Department of Art
Annual Unit Report on Implementation of Strategic Plan 2005
Department of Art
Degrees/majors offered
BA Studio Art
BSEArt Education
BSGraphic Design (formerly Commercial Art)
Year by Year Comparison of Faculty, Majors, and Graduates
__Calendar Year______
200220032004
Full-time Faculty FTE 666
Part-time Faculty FTE 4 44
Number of Majors 80 80 160
Number of Intended Majors 9089 42
Number of Graduates 201416
Year by Year Comparison of Applied Learning Activities
__Calendar Year______
200220032004
Number of Independent
Research/Projects 152530
Number of Practicum/Internships 15 919
Number of Performances/
Exhibition. 41 40 42
Year by Year Comparison of Community Service Activities
__Calendar Year______
200220032004
Number of Faculty Who
Gave Volunteer Service unkn55
Average Number of Faculty
Volunteer Hours per Month unkn3-68-10
Number of Community Groups
Faculty Served 131314
Number of Hours of Student
Community Volunteer Work
Facilitated by the Departmentunkn400
Number of Community Service
Projects Involving Students and
Facilitated by the Departmentunkn30
Department/Program Mission, Vision, Values
The Department of Art provides a foundation of knowledge and skills in the visual arts that will prepare students to practice art on a professional level. Students may elect the Bachelor of Arts degree program, which is designed to prepare practicing artist, the Bachelor of Science in Education degree program, which is designed for students who wish to teach art in the public schools, or the Bachelor of Science degree program with a major in Graphic Design which is intended to prepare students for a career in the graphic design field. Studio courses and historical-critical studies are an integral part of each program. Studio courses introduce the student to a wide variety of media and techniques while providing opportunities to deal with problems related to professional practice. Historical-critical studies acquaint the student with artistic styles, movements and aesthetic problems in art, and place them in historical perspective
Department Goals
The goals of the Department of Art are to prepare our students for the rigors and competition of the world of work, prepare them for graduate school or to simply create analytical thinkers who appreciate the culture of man and can contribute to the community-at-large in a productive manner.
Integration of Department and Institution Goals
(Please quantify your responses whenever possible)
Western Strategic Plan Goals
- Academic Affairs and Enrollment Management
- Goal Two: Develop a diverse mix of students with academic potential for completing high-quality programs.
Department response and outcomes: (recruitment activity and successes)
Since the department initiated the departmental entrance requirement consisting of ART 110 Beginning Drawing, ART 120 Two-Dimensional Design and ART 130 Tools and Techniques, which the prospective major must pass with at least a GPA in these three subjects of 2.5, the faculty has seen an increase in both retention and graduation in the three offered degrees.
This increase of art majors is a sign of a growing, vital department. However while we have increased the number of Declared Majors and stabilized our retention as well as increased our graduation rates, we have not increased number of faculty or studio space to accommodate the swell of students in our classrooms. We are not a discipline that can simply put more students into less space with decreased supervision. Our students are faced with safety issues similar to those in the Biosciences. The use of heavy machinery and toxic chemicals is common in our classes and a glut of students in a studio classroom is dangerous and untenable.
In spite of this problem, the faculty continues to seek the best students for the department. We contact any student who shows preference for the college and has an ACT over 20. The department chair makes personal calls to students and all faculty offer tours of the studios and classrooms. We also work with the Honors Department receiving names of students eligible for honors and contact them by letter and by phone.
This past year we came into compliance with the campus and began to offer three Freshman Scholarships to incoming majors in our discipline. The selection is not just based on an ACT requirement but also on portfolio and a written component. We hope that this is attractive for incoming freshmen.
- Goal Three: Strengthen existing and develop new academic programs, taking into consideration the educational and career needs of students and the economic, social, and cultural needs of the community.
Department response and outcomes: (accreditation)
The Art Education program is fully accredited by the National Council on Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). The department recently explored the possibility of seeking accreditation from the National Association of Schools of Art & Design (NASAD) but concluded that the problem of overcrowded studios and classrooms and the high ratio of student to teacher would not be attractive to NASAD at this time.
The department has historically been responsive to the educational and career needs of students. The implementation of the Bachelor of Science degree program in Graphic Design brought the department many students. We have increased art history requirements to better prepare students in all three of our degree programs.
