The photograph has greatly influenced our visual heritage and is a medium practiced by countless people worldwide. Our Mission is to provide students a quality photographic education in the area of technique, aesthetics, creativity and content, and historical and contemporary trends in photography. We strive to provide both commercial, and fine art students, access to state-of-the-art equipment and technology, and to instill a strong sense of photographic history as well as grounding in current photographic theory. Digital and traditional approaches to the medium are explored as both represent the historic and current trends in the industry. We believe the many aspects of fine art photography inform and improve commercial work and vice versa; this multi-disciplinary philosophy underlies most of our curriculum. Photography has gone through significant technological changes since the development of electronic imaging. Photography education in the 21st century must maintain relevance to meet the needs of contemporary students. Photography instructors have an opportunity to create a dynamic new paradigm that blends the full spectrum of the photographic experience.
Butte College�s Photography Program offers two areas of training for students interested in a career in photography: a major in Commercial Photography and a major in Fine Art Photography. Courses in digital and traditional photography provide a strong foundation for either career path. While commercial photography classes� offer an emphasis in technique to enable students to create images to professional standards, fine art classes offer instruction in the manipulation of materials, creative expression, development of a personal esthetic and presentation in order to allow photographers to create a strong personal response to personal issues as well as those in the world around them. However, we strongly encourage students to participate in both venues; since artists can benefit from strength in technique and a strong personal esthetic can give a commercial photographer the edge needed to be successful in their chosen career. This unique integration of the two areas of photographic expertise, often separated educationally, is one reason why the program is recognized by the community at large as one of the strongest and most diversified photography departments in Northern California. Our courses are taught by experienced instructors with years of expertise and knowledge in both the commercial and fine art avenues of photography. To continue providing excellent instruction in our diverse range of classes, two new associate faculty members have been recently added to our program. Our course offerings are as follows: AS DEGREE IN PHOTOGRAPHY� 60 units The major consists of 26 units. Changes: The required units for the AS Degree in Photography have been changed from 46 units to 26 units. 12 out of the 26 units are core classes (family of classes) with 14 additional units from other required courses for the major. The changes in unit load will permit students to complete the major within one year. The following four core courses are the photo family of classes: 12 units PHO 2 Introduction to Photography � 3 units PHO 4 Color Photography - 3 units (P) OR PHO 6 Black and White Photography � 3 units (P) PHO 8 Commercial Photography - 3 units (P) PHO 7 Stock Photography - 3 units (P) Butte College photography classes also serve the rest of the college community since they are prerequisites for other areas of study: Art, Graphic Design, Telecommunications and the Media Services Program is representative. Many students have returned to inform us that an overall knowledge of photography was the skill that caused an employer to choose them over another applicant otherwise equally qualified for the job.
The Department Chair was not able to find the Program Review reports for Photography when he followed the link provided. As I did not have responsibility for this Program at the time, and was not involved in their Program Review, we are unable to complete this section at this time.
Strategy 1 - SLOs, PLOs...
Continue the work of refining and implementing the assessment of meaningful Student Learning Outcomes in each of our photography courses.
Student Learning Outcome assesments given in each photography course help ensure the program's entended goals. �Faculty will be able to adjust and/or reenforce course content based on SLOs so students more readally absorb and retain information valuable to their future careers.
Strategy 2 - Equipment replacement and upgrades...
Funding required to purchase needed photographic hardware to keep classes relevant and reflective of current professional practices
Some of the equipment used in photo classes is obsolete, broken and unrepairable. We must replace, and in some instances, upgrade this gear if we are to keep our training up to date and relevant.
Strategy 3 - Hire Fulltime Tenure-track instructor in Photo.
Hire a full-time tenure-track photography instructor.
Until the retirement of Dennis Wickes several years ago, and for the past three decades, Photography has had full-time leadership. The Photography area was built under the talented direction of Geoff Fricker, collaborating with many excellent imaging-professionals who have served us as associate faculty, and assisted by our knowledgeable and dedicated Lab Tech Davin, Schreindl.
We need to restore this lost position in order to better accomplish our goals of providing top-quality instruction in our core classes, updating our curricula, managing our budget and facilities, and measuring and reporting SLO and PLO achievement in all of our courses.
