This paper provides an overview for a communication curriculum that has begun to include cultural diversity as part of its overall assessment process. First, the paper introduces the topic of assessment as it relates to cultural diversity and the student at-risk. Then the paper reviews the literature related to students at-risk and culturally-based differences in oral communication competency and public speaking. Next, the paper presents results of pre- and post-assessment of the oral communication competencies of students of diverse gender and ethnic backgrounds and students at-risk. The paper concludes with a discussion of the results of the assessment process and recommendations for further examination of the communication discipline's procedures for assessing oral competency. (Five tables of data are included; 47 references are attached.) (RS)