SACS Reaffirmation
| Objective | 2D Animation And Basic Principles | |
| Students will learn the Principles of Animation and acquire the skills to create 2D Animation. Associated Goals: Provide A Quality Program In Computer Animation |
| Indicator | Demonstration Of 2D Techniques And Basic Principles Students in ART 231 and ART 331 will demonstrate knowledge of the basic principles of animation and the ability to complete 2D animations. At the completion of ART 331 the student should be able to animate 2 dimensional drawings in a way that suggests believable motion of objects governed by the laws of physics; demonstrate an understanding of the Principles of Animation described in the attached document; animate graphics and text to effectively communicate the content and purpose works made for video or film. The portfolio of work done in art 331 will be submitted as a final project in this course and will be used to asses these skills and abilities. Faculty will score the work on a scale of 1-100. |
| Criteria | 2D Animation Skills Computer Animation Students will pass ART 331 by completing a portfolio that demonstrates 2D Animation techniques and an understanding of the principles of animation. It is expected that at least 80% of the students make a grade of C or higher in the course. |
| Finding | 2D Skills 20 Students were enrolled in ART 331 in Fall 07. 5 of these were Computer Animation majors. Of these 2 earned A''''s, 2 B''''s and 1 C. |
| Action | ART 231 and 331 Continue to offer ART 231 and 331. Offer ART 231 in the fall instead of the spring. As the number of Computer Animation students increase, more sections may be offered |
| Objective | 3D Computer Animation | |
| Students will become skilled in 3D Computer animation software. Associated Goals: Provide A Quality Program In Computer Animation |
| Indicator | 3D Skills Students completing ART375 and ART376 will be able to model complex objects in a 3D program; effectively rig and animate a character; create believable and aesthetic textures and surfaces; create animations that are effectively lit and rendered; demonstrate an understanding of the Principles of Animation described in the attached document. At the conclusion of ART 376, the student's work in the final portfolio will demonstrate these skills and abilities. This portfolio will be graded by faculty on a scale of 1-100. |
| Criteria | 3D Skills Computer animation students will successfully complete ART 376. It is expected that at least 80% of the Computer Animation BFA students make a C or higher in the course. |
| Finding | 3D Skills 20 Students completed ART 376 in 2007-2008. Of these, 18 received a grade of C or higher. |
| Action | ART 375 and 376 Continue to offer ART 375 and 376. As the number of Computer Animation students increase, more sections may be offered. |
| Objective | Computer Labs | |
| Maintain current versions of software applications and upgrade hardware as necessary to meet industry standards. Associated Goals: Provide A Quality Program In Computer Animation |
| Indicator | Assess Hardware And Software Of Labs An annual evaluation of computer labs and software configurations for comparison with the current industry standards for computer animation. |
| Criteria | Current Software Applications The Macintosh lab will have 20 workstations with machines with current operating systems capable of running contemporary software. PC lab will have 10 machines with current operating systems. The Mac lab will offer current 2D and 3D software applications. The PC lab will offer 3D applilcations and both labs will have current image editing software. |
| Finding | Computer Lab Status 10 workstations were replaced in the Macintosh lab. The lab has 20 workstations with G5 workstations with current operating systems. Maya was upgraded to current version (2008), and Adobe After Effects was updated to version 7. 3 PC laptops were made available to students in the PC lab. Students are responsible for supplying software for these machinges. |
| Action | Continue Maintenance Assess the computer labs at the end of the Fall Semester 2008. Evaluate the need for more machines in the PC lab. Investigate the possibility of requiring Computer Animation majors to purchase laptops and software needed for animation courses. |
| Objective | Enhance The Reputation Of The Computer Animation Program | |
| Increase the visibility of the Computer Animation Program in the Academic and Professional Community Associated Goals: Provide A Quality Program In Computer Animation |
| Indicator | ART 490 Animation Portfolio Students in ART 490 will work on a thesis project consisting of an animated work that demonstrates skill and talent in a specific area of expertise. The students will create a Demo Reel (Portfolio) consisting of the thesis project and clips of work that demonstrate expertise in other areas of animation. These clips will be drawn from work done in previous courses in the Computer Animation Program. The demo reel will be evaluated by Computer Animation Faculty and by Professionals in the Animation and Gaming Industry. Professionals in the Gaming and Animation Industry will evaluate the Demo Reel when the students apply for jobs. The Faculty will evaluate the Demo Reel by rating each of the following on a scale of 1-5: 2D Animation- Is the student able to animate 2 dimensional drawings in a way that suggests believable motion of objects governed by the laws of physics? Does the work demonstrate an understanding of the Principles of Animation described in the attached document? Can the student animate graphics and text to effectively communicate the content and purpose of the works? 3D Computer Animation- Is the student capable of modeling complex objects in a 3D program? Can the student effectively rig and animate a character? Does the work indicate that the student creates believable and aesthetic textures and surfaces? Are the animations effectively lit and rendered? Does the work demonstrate an understanding of the Principles of Animation described in the attached document? |
| Criteria | Portfolio Students will have a professional quality portfolio that will include 2D Animation, 3D Models and environments, with textured surfaces, and character animation with an emphasis on one area of specialization. It is expected that at least 90% of the students receive at least 30 points on a 1-40 point evaluation of their portfolio by two Computer Animation Faculty. It is expected that at least 75% of the students who submit a portfolio to an industry professional or studio are granted a job interview. |
| Finding | Portfolio One student has completed the portfolio requirement as an independent study. This student was hired by a gaming studio upon graduation. Two more students will need to complete the portfolio class in the fall of 2008. |
| Indicator | Advertising An annual count of the number of advertisements and articles about the Computer Animation Program in Trade Journals and Industry Websites. |
| Criteria | Industry Journals and Publications The animation program will be advertised or described in at least 2 major industry journals or publlications. |
| Finding | Industry Publications The Computer Animation Program was advertised in a Banner on the "Gamasutra" website and the program was described in their listings. The program was listed in "Game Developers" issue devoted to University animation programs. |
| Action | Advertise and Promote Continue to advertise the program in journals and publications. Send Computer animation faculty to conferences to promote the program among other professionals. Encourage students to enter student competitions. |
| Objective | Fine Art Foundations | |
| Students will enter the program with basic skills in drawing and design, and have an awareness of comtemporary art. Associated Goals: Provide A Quality Program In Computer Animation |
| Indicator | BFA Review All BFA Candidates participate in BFA Review after completion of Sophomore level art foundation courses to assess their retention and integration of skills learned. Students bring work from these classes to the review and are assessed by a panel of faculty. Students will be expected to demonstrate the ability to make sophisticated compositions using the elements of line, shape, color, form, texture, value and scale and the principles of balance, movement, symmetry, organization, and figure-ground relationships. Students will be evaluated on their ability to keep a sketchbook and to creatively solve problems by exhibiting works that are unique examples of harmonious design. Students will be expected to demonstrate the ability to convey concepts through the use of the elements of design. To successfully pass the BFA review, students must 1) earn a grade of B or higher in all foundation courses and 2) receive a "pass" from the faculty reviewers. Faculty evaluators will recommend that each student pass, fail, or resubmit work to the BFA review. |
| Criteria | Passing the BFA review Students will pass the BFA review before enrolling in upper level Computer Animation courses. It is expected that at least 80% of Computer Animation BFA students pass the BFA review. |
| Finding | BFA Review 5 Computer Animation students participated in the BFA review in Spring 2008. 3 Passed and 2 failed and were advised to go through the review again in the Fall 2008. |
| Action | BFA Review Preparation In order to increase the number of Computer Animation students who successfully pass the BFA review, Computer Animation Faculty will meet with students prior to the review and advise them regarding guidelines and preparation. |
| Objective | History Of Animation | |
| Students will learn the History of Animation. Associated Goals: Provide A Quality Program In Computer Animation |
| Indicator | ART 473 History Of Animation ART 473 History of Animation was offered as a writing enhanced class in the Summer 2007 and will be offered in subsequent summer sessions. This course is required for Computer Animation BFA students. Students in the course are tested on factual knowledge and write a research paper on a topic in Animation history. Students are graded on their ability to identify styles, trends and techniques in animation from 1900-the present. Students will be able to recognize the time period associated with these styles and their cultural significance. Students will be given multiple choice and short answer examinations that will be graded on a scale of 1-100. Students will write a research paper on a specific topic in the History of Animation. In this paper, the student will describe in detail the work of a particular animator or studio, give a history of this, and describe the relationship of the work to the culture to which it belongs. The papers will be graded on a scale of 1-100. |
| Criteria | History of Animation Computer Animation students will pass the exams in ART 473 and make a passing grade on the research paper in this course. It is expected that at least 80% of the students make a grade of C or higher in the course. |
| Finding | History of Animation ART 473, the History of Animation, was offered in Summers 2007 and 2008. In 2007, 10 students were enrolled and successfully completed the course, 1 was a computer animation major. In 2008, 20 students were enrolled in the course, 7 were Computer Animation students. |
| Action | Continue to offer ART 473 ART 473 will be taught at least once per year. As the number of Computer animation students increases, it may be taught more often. |
| Objective | Portfolio | |
| At the completion of the program, students will have a portfolio that will enable to them to compete for jobs in the animation and gaming industries. Associated Goals: Provide A Quality Program In Computer Animation |
| Action | ART 490 Offer ART 490 in fall 2008, as a small class to be "taught with" another upper level computer animation course. |
| Objective | Recruitment | |
| Increase the number of motivated, dedicated and talented students persuing a degree in computer animation. Associated Goals: Provide A Quality Program In Computer Animation |
| Indicator | Class Enrollment An annual count of the number of students enrolled in each Computer Animation course and a comparison of this count with that of the previous year. |
| Criteria | Increasing Enrollment The number of students enrolled in animation courses and the number of animation majors is expected to increase annually for the next five years. An annual increase of at least 20% is desired. |
| Finding | Animation Course Enrollment 11 Animation courses were offered in 2007-08 with an average of 14.5 students enrolled in each course. This represents an increase in the number of courses and the average number of students enrolled in each course. |
| Indicator | Number Of Majors An annual count of the number of official and unofficial majors declaring a BFA Computer Animation and a comparison of this count with that of the previous year. |
| Criteria | Increasing Majors The number of declared and undeclared animation majors will increase annually for the next five years. An annual increase of at least 20% is desired. |
| Finding | Number of Majors At the end of Spring 2008, there were 33 unofficial majors in Computer Animation and 3 official majors. It is suspected that this number is low, since some students have not "declared" a major during advisement. |
| Action | Continue Recruitment efforts Continue to participate in Saturday at Sam. Publish a brochure for distribution to local high schools and community colleges. Visit these schools to recruit. Continue to advertise in Journals and Publications. Send out press release describing the program. |