GRADUATE COUNCIL
Meeting Minutes | April 15, 2015
Attendees: Hector Flores; Christine Licata; James A. Perkins; Andreas Savakis; Donald
Wilson; John McCluskey; Thomas Trabold; Deanna Jacobs; Carol De Filippo; Stephanie
Ludi; Karel Shapiro; Kshitij Jagdish Luthria; Stephanie Rankin; Charles Border; Chris
Jackson (note taker); Sean L Rommel
Guests: Christine Heusner; Barbara Birkett, Twyla Cummings, Lorraine Justice
1. Annoucements
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Five more meeting days left
Need updates/reports from the Graduate Council sub-committees
Joe will reach out the contact people for the sub-committees
for upcoming meeting reports
2. New Program Proposal | MS in Media Arts & Technology
Presentation from Media Sciences | College of Imagine Arts & Sciences:
 Christine Heusner
 Barbara Birkett
 Lorraine Justice
 Twyla Cummings
1. Distinction between the two graduate MS programs:
Print Media
Media Arts & Technology
Research Focus
Application/Project Management
Narrow Focus:
Emphasis on Printing Technology
Broader Focus:
Overview of the Printing Industry
including Web and Social Media
Thesis:
Research
Capstone:
Process and Problem-solving
Recruitment: undergraduates with a
strong focus on printing and graphic
communications
Recruitment: undergraduates from
graphic design, photography, and
visual media
2. QUESTION: Who/what is an Information Architect?
ANSWER: An information architect is a new industry term that describes a
person who deals with digital assets management for the Web and Social Media.
3. QUESTION: How will Media Sciences clarify the distinction between
the two graduate programs in marketing/recruitment literature?
ANSWER: Media Sciences is currently working on updating the Graduate
Bulletin/Catalog to clarify the distinction between the two MS programs.
4. QUESTION: Both the MS Print Media Thesis and MS Media Arts &
Technology Capstone equal 6 credits. Why 6 credits, and how does that
emphasize a research-intensive curriculum?
ANSWER: The student focus is different – thesis is research intensive while the
capstone focuses more on process and application.
5. QUESTION: How does the curriculum map to the program’s goals?
ANSWER: The course PPRT-721 Implementing Media Business Change
addresses the goals of the program.
6. QUESTION: Is Media Sciences putting too much weight on one class
to match the program’s goals?
ANSWER: The course PPRT-704 Research Methods & Trends in G.M.
will also diverge from content related to a formal thesis to content relevant
to a capstone project. The course PPRT-602 Tone and Color Analysis
addresses color related to digital media – the Web and Social Media.
7. QUESTION: Isn’t the proposed MS program only a subset of the existing
MS Print Media program? There is a lot over overlap between the two
programs.
ANSWER: There is overlap between the two programs. It makes sense for
duplication for core content. However, there are four different courses (including
Capstone) in the proposed new MS program that shift the focus from an in-depth
research approach (MS Print Media) to process and application (Media Arts &
Technology). These four courses have a very different direction and focus. This
sets the distinction between the two MS programs. One group of students will
branch off into a more research-focused area of study (MS Print Media), while
the other group of students will branch off to an application-focused area of study
(Media Arts & Technology). The MS Print Media program is narrow in focus on
print only. The MS Media Arts & Technology proposed program is broader in
focus and opens up the content to processes/management related to social
media and web (other than print).
8. QUESTION: What are the downsides to having the proposed program
become an option/track in the existing MS Print Media program?
ANSWER: It needs to be two different programs. The first reason is recruitment;
the proposed program is looking for a different group of students. Secondly,
companies that are hiring Media Sciences’ students are looking for different skills
that the proposed program addresses. Also, the MS Print Media program attracts
more international students. The proposed Media Arts & technology program
seeks to recruit more national students.
9. QUESTION: What is the demand for the program?
ANSWER: Media Sciences can provide information on this.
10. QUESTION: Why not join/collaborate with Saunders College of Business?
ANSWER: The proposed Media Arts & Technology program is not intended to be
a business degree. It is not targeting business students and not the right fit now.
Proposals are in the works for more joint opportunities between the College of
Imaging Arts & Sciences and the Saunders College of Business. Students
enrolled in the proposed MS program can take their elective courses from the
College of Business. Media Sciences requested a list of business courses that
students could take as electives.
11. QUESTION: If the Saunders College of Business is not a good fit, then
shouldn’t references to business management be removed from the
proposal?
ANSWER: Page 64 references “promoting the management, operational and
organizational aspects.” These reference terms related to Media Sciences. All
colleges are trying to be protective of terms, such as “design.”
CLOSED DISCUSSION COMMENTS
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A grad council member likes the idea, but feels the curriculum is shortsighted in
its execution.
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Today’s presentation rationalized concerns without fully addressing them.
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Are these really two separate degrees? Perhaps the real focus should be on
restructuring the MS Print Media program.
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Do not see the specialization.
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The concept is good, but the execution is weak.
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The needs/demands for the program need to enlarged for the proposal
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The case for distinction needs to be expanded on more
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The Offices of Graduate & Part-time Enrollment Services favor the program.
The School of Design’s MFA Visual Communication Design program has over
150 applicants that cannot all be accepted into that MFA program.
The overflow can go to the new proposed MS program.
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Send Joe pros and concerns regarding the proposed MS Media Arts & Technology
program. Joe will gather all the comments and draft up a response to Media Sciences