On Tuesday, August 3, 2010, University of Houston Digital Media students and invited guests gathered for the first-ever Digital Media Senior Show. The event, which was held in the UH University Center and hosted by the College of Technology, featured a virtual who's who of graphics-industry and academic representatives, including Patty Eldridge (Printing Industries of the Gulf Coast), Stephen Metts (CGX Solutions), April Showers (Continental Airlines), Seth Stokes (Xerox), and Dr. Elizabeth Chapman (LoneStar College). Digital Media seniors displayed their hardcopy and on-line portfolios to the VIPs, explained the objective of each piece, and answered questions. After viewing portfolios and chatting with students, each guest evaluated and ranked the students' work. Both students and guests found the event to be very beneficial: guests were impressed with the quality and breadth of the students' work as well as their ability to explain each piece while students got to meet industry leaders and share their knowledge—as well as resumes and business cards.
The Senior Show is an integral part of the Digital Media Program's assessment. Results of the students' evaluations will be used as part of the University of Houston's Assessment Plan as well as for the program's accreditation through the Accreditation Council for Collegiate Graphic Communications (www.accgc.org).
The Digital Media program, which is an expansion of the former Graphic Communications Technology area of emphasis, is a four-year bachelor of science degree plan that seeks to prepare leaders for the digital media industry. Students learn print (including prepress, presswork, and bindery), web design, computer graphics, digital photography, digital videography, multimedia, and costing/estimating in well-equipped laboratories as well as in-depth project management skills. To learn more about the program, please visit here.