Strategy 4 - Revise Course Numbering, Course Titles, and Sequencing
We need to revise our Course Numbering, Titles, and Sequencing to make them more intelligible and useful to students.
Our present Course Titles and Numbering do not make intuitive sense and offer students very little in the way of guidance relative to Course content and sequencing.
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| Original Priority | Program, Unit, Area | Resource Type | Account Number | Object Code | One Time Augment | Ongoing Augment |
| Description | Supporting Rationale | Potential Alternative Funding Sources | Prioritization Criteria | |||
| 1 | Photography | Operating Expenses | $0.00 | $2,500.00 | ||
| darkroom expenses | State law forbids using lab fees to pay for darkroom chemicals and other classroom supplies. This augmentation will cover the annual cost of required materials that are absolutely required to offer PHO 2 and other photo classes that use the darkroom. The Photography program was originally aloud to use material fees to buy darkroom chemicals. Now that we have been asked to stop using materials fees the budget has taken a huge hit and we are struggling. |
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| 2 | Photography | 11-000-512-1-101100 | 56410 | $11,700.00 | $0.00 | |
| 4 Variable Contrast Black & White Enlarger | We have 20 enlargers in our photo darkroom. Some date back to 1990 possibly earlier. We have replaced 4 with previous Unit Plan funds but would like to continue replacing 4 every few years. We believe that replacing 4 at a time is sufficient to keep old worn out enlargers from becoming a problem. They were not originally purchased at the same time, and that is one reason they don't all need replacing at the same time. Our darkroom classes, which the enlargers are used for, are the most popular classes in the department and seem to be becoming even more popular. PLEASE CONSIDER FOR PERKINS FUNDING: 1012.00-APPLIED PHOTOGRAPHY |
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| 3 | Photography | Equipment | 11-000-512-1-101100 | 56410 | $1,350.00 | $0.00 |
| Matthews Mini Max light boom | To replace our dangerous studio light boom. The Lab Tech teaches students how to use our boom safely but sometimes students forget. Our current boom requires lead weights as counter balances. This boom needs no counter balances, is inherently safer, and is much more versatile. PLEASE CONSIDER FOR PERKINS FUNDING: 1012.00-APPLIED PHOTOGRAPHY |
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| 4 | Photography | Equipment | 11-000-512-1-101100 | 56410 | $65,000.00 | $0.00 |
| High end Digital Capture System (Camera) with needed supporting equipment | Many cultural institutions and commercial photography agencies want experience with medium format digital camera and tethered image capture. These are often full time jobs with benefits. Experience with a medium format digital camera like Phase One along with the companion software, Capture One, will give our students the opportunity to be competitive in the job market. Additional equipment needed. Laptop computer and lighting that is more powerful then what we currently have. Camera System aproximetly $60,000 Suporting equiptment $5000 PLEASE CONSIDER FOR PERKINS FUNDING: 1012.00-APPLIED PHOTOGRAPHY |
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| 5 | Photography | Equipment | 11-000-512-1-101100 | 56410 | $1,300.00 | $0.00 |
| Studio camera stand | Solid, safe camera support for photographing in the photo studio. Allows a student to work quickly and accurately. Much safer for our expensive cameras. Camera stands are nearly impossible to tip over keeping cameras/lenses from hitting the floor. Camera stands are standard equipment in a professional photo studio. Used instead of a tripod. PLEASE CONSIDER FOR PERKINS FUNDING: 1012.00-APPLIED PHOTOGRAPHY |
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| 6 | photography | 11-000-512-1-101100 | 56410 | $1,450.00 | $0.00 | |
| Miscellaneous studio lighting (parts and pieces described below) | All will be used in our photo studio. This room is not only used for the Photography department but also Video Production, Music, MSP, Fashion, Drama, and other areas. 1 Posing Stool 2 Beauty dish studio light reflectors 2 Soft white light reflectors 4 20' norman studio pack extension cords PLEASE CONSIDER FOR PERKINS FUNDING: 1012.00-APPLIED PHOTOGRAPHY |
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| 7 | Photography | Equipment | 11-000-512-1-101100 | 56410 | $3,000.00 | $0.00 |
| 3 Medium Format Cameras | 1A, 3B, Medium format cameras for use in photo studio. PLEASE CONSIDER FOR PERKINS FUNDING: 1012.00-APPLIED PHOTOGRAPHY |
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