Ferris has announced that the Kendall College of Art and Design will become the university’s official art and design college.
This change came after a 24-year partnership between FSU and KCAD.
KCAD merged with FSU in 2001 but continued operating separately from the university.
The “Kendall” name will remain with the college throughout this transition. The new official title is Ferris State University’s Kendall College of Art and Design.
Early last fall, the KCAD building in Grand Rapids became home to the Student Success Hub, providing students with greater Ferris resources.
Associate Vice President for Marketing and Communications David Murray stated that this change will help Ferris expand its presence in West Michigan.
“The move fits with the university’s ‘One Ferris State’ philosophy, with several locations with a shared mission and approach,” Murray said. “One goal is to align both academics and operations. For example, KCAD classes could also potentially be taught on the main campus.”
Murray further stated that this transition is still in the early stages, with details will continue to be coordinated in the months ahead.
Discussions continue about how the Grand Rapids KCAD campus will be utilized following this transition.
One option the university has explored is offering more opportunities at the KCAD campus that are seen on the main Big Rapids campus.
Murray also mentioned the possibility of expanding courses offered at the Grand Rapids Campus.
KCAD was originally founded in 1928 as a private art academy. The founder, David Wolcott Kendall, was a nationally known furniture designer, with Grand Rapids being the center of the industry at that time.
Graphic media management junior Drew Gendron-Wesley stated that the initial announcement of KCAD becoming Ferris left students in the unknown.
“When it was first brought to my attention, we were all kind of freaking out a bit,” Gendron-Wesley said. “They’re not really getting student input, especially since it affects us the most. Are we getting new professors? Are they merging the programs? Is the curriculum different?”
Gendron-Wesley was previously a graphic design major but switched to graphic media management. Despite the switch, Wesley stated that it is still unknown whether the university change will affect his new program.
Despite the confusion from students, Wesley mentioned that KCAD, as an official part of Ferris, could bring a broader audience to the art gallery and other events hosted by students in creative fields.
“Being branded under Ferris can broaden a lot of people’s networking,” Gendron-Wesley said. “Having Ferris support can let us do more.”
KCAD has been the latest addition to programs Ferris offers in Grand Rapids, with the College of Pharmacy program located on Medical Mile and several other programs offered in partnership with Grand Rapids Community College.
Design junior Emma Eling is excited to see what this transition will offer students in creative programs and networking opportunities.
“I think this will help make us a bigger community. I think design is kind of underrepresented,” Eling said. “There’s not a lot of opportunity at the career fair for design students. We still go, we still show up, but there’s not a lot for us. I think the merge will make us a bigger force.”
Eling also explained that the resources made available by a merger with KCAD may give students more to work with creatively and bring about opportunities to learn about the physicality of design.
Ferris has not announced what courses will be offered on the main campus or in Grand Rapids. Students can expect more information in the months to come.