This paper calls for the standardization of the speech communication basic course at large universities where many sections are taught a semester by graduate students and adjunct faculty. The paper discusses the faculty vision for a standardized basic communication course and suggests that standardization is one of the ways that communication faculty can ensure that speech communication as a discipline can become known for its substantive, integral nature. The paper offers a rationale for standardizing the basic course and discusses what constitutes a standardized course, i.e.: (1) a syllabus designating a minimum number of required chapters from a text/workbook; (2) activities with criteria for grading; (3) tests created by a director or combination of faculty; (4) a teacher-training seminar; (5) feedback from instructors; (6) analyzed statistics regarding attendance and grades; (7) director-analyzed results of instructor and student quantitative and qualitative evaluations; and (8) a central testing center with tests given on approximately the same dates. Arguing that the public must be educated about the discipline, the paper calls for a continued active and high-profile view of communication from its professional organizations. The paper concludes with some predictions and projections. (TB)