Westchester Community CollegeVisual Arts Program Debriefing Presentation

February 2015

Overview

Visual Arts A.A.S.

Students/Program

Strengths

Challenges/Actions

Digital Art Certificate

Students/Program

Strengths

Challenges/Actions

Art Club field trip to PS1, Queens

Approximately 200-230 enrolled majors

Art History students taking a test

General Education students

Commencement, 2013

Goal: art school transfer

Portfolio Day, 2014

Portfolio-based admission

Art Club Comic Jam event

Most students enter program with limited skills

Long lines at NPDA event, Boston, 2011

Must catch up with better prepared High Schools

students + 2 years of intensive training

Commencement, 2013

Student Success

70 % of the Fall 2013 Seminar have

completed their degree

Commencement, 2013

Participation in “Best of SUNY” art show

$1,000 Scholarships:

Sadi Rebsch, 2014

Yugan Chen, 2013

Vladimira Pipova, 2011

Qualified and dedicated faculty

Carla Rae Johnson at SGA Involvement Fair

Strengths

Erika Mahr (2D/Painting); Nicole Tschampel (Digital Photography/Film + Foundations)

New faculty

Strengths

Supportive administration

Dr. Joanne Russell at New Faculty Orientation

Strengths

Strong foundation

“satisfactory to high level of achievement”

Strengths

Strengthened drawing curriculum

Strengths

Graphic Design

Strengths

3D Design

Strengths

Digital Photography

Strengths

Improved outcomes in Art History

Strengths

• Preparation for transferPortfolio

Development

• Improve graduation ratesAdvisement

• Confidence buildingPersonal

Development

Visual Art Seminar

Strengths

Portfolio Day 2014

Portfolio Day

What they say

Brandon Garcia, Visual Art Seminar, Fall 2014

Vanessa Vargas, Visual Art Seminar, Fall 2014

Visual Arts A.A.S.

Students/Program

Strengths

Challenges/Actions

Challenges

Challenges

Contact hours

Challenge

Contact hours

Action

Investigate standards

Increase contact hours to

meet state and national

standards

Challenges

Challenges

Challenge

Inconsistent scoring

Action

Conduct assessment of Fall

2014 Seminar

(in progress)

Refine criteria

(in progress)

Strive for consensus

Challenges

Incomplete portfolios/poorly documented work

Challenge

Documentation of work

Action

Embed portfolio

documentation in all

classes

Purchase equipment

Provide technical support

Challenges

Premature assessment

Challenge

Premature assessment

Action

Conduct assessment in

final semester

Acquire software to

facilitate digital storage

and assessment

(Taskstream)

Challenges

Self-directed/conceptually developed work

Foundation

Level 1 elective

Level 1 elective

Level 1 elective

Level 1 elective

Foundation

Level 1 elective

Level 2 elective

Level 1 elective

Level 2 elective

Challenge

Self-Directed/conceptually

developed work

Action

Streamline electives

Create advanced “Studio

Practicum”

(in progress)

Require at least one level 2

elective

(in progress)

Challenges

Painting curriculum

Challenge

Weak painting curriculum

Action

Revise curriculum

(accomplished)

Set new benchmarks

(in progress)

Challenges

Verbal skills

Challenge

Verbal skills/articulate

about work

Action

Conduct professional

development workshops

on structuring and

assessing the critique

(in progress)

Create a departmental

“core vocabulary”

(in progress)

Challenges

Under-prepared/at-risk students

Challenge

Under-prepared students

Action

Create a Freshman

Seminar

(accomplished)

Early intervention strategies

Program benchmarks (?)

Challenges

Academic advisement

Challenge

Advisement

Action

Create a Freshman

Seminar

(accomplished)

Work more closely with

Admissions and Counseling

Challenges

Facilities/open-studio access

Challenge

Dedicated painting studio

and open studio access

Action

Reconfigure AAB 4th floor

studios (professional

consultant)

Challenges

Studio safety

Challenge

Studio safety

Action

Increased tech support,

under the supervision of a

Lead Tech

Challenges

Digital technology

Challenge

Digital technology

Action

Create a dedicated Mac

lab on the Valhalla

campus

Provide technical support

Digital Art Certificate

Overview

Strengths

Challenges/Actions

Students/Program

Professionally oriented program centered at

Peekskill Center for Digital Art

22 students have completed the program

since 2008

Several are now successfully employed in

local industries

Strengths

Some have launched successful freelance

careers

Strengths

Some are now Advisory Committee members

and a resource for jobs and internships

Strengths

Challenges

Challenge

Inconsistent scoring

Action

Assemble an Advisory

Committee to set

standards

Enlist help from Assessment

Committee

Challenges

Incomplete, unfinished, and abandoned

portfolios

Challenge

Incomplete/unprofessional

portfolios

Action

Comprehensive course

portfolio

Technical support

(Taskstream)

Challenges

Weak Graphic Design/Typography

Challenge

Weak Graphic

Design/Typography

Action

Require a course in

Graphic Design or

Typography

Challenges

•Workforce Development

•Adult ProfessionalsGoal

•Transfer to A.A.S. or other school

•High School StudentsGoal

Conflicting Goals

Data indicates the

most successful

students require more

training than a

certificate (previous

degree, or continued

on to A.A.S.)

Many students enrolled

in the wrong curriculum

Incorrect data is

skewing graduation

rates

Year #Majors Graduates

2001 100 13

2002 98 15

2003 90 12

2004 73 15

2005 68 13

2006 53 10

2007-2008 53 9

2008-2009 50 4

2009-2010 60 4

2010-2011 50 5

2011-2012 50 6

2012-2013 53 4

Declining enrollments

make it difficult to

sustain advanced level

classes

Year #Majors Graduates

2001 100 13

2002 98 15

2003 90 12

2004 73 15

2005 68 13

2006 53 10

2007-2008 53 9

2008-2009 50 4

2009-2010 60 4

2010-2011 50 5

2011-2012 50 6

2012-2013 53 4

Actions

Assess the sustainability and benefits of maintaining a

professional certificate program

Assemble a strong Advisory Committee to help re-design

curriculum

Consider a post-baccalaureate certificate

Extension Center Issues

Extension Center Issues

Impact

Lack of control over scheduling and curriculum

Adult and professional education incompatible with

“foundation” learning goals and outcomes

Conflicting directives