Our Gallery Exhibition Program addresses the cultural needs of art students as well as the wider community and introduces our students not only to a successful illustration of a working artist, but our students also benefit from the artist’s lectures and workshops.
- Goal Four: Strengthen the retention, graduation and placement outcomes of students.
Department response and outcomes: (retention, graduation, placement rates, licensure/certification pass rates)
The department continues to increase its retention and graduation rates partially as a result of implementation of the ART 110, Beginning Drawing, ART 120 2-D Design and ART 130 Tools/Techniques. By passing these three foundation courses with a GPA of 2.5 before being able to declare a major in Art the department has been able to screen out less talented and less motivated students. Art Education majors must meet additional entrance requirements levied by the Education Department which include a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher, an ACT score of 22 or higher and passage of the C-Base tests administered by the Education Department.
Graphic Design majors have been quite successful in finding jobs after graduation. This success can be attributed to the "real world" approach to instruction and a firm grounding in the use of graphic design software, but mostly through experiential education through the required internship. Many of our Graphic Design majors either go to work for the company in which they intern or they obtain a position through networking established through the practicum experience.
The Art Education program has been highly successful in the placement of its graduates and virtually all graduates seeking employment as public school art teachers have found employment.
The Bachelor of Arts degree students in studio art have also met with their share of success after graduation with a number of them going on to successfully complete graduate programs and/or becoming successful studio artists.
Graduates
Rachel Anne McCraryBS Commercial Art
US Military Reserves Rosencrantz, Ellwood, KS
Ann Catherine BirdBS Graphic Design
Putting out resumes, Kansas City, MO
Julia Ann BiegelBS Graphic Design
Tim KC CantonBS Graphic Design
Graphic Designer with VML Design Firm, Kansas City, MO
Shaing Lien ChuBS Graphic Design
St. Joseph Newspress, St. Joseph, MO
Jacob Alexander GrzendaBS Graphic DesignCum Laude
Working as a 911 Dispatcher for Johnson County, MO and sending out resumes.
Is marrying in August and will be able to relocate at that time.
Sarah Beth Fisher BS Graphic DesignCum Laude
J. McBee Photography Studio, St. Joseph, MO
Jeremy L. MatthewsBS Graphic Design
St. Joseph Newspress, St. Joseph, MO
Donny Kent McCubbinBS Graphic Design
PE Case Systems, (IT Graphic Design) Overland Park. KS
Sarah Beth O’DellBS Graphic DesignCum Laude
St. Joseph Newspress, St. Joseph, MO
Mary Beth Sullwold BS Graphic Design
St. Joseph Public Library, St. Joseph, MO, Married and starting a family.
Kristin Renee WamplerBS Graphic DesignCum Laude
Manager of Border Bookstore, St. Joseph, MO. Also works special events at Albrecht-Kemper Museum of Art, St. Joseph, MO
Chelsea Marie-Elizabeth
HowlettBA ArtCum Laude
Finishing second degree in Psychology and getting ready to attend graduate school in Maine in Art Therapy
Kate Elizabeth Gentry BIS Interdisciplinary Degree (Art Emphasis)
Records Manager (registrar) for the St. Joseph City School District.
Rea Margaret Wesley BIS Interdisciplinary Degree (Art Emphasis)
Graduate school, married and is starting a family
Jill Renee KirkendollBSE Art Education
Teaches with the Saint Joseph School System at Neely Elementary School.
- Experiential Learning and Student Development
- Goal One: Provide students, by graduation, the opportunity to blend academic knowledge and applications in and beyond the classroom.
Department response and outcomes: (applied learning opportunities and numbers)
In the past year we have had 19 Graphic Design Students working a total of 74 credit hours of internships.
Internships
All located in Saint Joseph unless otherwise indicated
Biegle, Julia3McBee Photography
Bird, Ann 3 Albrecht-Kemper Museum of Art
Campbell, Megan 4 Head Start
Canton, Tim KC 6Midland Marketing Group
Cruz, Ashley4Campus Printing
Dunning, Naomi3Albrecht-Kemper Museum of Art
Fisher, Sarah 1Albrecht-Kemper Museum of Art
Gentry, Kate 3Albrecht-Kemper Museum of Art
Grzenda, Jake 4 Graphic Stop
Lederer, Jessica6Claudell Roberts and Gary Tang
Lewin, Becky4Eye Candy
Matthews, Jeremy3Dream Weavers
Miller, Kristin Carmack5Dice Photography, Liberty, MO
McCubbin, Donnie4Northern Hills Christian Academy, Holt,
Mo
Shaing-Lein Chu-Johnson 2Office Depot
Shaing-Lein Chu-Johnson 4St. Joseph News Press
Todd, Brandon5 RJ Promotions
Underwood, Nollee4MWSU Western Institute
Winn, Jeffrey 6RJ Promotions
In the past year we have had 11 art students taking a total of 33 credit hours of independent research. Among the topics were the following:
Independent Research
Canton, Tim KCProf. T. HarrisWeb Design: Designs for MSWU Department of Art
homepage.
Dunning, NaomiProf. G. SippIllustration II: Extension of the annual illustration
course. Additional coursework and problems/
assignments in illustration.
Gentry, KateDr. A. SaulsMuseum Studies: Problems in curatorial exhibition
design at the Albrecht-Kemper Museum of Art
Johnson, AaronProf. G. SippIndependent Research in Printmaking: Advance
Intaglio
McCarthy, DennisProf. G. SippAdvanced Portrait Painting: Continuation of
advanced painting coursework, specifically as it relates to self-portraiture.
Mullican, CharlesProf. Geo SippDrawing Sketchbook: Assignments in the
maintenance of a sketchbook, involving drawing exercises and specific observations
Whitesel, Mary Prof. G. SippPolyester Plate Lithography: Investigation of the
properties and chemistry of polyester plate lithography.
Winn, JeffProf. T. HarrisAdvanced Product Design: Wine packaging, tea
packaging and Self-promotional
- Goal Two: Provide additional opportunities for students to participate in international and/or multicultural experiences.
Departmental response and outcomes: (number of students and nature of travel/study)
Our BA Studio art majors are required to take four foreign language classes and may opt to take an upper level course in EFL’s studies abroad offerings. For example we have had a number of students finish out Spanish in Mexico.
Professor Geo Sipp has a very successful spring trip to New York City that exposes our students to a major art center of the world. Last year Professor Sipp’s trip to New York was cancelled. He coordinates with photographer Amy Holms George of Stephen F. Austin University in Texas and art faculty at Piedmont College in Georgia to take members of their respective colleges to New York City in the spring. Stephen F. Austin University and Piedmont College went, however Professor Sipp and our students were unable to garner support from the Western Institute resulting in the cancellation of our portion of the trip. The two remaining institutions used Professor Sipp’s itinerary and curriculum even though our students were prohibited from joining this successful program that Professor Sipp coordinates.
Fulbright scholar Bob Berglund brought Dr. Olena S. Kovalchuk, Ukrainian scholar and Chair of the Humanities at Lutsk Liberal Arts University at Lutsk, Ukraine to Dr. Sauls’ ART 255 Renaissance Through Modern class for a lecture on Russian icons. The students were treated to a lively discussion on politics and arts from a part of the world nor readily available to the Midwest.
- Goal Three: Recognize and expand experiential learning activities in coursework. (Do not include independent study activities here)
Departmental response and outcomes:
ART 493 Internship19 (up from 8 last year)
ART 494 Senior Seminar and Exhibition15
- Community Service, Community Partnerships, and Workforce Development
- Goal Three: Increase the participation of Western students, faculty and staff in community service activities.
Departmental response and outcomes: (service participation by number and hours for students, faculty & staff, list of partnerships and nature of activities)
This goal is difficult to quantify. The Department of Art routinely partners with the community. We serve the Allied Arts Council and all of its sub-organizations. The faculty belong to city museums and support the Albrecht-Kemper in particular (the Director, Terry Oldham teaches two classes of the Gen Ed offering of Art Appreciation as an adjunct as does Alberto Meloni, Executive Director of St. Joseph Museum). Through our extensive internship program we have worked with countless art related venues not only in the city but regionally as well. We also partner with the regions school systems as boosters, judges and through the supervision of student teachers in our art education program.
The following represent some of the community efforts in the past year by individuals on the art department faculty:
- Professor Estes holds the position of treasurer of his homeowners association
- Professor Harmon-Miller supports education in the city with her membership in the Central High School Booster Club. She has served as a judge for the annual Central Regional Debate and Speech Tournaments.
- Dr. Eickhorst is a member of the Neilson Internet Group that monitors web usage and frequency.
- Dr. Eickhorst is a lector at St. Patrick’s Church in Kansas City.
- Dr. Eickhorst is a member of Platt County “Pet Partners” program. Dog Holly is a trained and certified visitation dog.
- Dr. Eickhorst supervises the student teachers in the department’s art education program.
- Professor Sipp has been a much sought after judge for regional art exhibits.
- He is a member of his church’s art committee.
- Dr. Sauls has been a Panel Member: Citizen’s Panel, Grant Application Review, Missouri Art Council, St. Louis, Missouri. Responsible for all of Kansas City organizational Review as well as some of the outlying cities in Missouri. (She is inactive at this time).
- She is also on the board of the David H. Morton Memorial Fund for the Arts, St. Joseph, Missouri.
Department Points of Pride
STUDENTS:
Most Endangered Properties (Publication and Website)
The following students worked with Professor Harmon-Miller taking over 30 color photographs of the 2005 “Most Endangered Properties” of the city. The St. Joseph Landmarks Commission, Heritage Action Campaign and the St. Joseph Preservation Inc sponsored this.
Sharyn Webb
Grant Wittstruck
Heritage Action Campaign
Sharyn Webb’s photo of the last passenger depot in St. Joseph was chosen for their website.
MWSU Art Night at the Museum
The following students had photographic work displayed at MWSC Art Night at the Museum sponsored by the St. Joseph Museum:
Grant Wittstruck
Shannon Swanson
Sharyn Webb
Hayleigh Hinton
Jenny Jones
Susan McCarthy
Kristin Wampler
21st Annual Five State Photography Competition and Exhibition
Stacie Batchelorhad a photograph accepted into this professional juried exhibition in Hays Kansas sponsored by the Hays Arts Council. Her photo entitled “Goodnight Kiss” received an Honorable Mention Award.
Rebecca Lewin had three photographs juried into this exhibition.
Grant Wittstruck also had a photograph juried into this show.
25th Annual College Photography Contest and Publication
Sarah Fischer had a photograph selected for the 25th Annual College Photography Contest. The jurors for his event were Dennis Keely, Chair of the Photography Department, Art Center College of Design, Pasadena: Linda Lowell, Chair Photography Department, Santa Barbara City College; and Armando Nell Campbell, from Nikon USA. Photo editor of Photographer’s Forum Magazine chose the finalist, which represented the top 5 % of accepted entries. Sarah was in the finalist selection group
Mary Sullwold was also juried into this exhibition. She was a finalist and will be published in the Best of College Photography Annual of 2005 In addition her artwork received an honorable mention and as such her name will appear in the May/Summer 2005 Issue of Photography Forum.
30th Annual Albrecht-Kemper Museum of Art Members Exhibition
Mary Whitesel1st Place Printmaking
Mary Whitesel2nd Place Printmaking
Chelsea Howlett3rd Place Printmaking
Gordon Ide1st Place Drawing
Shelly BlackHonorable Mention Painting
Kristin Wampler1st Place Photography
Jeffrey WinnHonorable Mention Photography
AIGA Student Group Exhibition
Shannon Swanson had a Letterhead/Logo “Urban Underground” and accompanying packaging juried into the AIGA Student Group Exhibition held at Staples Gallery in Wichita State University.
Megan Campbell had a self-promotional piece of coffee shop packaging juried into this exhibiton. In addition, her stamp series, “Creatures of the Night” was also accepted.
Kappa Delta Pi Honor Society in Education
Carrie Campbell was tapped for the Xi Omega Chapter of Kappa Delta Pi (an Honor Society in Education) this organization is one of the largest and most prestigious educational honor societies in the world with over 500 active chapters worldwide.
FACULTY
Dr. William S. Eickhorst
“Print Types Exhibition”
Dr. Eickhorst exhibited a mixed-media print at the Dickenson State University, Dickenson, North Dakota