The results from several studies indicate clearly that students, alumni, and employers of college graduates are far more aware of the importance of a wide range of oral communication skills than are college faculties and administrations. The belief that students develop sufficient oral communication skills before coming to college, or that they can develop them adequately without substantial formal training at the college level, is belied by the results of these many studies of students, alumni, and employers. If the need to maintain balanced speech programs (emphasizing both skills and nonskills courses) is recognized and acted upon, the results of these studies can help in many ways. The results can be used to support the need to build and maintain strong programs of speech communication and strong oral communication components in the general education requirements. Advisers who are aware of the results can do a better job of directing students into elective courses in speech communication, courses that can serve the students' professional needs. Perhaps most important of all, the results should provide some guidance to speech communication teachers who are searching for ways to strengthen curricula and make their courses more useful to students. (RL)