IWU to Acquire Radio Station from Church

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has approved a request to transfer the license of WCWC-FM (94.3) from College Wesleyan Church to Indiana Wesleyan University.

The church began operating WCWC in 2002 as part of a new low-power FM service created by the FCC to increase community-based broadcasting. In 2006, church leaders decided that managing the station was no longer in its best interest and requested the license transfer jointly with IWU officials.

IWU will operate the station as a community service and educational training facility for students studying media communication.

WCWC will be off the air beginning July 1 as station facilities are moved to a new academic building that is under construction at 40^th and Washington streets. The station will return to the air with the start of classes in September.

The new academic building will feature a media center that will house the Communication Arts Department, WIWU-TV51, The Sojourn student newspaper, two television studios, control rooms and digital production labs.

Facilities for WCWC-FM will include an on-air studio, production and interview studios and staff offices. The academic building is to be completed in August.

College Wesleyan also is building a new church that will be located adjacent to the academic building. Both the church and IWU are operated by The Wesleyan Church, which has its international headquarters in Fishers, Ind.

IWU has operated WIWU-TV51 for 15 years and has been seeking opportunities to add radio to its broadcast outlets. While the TV station is professionally managed with full-time staff, WCWC radio will be student managed, creating opportunities for leadership training as well as production and performance.

"With WCWC on the air, we will have one of the most well-rounded media programs you will find at any Christian college in the country," said Dr. Randall King, Director of Broadcast Media and Professor of Communication. "We want our students to move between radio, television, print and online media with great professional skill."

King anticipates that the station will offer a mix of contemporary Christian music and locally based programming as it grows in student staffing and expertise.

"Our focus with radio will be just as with WIWU-TV: the local community," King said. "We will challenge our student leaders to see what we can do on the radio that is unique to Marion and Grant County. Our mission is to serve the listeners here at home and provide a professional environment for students learning media skills."