The Associated Students of the University of Wyoming (ASUW) addressed a new piece of legislation, Resolution #2733, that would support the creation of a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Visual Communication Design.
“I feel that visual arts like graphic design don’t get as much focus as they should,” Art Education major Sarah Windall said. “Graphics aren’t seen at the same level as other forms of art, even though there is a place and time for them as well.”
Windall said this potential degree path will affect the Graphic Design program.
“If somebody wants to pursue stuff like graphic design or visual arts like they say, a full degree would be much more effective. They could get a lot more out of it and get all the bang for their buck,” Windall said.
The resolution was read aloud for the first time in the ASUW meeting on February 16. It was then directed to the Advocacy, Diversity, and Policy and Program and Institutional Development committees for further review.
The proposed resolution would support the full bachelor over an existing concentration in Graphic Design currently offered by the Art and Art History program.
“The Concentration in Graphic Design within the Bachelor of Art’s (BA) in studio art is an outdated degree path,” according to lines 14 and 15 in the resolution.
The resolution calls for the termination of the concentration and support given to a full BFA.
Damien Houghtern, a sophomore seeking a degree in Studio Arts had a different opinion on the resolution.
“I appreciate the more extensive degree path. However, I think this sort of deprives students who just want to go for a concentration of that chance,” Houghtern said.
Lauren Frosk, another sophomore in the Art and Art History program said, “It’s nice to have smaller focuses or concentrations so you can get a little experience in something like [graphic design] without dedicating your career to it.”
“Even if the specific structure isn’t there, anyone can still take some of these classes,” Windall said.
Resolution #2733 would be one of the first moves for ASUW in support of a new BFA program for the visual communication field.
Kuran Shuva, a junior in the Art and Art History program said, “I think it’s awesome that the more visual side of communication is getting its own focus. If I wasn’t so far along in my own major, I would want to go after it.”
The major has been detailed within the resolution, including the structure and class requirements to graduate with the BFA. Classes detailed within the major structure section range from core art skills and art theory classes to higher level Graphic and Computer design courses.
When the major structure was shown to Kuran Shuva, his eyes widened and he started smiling.
“These are some pretty intensive classes towards the junior and senior years. I can tell you it’s not going to be a major you undergo for easy A’s,” Shuva said.
For right now, Resolution #2733 is still steered towards other committees for deeper consideration. If passed by ASUW down the road, the resolution would start before the 2021-2022 academic year and see ASUW begin supporting the implementation of this new degree path for Art and Art History scholars.
