February 28, 2022 – The Great Lakes Graphics urges all industry members to read this message, act, and share with your industry network. These programs are critical to the future of the printing industry.
A Message from Concerned Graphic Communications Education Advocates:
Hello, Print industry Professional:
The undergraduate Graphic Communications (GCOM) program at the University of Wisconsin-Stout prepares students for careers in the graphic communications industry. The hands-on major and minor cover the fundamentals of print production, including pre-press/premedia; color management; offset, digital, flexo and gravure print technologies; post-press/finishing processes; project management and estimating; marketing techniques; and business practices.
UW-Stout campus leaders recently have announced the suspension of new admissions to the GCOM program for incoming freshmen effective Fall 2022. The GCOM program website now states the following: Admission to this program is suspended effective Fall 2022. A group of industry professionals, faculty and higher education consultants are working on revising the current curriculum to meet the printing industry needs. Courses for currently enrolled students who are pursuing a GCOM major or minor will continue to be offered.
At a time when print professionals are in especially high demand, we ask that you as a print professional contact UW-Stout campus leadership with an email message that addresses the following points:
- An introduction of yourself, your role and your success story, and (if appropriate) your company’s/organization’s role in the graphic communications industry;
- A reminder that there remains a high demand for trained, print-focused professionals, particularly those with knowledge and skills related to print manufacturing processes;
- A statement that as an industry professional you’ve noticed that UW-Stout has halted enrollments to the GCOM program;
- A statement that you support a revision of the UW-Stout’s GCOM program if the revision continues to prepare students for the numerous and varied career paths available within the graphic communications industry;
- An offer (hopefully) that you, your organization, and/or your company is willing to offer support during the revision in the form of advice, assistance and guidance.
We hope that your emails will demonstrate the need for ongoing graphic communications education, reflect the varied careers within the graphic communications industry, and provide evidence that the industry does notice what’s happening at UW-Stout.
Kindly direct emails to Dr. Gindy Neidermyer, Interim Dean, College of STEMM.
GLGA also has been informed that other educational programs may be considering similar moves, in particular Ferris State University in Michigan. Please feel free to send a copy of the letters you write to UW-Stout to Ferris State, attention to College of Business Interim Dean Dr. Jim Woolen.
