MET Building as a temporary location during renovations. The Academic Support Building A, located directly behind Locke Hall, has now become the newest location for classes and advising sessions.

Fortunately, the journey back to a permanent location is anticipated to happen sooner than expected. There is hope that once renovations are completed at the original location, SOC can finally return to its first home. However, there are speculations that SOC will be relocated to move off campus and into a newly rendered multipurpose building by 2028. If that does not happen, then students will remain at the current location.

With a new adjustment to the location, size, and overall operations of the ASA building, many students have expressed disapproval about classroom size alongside the inconvenience of multiple locations. Conversely, some students appreciated the idea of being back on campus with updated technology, utilities, and furniture.

Morgan Collins, a senior organizational communications major, expressed mixed emotions about the new move.

“At first, I was a little bit upset that we were moving the building as well as all the majors being split apart,” said Collins, “but with the ASA building, I do like how convenient it is on campus.”

Moving back on campus has made SOC more physically and socially convenient thanks to the proximity to other buildings on the Yard.

Timaya Pulliam, a Junior Legal Communications major, Sports Administration minor, hopes the new location can bring room for more engagement with student life.

“I enjoy being on the Yard. It feels like SOC is now physically a part of the overall student life,” Pulliam said.

Despite some students facing challenges locating the ASA building and adjusting to the new locations for both COMM and MJFC majors, this relocation has provided what many deem as a more convenient and accessible area for students to continue their academic pursuits.