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May 6, 2008

 

Proposal for the Discontinuance of Industrial Arts Concentrations (BAIA), and Industrial Technology (BSIT)

 

Contact Persons                                           

Ricardo Gomes, Chair , Design and Industry Department                 ricgomes@sfsu.edu

Ronald J. Compesi, Interim Dean, College of Creative Arts              rcompesi@sfsu.edu

Ronald Caltabiano, Interim Associate Dean, College of Creative Arts          rcalt@sfsu.edu

 

Discontinuance of the Concentrations of the Bachelor of Arts in Industrial Arts (BAIA):

 Discontinuance of the Bachelor of Science in Industrial Technology (BSIT)

 

 

I. Importance of the Program to the University's Mission

The Mission of the Design and Industry (DAI) Department is to offer a strong, well-rounded, interdisciplinary education to a diverse population with an emphasis in Interdisciplinary Studies, Industrial Technology, Product Design and Development and Visual Communication Design. The DAI program prepares students to make valuable contributions to their fields through communication, innovation, function, management and production. The department strives for a global approach towards design that includes social, ethical and environmental responsibility.

 

The existing Bachelor of Art in Industrial Arts (BAIA) degree with two concentrations 1)

Product Design and Development 2) Visual Communication Design and the existing

Bachelor of Science in Industrial Technology (BSIT) degree were initially planned as distinct

and independent programs, starting with the BSIT degree in 1987, the BAIA Concentration

in Product Design and Development in 1990, and the BAIA Concentration in Visual

Communication Design in 2006. 

Major degree program enrollment figures for the DAI department, as of fall 2007,                    were as follows:                                                                                   

á    Bachelor of Arts in Industrial Arts Interdisciplinary: 264                                                      

á    Bachelor of Arts in Industrial Arts Concentration in Product Design and Development: 159

á    Bachelor of Arts in Industrial Arts Concentration in Visual Communication Design: 68                                                                                                                           Total BAIA Majors: 491   (BAIA Concentrations: 227)                                                                    

á    Bachelor of Science in Industrial Technology: 36                                        

The DAI department sees the revision, upgrade and consolidation of the current BAIA

concentration majors and the BSIT majors, as a feasible, practical and efficient way to

deliver the programs given the reduction of the faculty resources and consequent course

section offerings over the past 16 years. In 1992, the DAI department had about 350 students

majors in the program with 14 full-time faculty who all had primary preparation in industrial

arts and technology instruction. Since, 1992, as a result of a dramatic academic shift towards

professional design practice and computer-based digital technology applications (new

media/web design; computer-aided design and rapid prototyping) in our contemporary

marketplace and industries, the DAI departmentŐs developed its curricular program towards

the currency of the academic and professional realities of the 21st century. In addition, due to

faculty retirements and budget cutbacks, over the past 16 years, the department has

experienced a steady decline in full-time faculty positions. Consequently, the skill sets and

focus of our newer faculty, along with our curricular offerings, has evolved into more into the

area of applied design applications. Ironically, while our full-time faculty resources have

declined over the years, our student enrollment has steadily increased to 600+ students today.

In response to the need for more effective enrollment management measures, as well as,

implementing a more efficient and curriculum path to graduation, the DAI department has

developed a more cohesive curriculum structure.

 

The proposed DAI Curriculum Revision and Degree Name Change will replace the existing BAIA Concentration in Product Design and Development; BAIA Concentration in Visual Communication Design; and BSIT Degree programs with the following Bachelor of Science (BS) in Design Degree Concentrations:

The newly proposed curriculum and degree name change, unanimously approved by the Academic Senate on April 29th, 2008, responds to changes within the industry. The new curriculum better aligns DAI graduates with contemporary methods, processes, concepts and nomenclature.  The Bachelor of Science degree is a professional degree and a BS degree will better position DAI graduates to take advantage of employment opportunities relevant to the design and industrial technology profession.

Our curricular revisions also reflects the UniversityŐs mission, ŇSan Francisco State University is still a leader, growing and changing with the City and the Bay Area, responding to and anticipating the issues that shape our daily lives and will influence our future."

