|
Ontario College of Art and Design |
Never has there been a more exciting time to be part of the community of the Ontario College of Art & Design (OCAD). At the start of the fall term, we will fully occupy our new and upgraded facilities, which include studios, student work spaces, faculty offices, lecture halls and much more. Through his design, Will Alsop has turned art into architecture and provided a truly inspirational learning environment for us all. Our College was able to honour Alsop's contribution to its renewal with the presentation of an Honorary Doctorate at our June 2004 graduation ceremony.
OCAD's $42.5 million campus redevelopment has now enabled our community to grow to approximately 3,300 full- and part-time students, making OCAD the fourth largest institution of its kind in North America. With a large university campus dedicated exclusively to the visual arts, OCAD offers students more depth and breadth in course offerings in art and design than what can be found anywhere else in Canada.
Our curriculum has been undergoing much positive change under the leadership of Dr. Sarah McKinnon, Vice-President, Academic. New this year, we have amalgamated first-year studies into the Faculties of Art and Design in order that students can follow a specialized program in their chosen field right from the beginning of their studies. We will, however, continue to provide opportunities for multi-disciplinary learning throughout a student's four-year course of study.
In response to new degree programs, our Liberal Studies curriculum has now been substantially expanded. Most courses have been revised and many new courses have been added to provide content that is directly supportive of the studio programs. Students will find new courses that challenge them to think about themselves, their work, and the world around them from diverse perspectives.
Recent executive searches have completed our decanal team. As Dean, Faculty of Art, Dr. Blake Fitzpatrick joins Lenore Richards, Dean, Faculty of Design, who has accepted a renewed term, and Dr. Kathryn Shailer, who became Dean, Faculty of Liberal Studies in the fall of 2003. A further indication of OCAD's new educational stature, is the inauguration of alumna Rosalie Sharp as OCAD's first-ever Chancellor, the ceremonial head of the institution. We all look forward to Ms. Sharp's leadership over her three-year term.
Over the coming years, we will continue to introduce new programs and resources and to recruit the most qualified faculty and staff. A new strategic plan now guides us in our mandate to be a world centre for educational excellence, providing superior studio-based programs in art and design, and leading advancements in critical and cultural inquiry and practice.
|
| ** If you wish to report any information error about this page, please , if you would like to update the page content, please provide us the information with details. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|