INTERNAL PROGRAM REVIEW - Executive Summery

Market Trends

The last decade has seen spectacular advances in business and personal
computer technologies with continued sophistication of computer design software.
This has fueled a market expansion of productivity in Computer Graphic Design Industries nationwide. The Print and Pre press industry have experienced a revolution in electronic
and digital technologies requiring a highly skilled computer literate labor force. The
United States labor statistic sees a labor market demand increase of 75% for
Computer Graphic Design Specialist over the next decade.

In addition, the Telecommunications and Informational Technology revolution has
arrived and is moving towards Worcester. In 1999, $1.4 billion in venture capital flowed
into the state spreading among 144 companies, including 91 million in Central
Massachusetts making Massachusetts second only to California in expanded
growth of Internet and Information Technology. Industries demand for a skilled
computer trained work force of 1500 to 3000 Web site designers, maintenance, and administrators over the next decade. The average annual wage in the Informational
Technology Industry is $52,000 as compared with the average annual income in
Worcester in 1998 of $32,178.

Program Revamping

This explosion in the Informational Technology Industry has resulted in an Applied Arts Program
curricular revamping, with 9 redesigned APA courses introduced creating a new field of study called,
"Computer Graphic Design for Print and Internet Publishing."

The cutting edge APA program provides working competencies in advanced electronic and digital design technologies supplying a computer based curriculum for students seeking career opportunities in Mass-
achusetts Computer Graphic Design Industries. Graduates are currently employed in 80% of Graphic
Design, Pre press and Printing Industries in the region.

Industries

The Central Massachusetts Graphic Arts Industry includes printing, pre press and preflight technologies, advertising and corporate identity promotion. The revised APA curriculum now addresses the market of
electronic publishing and Internet based Web site design. The APA degree prepares majors for careers
in traditional print design and Internet based electronic publishing. Electronic publishing career include
Web page and web site production with multimedia and animation designing Internet sites for business, advertising, entertainment, education and public service.

Computer Graphic Design artists utilize digital technologies to produce designs, symbols, typography,
illustrations and photography for use in print and electronic publications to communicate ideas to a world
market. Web publishers, newspapers, magazines, ad agencies and manufacturers all use in-house or
freelance design specialists in the promotion and sales of their products.

Curriculum

The APA courses provides a progressive framework of computer hardware and software competencies to
meet Quinsigamond's general education core curriculum goals for measurable proficiency in Technology Applications and Electronic Resources. Assignment critiques and peer review of projects meet general
education goals for measurable proficiency in Oral Communication and Teamwork. Upon graduation
students will have spent over 1600 hours on the computer with the following definable student outcomes
and graduation competencies:

1) Achieve computer proficiency based on measurable industry standards in the following design
software programs: Adobe PhotoShop, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe PageMaker, Adobe InDesign,
Adobe LiveMotion, Adobe GoLive, Adobe ImageReady, QuarkXpress and Wacom Digital
Media to produce designs, symbols, typography, Illustrations and photography for promotion and
sales of products in the global marketplace of print and Internet publications.

2) Achieve computer hardware proficiency in Internet and Intranet networking and navigation;
Macintosh computer systems; support devices such as scanners, printers, portable and internal
storage; in 35mm SLR and digital camera operation; and compact disk formatting.

3) Develop a professional portfolio of printed and electronic materials reflecting computer graphic
design proficiency that meet industry standards for career placement and academic transfer to a
baccalaureate degree institution.

4) Students are required to take 21 liberal arts credits including College English, Art Theory and
math. The Applied Arts Program curriculum thus integrates academic, career, and technology
training goals in computer graphic design with the colleges core curriculum goals of academic
integrity, communication skills, computational, technological and analytical skills competencies.

The APA curriculum reflects the Quinsigamond Community College Mission and vision to mold a techno-
logically literate, yet humane, citizenry, able to thrive, not just survive, in the world as global village. The
Program curriculum has established a consistent student retention rate of 90%, graduating students with
a median GPA of 3.52. The APA transfer rate sees 50% of our graduates matriculating to state colleges
and universities with four-year degree programs at Framingham State, Fitchburg State, Westfield State
and Salem State College, Massachusetts College of Art and each University of Massachusetts campus.

Occupations

APA graduates are currently employed:

1) Computer Graphic Design: Advertising Agencies. Corporate Identity Promotion, Newspaper Advertising
and Publications. Publishers. Graphic Design Agencies. Printing Industry. Manufacturing. Public and
Community Organizations.

2) Photography: Production Photographer consumer products, High school Yearbook, Corporate
Identity and yearly report. Photo retouching – color correction and manipulation. Production
specialist – development and printing. Photo Promotional and Reproduction sales.

3) Pre press and Preflight: Software Specialist. High Resolution Scan Operator. Color Specialist.
Electronic Platemaker. Internet File Specialist. Digital Printing. Software Troubleshooting.

4) Educational Computer Lab Manager. Grade, Middle, High schools, and College level.

5) Web page and Web site Designer / Maintenance / Administrator.