Last week the Torch interviewed students in print management to get their thoughts on upcoming changes in the program.
In a follow up to last week’s article, Pat Klarecki, professor in the printing and imaging technology program, discussed some of the changes.
Klarecki said in the last 15 years, there has been a revolution of a printer’s job of putting ink on the paper and having it delivered. Some of the changes include thick retail store catalogs such as JCPenney and Sears no longer being available.
Klarecki said it is no longer print effective to make these catalogs when databases on an individual’s preferences are available.
“Our grads are going into the jobs that are helping to automate the decision process–who gets what,” Klarecki said. He said a more diverse level of knowledge as well as a higher degree of business, such as knowledge of finance and statistics, is needed.
Klarecki said the college of technology doesn’t really offer the area for students to get a degree.
New media printing and publishing (NMPP) and print management are being combined into one bachelor’s degree which will be known as graphic media management. Klarecki said there are 12 open credits for students who were going down the NMPP path such as ISYS, and those on the print management track can take classes in the College of Business.
Students who are unsure have options for public relations, international businesses, advertising, statistics and numerical analysis.
Klarecki said they have been working on these changes for five years. Although some students have expressed uncertainty regarding the changes, Klarecki said human beings by nature resist change.
At an informational meeting held last week for students in NMPP and print management, Klarecki said there was some angst and fear of the unknown.
Some students were concerned with the idea of where the classrooms are going to be and if a desired class is not offered. He said the meeting took place to answer some of those questions.
Klarecki noted there will be another meeting in March or April. Digital output and computer labs in the College of Business are yet to be determined.
“We would really like to relocate our presses,” Klarecki said. A significant amount of space is needed to be able to support the weight of the presses.
As for where location of the presses will be, that is yet to be determined.
“It might be a couple of years, a lot of those questions we don’t have answers for yet,” Klarecki said.
Another question that has arisen is the fate of the Swan Bridge, which Klarecki said is an issue.
“The officials in charge of making that decision said it will come down; there is no time frame yet,” Klarecki said. He said he would prefer to work with the physical plant to strategically locate a place instead of moving for the sake of taking the bridge out.
Klarecki said he has been assured by university officials the bridge is safe and not a safety factor for weight load. The only concern is the debris, but there was a barrier built to prevent the debris from injuring anyone. It might be two or three years before the bridge is taken down; there are no official plans yet.