College converts graphic design program to department

After an evaluation from an independent consultant, the college granted department status to the graphic design program, which had previously operated under both the communication and fine arts departments. The department has added 15 new computers and several new courses to keep it competitive with other schools.

by Crystal Davis

design major, says she picked this departstaff writer ment because the work sounded interesting.

Web pages, brochures, business cards and letterheads.

These are just a few of the business forms of advertising students are learning how to create, design and lay out, thanks to Cabrini's new graphic design major.

The graphic design program, which was formerly grouped under the fine arts major, became its own department at the beginning of the Fall 1999 semester.

According to department chair Don Dempsey, the original graphic design program was grouped under both the communication department and fine arts department.

However, since Dempsey had to report to the heads of both departments, the program did not fully fit under either.

As a result, an independent consultant hired by the college came to the conclusion that the graphic design program should become its own department.

Dempsey described the graphic design department as "a hands-on major."

The graphic design department, he said, offers a chance for students to get experience through lab courses.

Students are able to create projects that they can later place in a portfolio for job interviews.

Karen Urbano, a sophomore and graphic

"I like to work with graphics on the computer," she said.

The new department has begun to make some significant changes based on an evaluation by Professor J. Charles Walker, chair of graphic design at Kent State University. The program has started to add more courses that relate to the foundations of graphic design.

The department has also acquired a new lab in a former communication department classroom and furnished it with 15 Apple G3 computers, funded through a federal grant to the college.

Previously, classes used the Power Macintoshes in the communications lab.

In exchange for the computers, the department made the lab available for high school students to take design courses as part of a program with the history department to prepare them for college.

According to Dempsey, the G3 computers are intended for use in graphic design programs.

''The computers can run the software very quickly, and the 21-inch monitors make it easy for students to see all of the palettes they need on the screen," he said.

Currently there are 30 students enrolled in the department.

Dempsey, who is the instructor for the graphic design courses, has hopes of at- tracting more students.

Dempsey said that he hopes to acquire another new instructor "to balance out the program."

At the same time, however, he said he is looking for someone who can collaborate with the communication and information science and technology programs to deliver courses for Internet computing. With these classes combined into one department, graphic arts students will be able to have a wide range of courses they can take.