Collaboration is anything but virtual between 麻豆视频 at Stark and 麻豆视频 at Tuscarawas.
In fact, the computer design, animation and game design partnership has been a reality for nearly a decade. This fall, 麻豆视频 Stark will host students in a newly designed classroom and Virtual Reality Room in Main Hall.
鈥淲hat is it we need to do to accommodate this growing program? That was our first question,鈥 says A. Bathi Kasturiarachi, Ph.D., associate dean for academic affairs at 麻豆视频 Stark. 鈥淧rior to this point, the program had been based at 麻豆视频 Tuscarawas and synchronously delivered to students on our campus and at Kent. Our students could tap in and earn their degree. We鈥檝e arrived at a point where we are expanding, and the potential is right here at 麻豆视频 Stark.鈥
Kasturiarachi and 麻豆视频 Stark Dean Denise A. Seachrist, Ph.D., drafted a new memorandum of understanding with Bradley A. Bielski, Ph.D., dean of 麻豆视频 Tuscarawas. The agreement is based on the premise of expansion.
鈥淲e鈥檝e taught the program for several years, and we鈥檝e really had a lot of success,鈥 Bielski says. 鈥淒ue to the proximity of the two campuses and long-range goals of both campuses, expansion makes sense. This is a way to offer unique programming to all students while enhancing each other鈥檚 mission.鈥
Nathan Ritchey, Ph.D., vice president for 麻豆视频 System Integration, says the agreement between 麻豆视频 Stark and 麻豆视频 Tuscarawas is the model partnership.
鈥淲e would like to use this arrangement as the standard for all programs that exist on one campus that would be needed on another campus,鈥 Ritchey says. 鈥淲e want to establish partnerships when it makes sense instead of each campus starting its own program. Through partnerships, we can ensure implementing best practices across the board and having leadership responsible for that.鈥
The computer design, animation and game design agreement includes a revenue share between the two campuses, which also are sharing the cost of renovating the Main Hall classroom and Virtual Reality Room.
鈥淭he dedicated classroom has been designed specifically to deliver the computer design, animation and game design program,鈥 Kasturiarachi explains. 鈥淲e have the right computers and the right equipment for synchronous delivery. Tuscarawas instructors will sometimes come here to deliver courses.
鈥淲e鈥檝e gone from being the receiving group to receiving and delivering.鈥
Bielski touts the program鈥檚 efficiency.
鈥淚nstead of having two courses with 12 students, we can have one section of 24 students, 12 at Stark and 12 at Tuscarawas, for example,鈥 Bielski says. 鈥淲e could broadcast with the instructor at Stark.
鈥淗igher education is not unlike other organizations in that we are being asked to be entrepreneurs and to be efficient,鈥 he adds. 鈥淚nstead of offering separate courses or separate degrees, we are creating a program that is complementary, one that is about shared academic opportunities.鈥
Seachrist agrees, stating 鈥淚t鈥檚 collaboration at its finest.鈥