NEW PROGRAM PROPOSAL: ACTION AFA IN VISUAL ART Agenda Item J-5d OWENSBORO COMMUNITY AND TECHNICAL COLLEGE June 14, 2014 Recommendation That the Board of Regents approve an Associate in Fine Arts (AFA) in Visual Art for Owensboro Community and Technical College (OCTC) to be implemented in fall 2013. Rationale The proposed AFA degree is consistent with the missions of the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) and Owensboro Community and Technical College and supports the statewide postsecondary education strategic agenda and the statewide strategic implementation plan. The evidence of demand for the AFA degree is clear through the level of interest shown by OCTC students. A survey was administered to 31 students who were currently enrolled in studio and art history courses. The results indicated that out of 31 students, 21 were interested in pursuing the AFA degree. As an occupation the demand for the visual artist is clear when realized, virtually all aspects of visual communication in society is delivered by the hands of an artist. In Owensboro alone the concept is realized by 10 commercial art businesses, a wide array of corporations that employ the skills of graphic artists, and institutions and galleries that promote the work of the fine artist. According to the National Association of Schools of Art and Design, visual artists held about 208,000 jobs in 2009. Nearly 6 out of 10 were self-employed. Self-employed visual artists either are graphic designers who freelance, offering their services to advertising agencies, publishing houses, and other businesses, or fine artists who earn income when they sell a painting or other work of art. The AFA degree s primary purpose is for transfer into a BFA program. However, the types of jobs available for graduates are: art conservators, illustrators, cartoonists, museum and gallery curators, exhibition designers, graphic designers, architectural design and restoration, commercial photographers, interior designers, digital animators, master printers, arts facilities managers, education, art therapy, and arts administration. The average wage at the local level is $28,000 annually with 4 anticipated job openings; the average wage at the state level is $34,000 annually with 16 anticipated job openings. The 60 credit hour Associate in Fine Arts (AFA) in Visual Art degree program is designed for students who plan to transfer to a four-year institution in order to pursue a BFA in the Visual Arts and/or a career in arts-related areas requiring pre-professional credentials. The program includes general education requirements, visual arts foundation courses in drawing, design, and art history, as well as a wide variety of studio art electives. Students will focus on the development of artistic skills and a visual vocabulary for personal expression, while exploring both traditional and nontraditional art areas. Classes will also encourage analytical and creative problem-solving skills and experience in both verbal presentation of ideas and critical concepts. A personal portfolio of artwork will be a tangible result of a student completing this program. All funds used for the program will be reallocated from existing budget line items of the OCTC Art Department. Any additional courses added will be offset by enrollment. Funding for any additional items or projects will be pursued through grant proposals and donations. 107
Background According to the Kentucky Public Postsecondary Education Diversity Policy and Framework for Institution Diversity Plan Development, Owensboro Community and Technical College has automatic eligibility. An executive summary of the proposal is attached. A copy of the full proposal has been forwarded to each member of the Board s Academic Affairs and Curriculum Committee. 108
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Associate in Fine Arts in Visual Art Owensboro Community and Technical College A Proposal for Initiation of a New Degree Program Centrality to the Institution s Mission and Consistency with State s Goals The objectives of the Associate in Fine Arts (AFA) in Visual Art support the institutional mission and strategic priority in a number of ways. Creative thinking, innovation, and excellence in the liberal arts are met by the AFA in Visual Art due to the very nature of the courses and the level of expertise generated by the faculty. One of the primary characteristics of the visual art courses encompasses the concept of problem solving. Bringing something forth into the physical realm that was originally an idea is the primary basis of the studio art courses within the AFA program. This involves high levels of creativity and innovation. OCTC s faculty promote original thought based on a well-rounded understanding of what has come before and contemporary approaches; coupled with technical skills, the outcome is excellence. The AFA in Visual Art is designed to meet the KCTCS strategic objective to increase student access, transfer, and success. It provides a creative, experiential focused degree option that is convenient, economical, and academically sound for students seeking to transfer into a BFA degree or to concentrate their studies toward a specific area of visual arts. The KCTCS strategic objective to advance excellence and innovation in teaching, learning, and service will be enhanced through the AFA degree option in visual art based upon its focus on active learning, enhanced student/faculty interaction, and the support for learners which will be provided through our collaborative resources and focus to transfer. The program will provide new options to students wishing to pursue studies leading to additional degrees such as the BFA into the terminal Master in Fine Arts (MFA). The AFA in Visual Art will open another portal for Kentucky CPE Policy Objective 4.1, maximizing KCTCS s role as a high quality, low-cost provider of postsecondary education and transfer opportunities and encouraging college access and success. Providing a flexible, transferable degree option to encourage students seeking focused visual arts studies will encourage students who otherwise may not feel that college is a viable option to seek and complete a college degree. Program Quality and Student Success The Associate in Fine Arts (AFA) in Visual Art follows the curriculum guidelines stated by KCTCS. It consists of a general education requirement of 24 credit hours, a fine arts core of 18 credit hours in visual art, and 18 additional credit hours of concentration in visual art studio electives, resulting in 60 total degree credit hours. OCTC has worked closely with Brescia University and has initiated a 2 + 2 transfer program; all other regional public and private colleges and universities fully transfer OCTC art courses. Internationally, OCTC has also developed a close relationship with the Palacky University in the 109
Czech Republic; OCTC is currently working on a student exchange. Through this relationship, graduates would be able to transfer directly into the Palacky art program and complete a BFA equivalent degree. In keeping with OCTC s commitment to global awareness and cultural diversity, the AFA will incorporate courses that allow students to study abroad through OCTC s Summer Studies Program in Central Europe. OCTC will continue to develop and support art history and studio courses that are currently established through our institution to meet this objective. Program Demand/Unnecessary Duplication The evidence of demand for the AFA degree is clear through the level of interest by our students, which is reflected in the local survey. The survey was administered to 31 students currently enrolled in studio and art history courses and indicates that out of 31 students, 21 are interested in pursuing the AFA degree. The OCTC art program has continually grown in students, faculty, facilities and course offerings. Our students have an active Art Club that supports the mission of OCTC. Students are now exhibiting their artworks on an international level for the first time. Graduates are going on to further their studies, many of whom have now completed Master of Arts and Fine Arts degrees. The AFA is a degree for transition to the BFA degree. Individuals seeking this degree are dedicated individuals pursuing careers as sculptors, painters, printmakers, ceramicists, art educators, illustrators, conservationists, medical/scientific illustrators, fashion artists, cartoonists, animators, graphic designers, and art directors. As an occupation the demand for the visual artist is clear when realized, virtually all aspects of visual communication in society is delivered by the hands of an artist. In Owensboro alone the concept is realized by 10 commercial art businesses, a wide array of corporations that employ the skills of graphic artists, and institutions and galleries that promote the work of the fine artist. According to the National Association of Schools of Art and Design, visual artists held about 208,000 jobs in 2009. Nearly 6 out of 10 were self-employed. Self-employed visual artists either are graphic designers who freelance, offering their services to advertising agencies, publishing houses, and other businesses, or fine artists who earn income when they sell a painting or other work of art. Many colleges and universities offer degree programs leading to BFA and MFA degrees. This is the primary line of study for the AFA degree student. Employment of visual artists is expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations. Because the visual arts attract many talented people with creative ability, the number of aspiring visual artists continues to grow. Consequently, competition for both salaried jobs and freelance work in some, but not all, areas of visual arts is expected to be keen. The anticipated job openings at the local and state levels are 4 and 16, respectively. Median annual earnings of salaried art directors were $63,840 in May 2009. The middle 50 percent earned between $47,890 and $88,120. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $35,500; and the highest 10 percent earned more than $123,320. Median annual earnings were $66,900 in advertising and related services. Median annual earnings of salaried craft artists were $23,520 in May 2009. The middle 50 percent earned between $25,990 and $51,730 with the lowest 10 percent earning less than $17,390 and the highest 10 percent earning more than $68,860. According to the Association of Medical Illustrators, the median earnings in 2009 for salaried medical illustrators were $59,000. 110
Median annual earnings of salaried multi-media artists and animators were $50,360 in May 2009. The middle 50 percent earned between $37,980 and $70,730. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $29,030; and the highest 10 percent earned more than $94,260. Median annual earnings were $67,390 in motion picture and video industries and $46,810 in advertising and related services. Cost and Funding of the Proposed Program Owensboro Community and Technical College has the facilities, equipment, and faculty available to support the program. All funds used for the program will be reallocated from existing budget line items of the OCTC Art Department. Any additional courses added will be offset by enrollment. Funding for any additional items or projects will be pursued through grant proposals and donations. Program Review and Assessment Owensboro Community and Technical College s review and assessment of the AFA in Visual Art will include, but not be limited to, the following. The college will annually review the program. The following may be consideration components: Graduation/completion rate data. Graduate transfer/employment data. Individual class performance testing. Attainment of student learning outcomes. Student satisfaction surveys. Advisory board and/or receiving institution feedback. Internal peer review. These data are used to provide an overall view of program effectiveness and attainment of student learning outcomes. Information obtained through the review process is used to close the loop. This leads to program improvement and increased performance and effectiveness. Program faculty members are annually reviewed by their division associate dean. Teaching effectiveness is evaluated through student evaluation of instruction. As a new associate degree program, the results of the annual college program review will also be forwarded to the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education (CPE) staff for review after three years. Upon a successful Council review, the program will be placed on the regular five year CPE institutional program review cycle. Conclusion The proposed AFA program is consistent with the missions of KCTCS and OCTC and supports the statewide postsecondary education strategic agenda and the statewide strategic implementation plan. There is an approved curriculum for the program. Local and state needs support the establishment of this program. A program evaluation plan is being developed, and OCTC has resources available to implement this program. 111
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