Foundations Update

Dear Colleagues,

Just a short update on the Foundations and First Year program-

We had a very productive year in the Foundations program and I would like to make you aware of a few of our highlights and also put some items on your radar for the future.

Community:

This past Fall we had our first annual Beaux Arts Ball which involved almost all First Year Design students in a unified project creating wearable outfits entirely out of paper and sheet material all based on research they did involving art history. This was the first time in ten years that a freshman project of this kind was attempted. The response was very positive and a great amount of interest was generated. We have already planned our second event for October 2017 and we would love to get your support behind the project and invite you to attend.

Curriculum:

Probably the most important element worked on this year was the addition of shell courses slated for next year’s Spring semester. One section of each Foundation discipline will be offered as a possible Shell Course. While all requirements of the stated outline will need to be addressed within the class, this will allow a Drawing, 2D, 3D or 4D class to be taught from a specific perspective of faculty strength. This is not a new idea and has been proposed in the past by Professor Roberly Bell. It is practiced in some other fine programs around the country to great success and will enhance our program and expose our students to a great variety of ideas. We are really hoping to get some professors from the disciplines to “come down” to the second floor and spend some time with the freshmen. If you are interested in teaching a shell class for one of our programs please contact me at cgcfaa@rit.edu so we can go over the necessary requirements.

Communication:

I am looking for volunteers from the Majors to come down and talk to our freshmen throughout next year to help the Foundations faculty show the students the importance of the foundations experience- i.e.; answering that age old question, “why do I have to take this, and how is this going to help me in my major.” I am looking for Faculty and former students do help us in this endeavor. Again, you can contact me at cgcfaa@rit.edu if you can help out.

More to come, thank you all and I would appreciate your feedback.

Graham
cgcfaa@rit.edu

Charles Graham Carson
Lecturer; Industrial Design
Foundations First Year Coordinator