II. Quality of the Program

The recommendations received from the DAI department external review in 2003 and the departmentŐs MOU approved by the university in 2005 indicated curriculum action plans that would:                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

1.     Consider a change in the titles of both the bachelorŐs and the masterŐs programs to more

accurately reflect the departmentŐs emphasis on design and to align the department with current developments within the field

2.     Proceed expeditiously to develop a proposal to revise both the BSIT and the BAIA degrees,

including the development of a new and common core for both degrees and BSIT reconfiguration, consolidation, and down-sizing

 

The new curriculum reflects the current diversified perspectives of the contemporary design and industry practice while keeping important competency areas in a shared common core.  The new curriculum would be a great benefit to the students.  In the original programs, the two BAIA concentrations and the BSIT program did not have a common core foundation. The three new BS degree concentrations will share a common core foundation that is more conducive and efficient in delivering a comprehensive multidisciplinary foundation of design and technology skill sets. This shared resource and instruction will allow our department to better plan and allocate course scheduling and consequent timely graduation. The proposed curriculum revision and degree name change, identifies and provided a more equitable balance under one Bachelor of Science in Design degree with Concentrations in Industrial Technology; Product Design and Development; and Visual Communication Design, that will better represent the diverse range of career opportunities in design and technology practice. 

Advising/Transition Guidelines:                                                                                                       The proposed Bachelor of Science in Design (BS) Concentrations will maintain the same total number of units to graduate that currently exist in the BAIA Concentrations and BSIT program majors. The proposed changes will also better facilitate the departmentŐs ability to implement enrollment management measures, increase the quality of instruction, student outcomes and enhance the path to timely graduation for our students. Students who are already in the program will have the option of following their existing/current major contract, or the new curriculum. There will be a 4-year time period (through Spring 2012) for current BAIA students to complete their current BAIA Concentration and for BSIT program majors to complete their degree. Current BAIA and BSIT studentsŐ progression to graduation will not be unduly jeopardized by the discontinuance of current programs during the transition to the new degree programs. Students who enter the program in fall 2008 would be held to the new curriculum requirements.

The implementation and transition of the proposed courses will be able to be utilized by continuing students. These courses will be flexible when needed so that students can fulfill their degree requirements (e.g., substituting courses where appropriate). An advising plan will be in place for students to follow and complete the program efficiently and smoothly. The following activities will ensure a smooth transition:

á  All DAI Majors are required to establish major contracts and make a formal plan for subsequent courses with a faculty advisor in their first semester in the program within the DAI 370 Colloquium course. This course is the first course that all DAI majors and prospective majors should take in the program. In DAI 370 and in their faculty advising sessions, students will be informed about the curricular changes and available concentrations.

á  In the DAI major courses the department will inform students about the curricular changes and the options available to them.

á All DAI students will be notified of revisions as follows:  email messages to all DAI majors; postings on DAI Listserv and on the DAI website; announcements in classes; and flyers distributed in classes and posted on faculty bulletin boards. 

á The Department Chair and faculty will also meet with students in groups to advise them of the curricular changes.

 

There will be no potential effect on the future employment status of the faculty. No staff time was specifically dedicated to the program.

 

III. Efficiency and Demand for the Program

Over the past several years, the DAI Faculty and students have received outstanding awards and recognition for their quality of instruction, advising, research and student project outcomes. The success and popularity of the program over the years has attracted a high rate of growth in it student majors, which has inevitably made it more difficult and challenging to sustain the quality and efficiency that we seek to maintain. This is reflected in the increased demand for classes, along with requisite student advising, which has placed additional burden on our limited full-time faculty. Despite these setbacks we have diligently sustained an efficient program. As a result of the interdisciplinary nature of our programs, we have been able to articulate, as well as cross-list program requirements in other departments, such as Art; Business; Management; Marketing; Engineering; Consumer Family Studies; Journalism and Technical Writing. The inherent multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary nature of our program has enabled us to combine and share resources, while utilizing the best faculty in each discipline to meet the needs of the students.

There has been a significant increase in the total number of declared DAI majors and FTES to correspond with the growing industry.  From 1992 to 2008, total number of declared DAI students increased from 350 students to nearly 600 students; while the FTES increased from 173 FTES to 216 FTES. 

The new DAI Curriculum Revision and Degree name Change is designed to meet the design and technology needs of a highly diversified design and industrial technology industry. The newly approved concentrations in the Bachelor of Science in Design will not only address the fundamental disciplines within Industrial Technology; Product Design and development; and Visual Communication Design, but will also address all aspects of socially-responsible design research and practice; human-centered design; universal design; sustainable design; and innovation for the emerging  needs of our future society.

Summary of Discontinuance Benefits in conjunction with the Approved Curriculum Revisions and Degree Name Change: