At the 1972 annual meeting of the Speech Communication Association, a group of communication students and scholars met to discuss what their departments are designed to accomplish. The purpose of this Action Caucus was to develop a model mission statement for communication departments located in urban settings. Three conclusions are warranted from observing the efforts of the Action Caucus: there is an interest among communication scholars in tailoring research, teaching, and community service activities to meet the needs of urban living; the Action Caucus is a small step toward reshaping the priorities and pursuits of urban-located departments; and the model of the caucus itself may illustrate how convention programs of the future may be conducted. The work begun by the Action Caucus promises to define new and important directions for research, teaching, and community service activities in urban-located departments, including the elimination of artificial interdepartmental barriers. (Author/RB)