By Scott Rochat
rochat@emporiagazette.com
Flint Hills Technical College will cancel its commercial art program after this semester.
The college’s board of trustees voted Monday to kill the program. The school will work with students individually to help them finish their certificates or associate’s degrees.
“It’s not pretty. It’s not fun. Not at all,” President Dean Hollenbeck said after the meeting. “But you look at these issues. ... Student interest just wasn’t there for that program.”
The college’s commercial arts and graphic arts programs cover two sides of the same process. Commercial arts focuses mainly on designing images while graphic arts concentrates on producing them, but the two fields have a number of overlapping requirements.
At the start of the meeting, commercial arts instructor Sandra Timmons asked the trustees to keep the program. She noted that its retention rate has stayed between 80 and 95 percent, meaning that most students who enroll in commercial arts stay with the program.
“The commercial art program provides more to this college than meets the eye, producing huge amounts of marketing materials of all kinds for administration and other programs,” Timmons said, reading from a prepared statement. “I believe that this college needs a well-rounded offering of courses, which should include the creative visual arts.”
Timmons’ contract was non-renewed as part of the cancellation. The other instructor, Jason Brinkman, had only one-fourth of his contract non-renewed, since the rest of his work is for the graphic arts program.
The commercial art program has been on probation for four years, until it could pay for itself and retain at least 70 percent of its students. Retention did improve, instructional services dean Steve Loewen agreed, but the finances didn’t. In its best school year, 2005-2006, it lost $9,154. In each of the two years before that, it lost more than $20,000. This year, according to Hollenbeck, it’s in the red by $17,257.
Over the last 10 years, the program has averaged 19.3 students. But enrollment has been below that mark for the last four years, according to the college, ranging from 18 students in 2003-2004 to 13 students in both 2004-2005 and this year.
Commercial art was considered for cancellation in 2006 as well. Hollenbeck was still new to the presidency then and suggested the program be given another year. But now it was time to make the decision, he said.
“If we had worry beads, they’d be wore out,” he said.
Trustee Brad Kraft suggested that designers were still wanted, but that many companies were looking for them to have a four-year degree.
Hollenbeck said that while deleting a program isn’t pleasant, it could represent an opportunity for the college to add some new ones. A dental hygiene program is being considered by the Kansas Board of Regents and a welding program has been discussed.
“We’re not cutting programs just to cut programs,” he said.
Tuition change
Students at Flint Hills Technical College will pay $75 per credit hour in tuition next semester, regardless of class load.
The college’s trustees on Monday voted to do away with the tuition “ranges” that the school had used. Previously, students paid $85 per credit hour for up to six hours. Six to eight hours cost a flat $510, nine to 11 hours cost $765 and 12 to 18 hours cost $1,020 before the hourly rate resumed again.
“It’s a lot more equitable for our students and we’re getting a lot more in line with what other institutions are doing throughout the state,” said Lisa Kirmer, dean of student services.
The new rates will mean a savings for some students. Those enrolled in 12 credit hours, for example, would see their tuition drop from $1,020 to $900. On the other hand, those enrolled in 18 credit hours -- usually a nursing student or a double major for the tech college — would see tuition go up from $1,020 to $1,350.
The changes only affect postsecondary tuition. The rates for high school students taking classes at the technical college will remain unchanged.
Even in the case of increases, Kirmer said, the student might not be affected too much. At least 75 percent of the student body qualifies for either a partial or full Pell grant and those dollars are increasing from $4,050 per student to $4,310. In addition, she said, student loans are going up to $3,500 for freshmen (from $2,625) and to $4,500 for sophomores (from $3,500).
“I don’t think the students will notice the difference,” Kirmer said.
“Until they start paying the loans back,” trustee Jerry Fair said.
“True,” Kirmer said.
Comments
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hjcary (anonymous) says...
Hollenbeck, If you are considering adding programs how about an LPN to RN one year bridge program that was promised to us LPN students who graduated in July 1995. We were told when the program was added we would be able to return and get an associate RN degree with one more year of classes. I know you were not at the Tech School then but it sure was hyped up to us LPN students that graduated back then.
March 12, 2007 at 8:27 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tknaak (inactive user) says...
I went through the Commercial arts program in 1999 - 2001 and it was a bit behind on the times then. I heard that not much changed after I left either. The commercial art and graphic arts fields relies heavily on technology and to not keep up with it is a good sign of a declining program. I am sad to see it get dropped because I did learn my fair share, but it might have been the right time.
March 13, 2007 at 9:28 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
harjosgirl (anonymous) says...
This is disappointing to hear. I was a graduate of the program and it has provided me with many professional opportunities that I would not have had otherwise. Perhaps the college should focus some of its efforts on marketing its programs and services. Almost all universities and programs have a website that can generate dollars and students, has FHTC thought about this? One trip to their website might give light to why some people would "not bother" with attending their commercial arts/graphics programs. They need not rely on the programs to market themselves but rather have a marketing team that focuses on the end user and how to reach that individual. Resources were slim then and I can only imagine how they are now. It seems as it was not supported in a way to make it successful.
I do agree with the above poster that many positions require a 4 year degree. However, the position I am in now asked for a 4 year degree but because I had the work history and credentials to back it up I was given this position and beat out other individuals with a 4 year degree.
Also, I have lived in 2 heavily populated areas in the state, Wichita and KC/Lawrence and in both cities professionals in the industry have heard of the program at FHTC and sang it's praises...so it had the word of mouth going for it. Again, it goes back to the marketing practices. It should not rest solely on the instructors to market their programs, they need to have the support of individuals specifically for marketing as well as the administration. I wonder if the program had either of these. You have to sell the entire school and the community...not JUST the program if you want to have a successful outcome.
March 13, 2007 at 2:14 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mst (anonymous) says...
Hey Tony, when was the last time you came to visit the Commercial Art Program? People can say all kinds of things about it, but you would have to come and see for yourself that there have been (and would have continued to be) some major changes over the past several years since 2001!
Graphic Design will always have its basic coursework, no matter what college or university you attend, and this basic coursework is very adaptable to any of the newer formats, such as web design and animation/video production.
Technology, on the other hand, is amazingly hard to keep up with, and we have been doing a good job, especially with the funding issues we've had to grapple with over the past several years. The members of the Commercial Art Advisory Committee, all currently employed in the Commercial Art/Graphic Design field, have made sure that the technology we offer in our course work meets industry standards.
Brad Craft's comment regarding the need for a four-year degree to be successful in this field is just not right. Our graduates find employment according to their skills, and most of them are still working in the field. I recently took the freshman class to one of the leading advertising agencies in the country. The associate art director that gave us the presentation about the company, and the graphic design field in general, has an associate's degree and 11 years of experience. He confirmed to the class, once again, that it's your portfolio and skills that speak for you, not a bachelor's degree. Plus, you can spend less money and time at FHTC to get an associate's degree with the same results!
Keeping any program fresh and up to date takes hard work. It's a GROUP EFFORT and involves coordinating a lot of COLLABORATION, MONEY and TIME.
My thoughts regarding the current situation with the Commercial Art program? Disappointed, yes, but 'Nipped in the bud' is what really comes to mind.
March 14, 2007 at 2:08 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
coastdnt (anonymous) says...
Sad, I always thought school was about helping students learn, now it looks like we like to crush them. There are five or six part time students that are going to struggle to finish their technical degree, but two or three of them just enrolled this nine weeks, what are they supposed to do? Let me guess change their field of study, because the school doesn't offer what they want? Or why not just go to a different school that does...Duh thats what I would do because why stay if you don't get to study if you don't get to learn what you want?
I am a student of the Commercial Art program and I am discouraged because if the Board of Trustees for the school think that two year students can't get good jobs (career), then why would I think, when I get done I will get a job?
Fortunately we know that we can get a good job with a two year degree!
March 14, 2007 at 3:06 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )