410 Forum — Opinion
Visual Arts Could Do Better Job Preparing Students
By Erin Armitage
There comes a point in every student’s life wheN you say goodbye to the old and welcome the new, where you pack up your memories and hard work and begin the next stage of your life, the real world. The challenging part of this life change is not stressing out about whether each graduation announcement got sent out, and to the right person for that matter. It’s not about wandering from store to store trying to find the perfect graduation outfit.
The real question is “I’m done, now what?”
With competition on the rise, UNC art students need the right preparation for finding a job in the real world. The College of Performing and Visual Arts needs to do a better job at preparing students for life after college.
Sure, graduation can be a wonderful time for socializing, interacting with family and of course attending the parties, where many people show up just for the food, but students think about whether they might not be able to get a well-paying, decent, somewhat likeable job where they can use their four-year, $50,000 in-debt education.
These times, which some people are having a hard time accepting, are not only tough on the economy but it seems to be tougher on college graduates who are trying to grow up and be somewhat responsible. Students are asking themselves and questioning the university as to whether they are prepared to enter the world of bills, responsibility and, well, more bills.
“The major goal of the College of Performing and Visual Arts is to challenge each student with a professionally based education that provides a top level of preparation for success in a highly competitive marketplace,” according to UNC’s Web site. “95 percent of UNC art graduates are employed or are in advanced study within one year of graduation.”
UNC is succeeding because they are seeing more and more alumni getting successful jobs, according to Andrew Svedlow, dean of the College of Performing and Visual Arts.
“As teachers and faculty members, it is our job to give our students the best education, experience and preparation,” Svedlow said.
It’s great that teachers and faculty are challenging their students, but students not only need a professionally based education, they need a high student-teacher interaction
Art students get jobs based on their talents, and maybe a little charm. They are unable to blow employers away with their extreme math skills or their fascination in economics. Instead, they land positions with their abilities to be creative in hopes of standing out from their peers. The pressures of getting noticed may be higher for people with creative minds and unique capabilities.
“Art is a very competitive field to go into, and since it has become harder to find jobs the preparation the university gives us is crucial,” said Emily Lybarger, art student. “In order to succeed in this field you need to not only have the right preparation but also the determination.”
Even though the program has great intentions for their students, I believe they are lacking in providing students with “the right” preparation. Since the job search is getting harder and harder each day, students need to feel that they are getting their money’s worth.
“I am happy that I graduated from the art program, although I didn’t feel as I was getting the right attention from my teachers,” said Morgan Wallice, alumni. “I would of liked to see my teachers doing everything then can to help me succeed.”
Wallice believes she didn’t get the full learning environment from her teachers.
College -- one single word can be told in many different tones, through many different stories -- is an experience that you not only leave with lots of memories but also a degree to show for your accomplishments and hard work. No matter what field you go into, everyone needs the right preparation to help them spread their wings.
