Meeting of the Board of Regents | July 2008

THE STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT / THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK / ALBANY, NY 12234

 

TO:
FROM:	Johanna Duncan-Poitier
SUBJECT:	Master Plan Amendment:   Eugenio María de Hostos Community College of The City University of New York, Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree in Digital Design and Animation
DATE:	July 9, 2008
STRATEGIC GOAL:	Goals 2 and 4
AUTHORIZATION(S):

 

 

SUMMARY

 

Issue for Decision (Consent Agenda)

 

Should the Board of Regents approve an amendment to the master plan of The City University of New York authorizing Hostos Community College to offer an Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree program in Digital Design and Animation?

 

Reason(s) for Consideration

              Required by State regulation.

             

Proposed Handling

 

The question will come before the full Board at its July 2008 meeting where it will be voted on and action taken.

 

Procedural History

 

Master plan amendment is required because the proposed program will be the College’s first associate-level degree program in the disciplinary area of Fine Arts.

 

 

 

Background Information

 

Eugenio María de Hostos Community College of The City University of New York (CUNY) was established in 1968 to meet the higher educational needs of people from the South Bronx and similar communities who historically have been excluded from higher education.  Currently, 2,854 full-time and 2,019 part-time students are enrolled. 

 

Hostos offers noncredit and credit-bearing certificates and diplomas, the Associate in Arts (A.A.) degree, the Associate in Science (A.S.) degree, the Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree and the Associate in Occupational Studies (A.O.S.) degree.  Master plan amendment is needed because the proposed program will be Hostos’ first associate level degree in the discipline of Fine Arts.

 

The purpose of the proposed program in Digital Design and Animation is to prepare students for careers in business and industry in fields such as graphic design, web design, animation and motion graphics.  This program will provide Hostos graduates, nearly all of whom are students traditionally underrepresented in art/design and technology fields, with additional career opportunities in printing companies, advertising agencies, design studios and publishing firms. 

 

The proposed Digital Design and Animation curriculum is designed to provide students with the specialized knowledge, skills and hands-on experience now needed by creative professionals.  Students will complete 60 credit hours of undergraduate coursework, including 24 credits of general requirements, 15 credits of requirements for the major, 15 credits in a digital design sequence or an animation sequence, and 6 credits in restricted electives.  The requirements for the major include courses in digital media history and practice, drawing, color theory, 2D design and an overview of design software applications.  Students are required to undergo a portfolio review at the end of each semester. 

 

Hostos anticipates an enrollment of 15 students in the first year of the program, increasing to 84 students by the fifth year.  It expects that 75 percent of these students will be full-time and that the majority of the students are residents of the Bronx where the campus is located.  Although most new students will be entering Hostos directly from high school, the College does anticipate a number of students transferring from other institutions and from other majors within the College.

 

Hostos Community College has state-of-the-art computer laboratories already equipped with the hardware necessary to support this program.  The College anticipates the need to acquire software to support this new program.  Since new technologies are constantly emerging, Hostos will develop a plan to address upgrades in hardware and software in the future.

 

The faculty assigned full-time to the program are appropriately credentialed and have relevant professional experience.   Adjunct faculty will be utilized as needed.  

 

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for individuals with web design, graphic design and animation experience is expected to increase through 2016.  Some of this increase is expected to stem from the expansion of the video entertainment market, including television, movies, video, and made-for-internet outlets. Moreover, graphic designers with web site design and animation experience will be needed as demand increases for design projects for interactive media—web sites, video games, cellular telephones, personal digital assistants, and other technology. Demand for graphic designers will also increase as advertising firms create print and web marketing and promotional materials for a growing number of products and services.

 

The New York State Department of Labor projects the prospects for hiring in the graphic design field as “very favorable” through 2014 in the New York City area.  The mean entry level wage is $39,140 and the median wage is $57,610.

 

The Department canvassed all higher education institutions in New York City.  Seven institutions responded.  None raised any concerns about, or objections to, the proposed degree program.

 

Recommendation

 

It is recommended that the Board of Regents approve the amendment to the master plan of The City University of New York authorizing Hostos Community College to offer the Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree program in Digital Design and Animation.  This amendment will be effective until July 31, 2009, unless the program is registered by the Department prior to that date, in which case master plan amendment shall be without term.

 

Timetable for Implementation

 

If the Board of Regents approves the master plan amendment, the Department will register the program following gubernatorial approval, and the institution will proceed to recruit and enroll program students.