Visual Arts Program Review Debriefing Presentation February 2015

1. Westchester Community College
Visual Arts Program Debriefing Presentation
February 2015

2. Overview
Visual Arts A.A.S.
 Students/Program
 Strengths
 Challenges/Actions
Digital Art Certificate
 Students/Program
 Strengths
 Challenges/Actions

3. Art Club field trip to PS1, Queens
Approximately 200-230 enrolled majors

4. Art History students taking a test
General Education students

5. Commencement, 2013
Goal: art school transfer

6. Portfolio Day, 2014
Portfolio-based admission

7. Art Club Comic Jam event
Most students enter program with limited skills

8. Long lines at NPDA event, Boston, 2011
Must catch up with better prepared High Schools
students + 2 years of intensive training

9. Commencement, 2013
Student Success

11. 70 % of the Fall 2013 Seminar have
completed their degree
Commencement, 2013

12. Participation in “Best of SUNY” art show

13. $1,000 Scholarships:
Sadi Rebsch, 2014
Yugan Chen, 2013
Vladimira Pipova, 2011

14. Qualified and dedicated faculty
Carla Rae Johnson at SGA Involvement Fair
Strengths

15. Erika Mahr (2D/Painting); Nicole Tschampel (Digital Photography/Film + Foundations)
New faculty
Strengths

16. Supportive administration
Dr. Joanne Russell at New Faculty Orientation
Strengths

17. Strong foundation
“satisfactory to high level of achievement”
Strengths

18. Strengthened drawing curriculum

19. Strengths
Graphic Design

20. Strengths
3D Design

21. Strengths
Digital Photography

22. Strengths
Improved outcomes in Art History

23. Strengths
• Preparation for
transferPortfolio
Development
• Improve
graduation ratesAdvisement
• Confidence
buildingPersonal
Development
Visual Art Seminar

24. Strengths
Portfolio Day 2014
Portfolio Day

25. What they say

26. Brandon Garcia, Visual Art Seminar, Fall 2014

27. Vanessa Vargas, Visual Art Seminar, Fall 2014

28. Visual Arts A.A.S.
 Students/Program
 Strengths
 Challenges/Actions
Challenges

29. Challenges
Contact hours

30. Challenge
 Contact hours
Action
 Investigate standards
 Increase contact hours to
meet state and national
standards

31. Challenges

32. Challenges

33. Challenge
 Inconsistent scoring
Action
 Conduct assessment of Fall
2014 Seminar
(in progress)
 Refine criteria
(in progress)
 Strive for consensus

34. Challenges
Incomplete portfolios/poorly documented work

35. Challenge
 Documentation of work
Action
 Embed portfolio
documentation in all
classes
 Purchase equipment
 Provide technical support

36. Challenges
Premature assessment

37. Challenge
 Premature assessment
Action
 Conduct assessment in
final semester
 Acquire software to
facilitate digital storage
and assessment
(Taskstream)

38. Challenges
Self-directed/conceptually developed work

40. Foundation
Level 1
elective
Level 1
elective
Level 1
elective
Level 1
elective

41. Foundation
Level 1
elective
Level 2
elective
Level 1
elective
Level 2
elective

42. Challenge
 Self-Directed/conceptually
developed work
Action
 Streamline electives
 Create advanced “Studio
Practicum”
(in progress)
 Require at least one level 2
elective
(in progress)

43. Challenges
Painting curriculum

44. Challenge
 Weak painting curriculum
Action
 Revise curriculum
(accomplished)
 Set new benchmarks
(in progress)

45. Challenges
Verbal skills

46. 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)

47. Challenges
Under-prepared/at-risk students

48. Challenge
 Under-prepared students
Action
 Create a Freshman
Seminar
(accomplished)
 Early intervention strategies
 Program benchmarks (?)

49. Challenges
Academic advisement

50. Challenge
 Advisement
Action
 Create a Freshman
Seminar
(accomplished)
 Work more closely with
Admissions and Counseling

51. Challenges
Facilities/open-studio access

52. Challenge
 Dedicated painting studio
and open studio access
Action
 Reconfigure AAB 4th floor
studios (professional
consultant)

53. Challenges
Studio safety

54. Challenge
 Studio safety
Action
 Increased tech support,
under the supervision of a
Lead Tech

55. Challenges
Digital technology

56. Challenge
 Digital technology
Action
 Create a dedicated Mac
lab on the Valhalla
campus
 Provide technical support

57. Digital Art Certificate
Overview
 Strengths
 Challenges/Actions
 Students/Program

58. Professionally oriented program centered at
Peekskill Center for Digital Art

59. 22 students have completed the program
since 2008

60. Several are now successfully employed in
local industries
Strengths

61. Some have launched successful freelance
careers
Strengths

62. Some are now Advisory Committee members
and a resource for jobs and internships
Strengths

63. Challenges

64. Challenge
 Inconsistent scoring
Action
 Assemble an Advisory
Committee to set
standards
 Enlist help from Assessment
Committee

65. Challenges
Incomplete, unfinished, and abandoned
portfolios

66. Challenge
 Incomplete/unprofessional
portfolios
Action
 Comprehensive course
portfolio
 Technical support
(Taskstream)

67. Challenges
Weak Graphic Design/Typography

68. Challenge
 Weak Graphic
Design/Typography
Action
 Require a course in
Graphic Design or
Typography

69. Challenges
•Workforce
Development
•Adult Professionals
Goal
•Transfer to A.A.S. or
other school
•High School Students
Goal
Conflicting Goals

70. Data indicates the
most successful
students require more
training than a
certificate (previous
degree, or continued
on to A.A.S.)

71. Many students enrolled
in the wrong curriculum

72. 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

73. 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

74. 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

75. Extension Center Issues

76. Extension Center Issues
Impact
 Lack of control over scheduling and curriculum
 Adult and professional education incompatible with
“foundation” learning goals and outcomes
 Conflicting directives