Program History

In an era when it is common to hear that Graphic Communications programs have been curtailed or closed, it is refreshing and exciting to know that a baccalaureate-level graphic communications program is thriving at the University of Houston. This development becomes even more inspiring when one considers that the motivation to begin the program came not from the University, but from the local graphic arts community. This industry involvement, coupled with the University of Houston's location in a major city in a state in which printing is booming, makes the program unique in printing education.

For many years, Houston-area printers were concerned that Texas colleges produce too few printing technicians and even fewer leaders. Printers in many areas of the country voice the same concern. However, instead of simply complaining, Houston's printers "put their money (and time) where their mouth is." In 1982, the Texas Printing Education Foundation (TPEF) was formed under the auspices of the Printing Industries of the Gulf Coast (PIGC). TPEF's board of directors, chaired by Mr. Jim White (see photo at left), was comprised of representatives from prominent printers as well as representatives of the Houston Litho Club. The TPEF was charged with providing educational opportunities for both technicians and management-level workers.

1982 - The TPEF Begins Offering Classes

Soon after it was formed, the TPEF began offering a variety of short-term non-credit technical and administrative courses in subjects that included estimating, press operation, and desktop publishing. These courses were offered each semester and were largely successful in providing skills upgrading for industry personnel. However, the need to prepare well-educated and degreed supervisors was not as easily met. The TPEF initiated discussions with representatives from the University of Houston's College of Technology regarding the establishment of a sequence of courses designed to prepare supervisors for printing and publishing firms. Through these discussions, it became clear that, in an era of declining higher education revenues, major funding for the program could not come from the University. Rather than surrendering, the TPEF set out to raise the money necessary to fund the curriculum they wanted. They succeeded in obtaining the support of local printing firms and the Houston Litho Club, sponsor of Houston's Southwest Graphics Show. This support generated cash.

1993 - Dr. Jerry Waite Joins the University

Fortified with financial backing, the TPEF again approached the University's College of Technology. In 1990, the Foundation pledged a $30,000 start-up grant as well as an additional $120,000 over four years to help pay a professor's salary and defer operational costs (this $150,000 pledge was paid off in October of 1996). The College launched a nationwide search for a graphic communications technology professor/coordinator in 1992. In early 1993, the faculty of the College and the TPEF agreed to ask Dr. Jerry Waite to join the University as a tenure-track faculty member. Dr. Waite, a graphic-arts instructor with 19-years of teaching experience at the Don Bosco Technical Institute in Rosemead, California, was asked to formulate an appropriate sequence of courses, recruit students, oversee the outfitting of laboratory facilities and build the program to a position of national prominence. He accepted the offer because the opportunity to start a brand new curriculum was both challenging and exhilarating. He arrived in Houston in August 1993 and began preparing the new curriculum. More information about Dr. Waite is available at http://www.graphics.tech.uh.edu/people/faculty_staff/waite.php.
The faculty of the Industrial Technology Department (now the Information and Logistics Technology [ILT] Department) worked with the TPEF and the Printing Industries of the Gulf Coast to construct a sequence of graphic communications-specific courses that meet the needs of the printing and publishing industries. Graphic Communications Technology (GRTC) courses cover printing processes as well as electronic publication (multi-media and Internet), prepress, press, finishing, and costing activities. Approval for the specialization was acquired from the TPEF (acting as the advisory committee) and the faculty of the Department. The graphic-specific courses have been approved by the College, the University, and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Since the curriculum was originally established in 1993, GRTC courses have been reviewed and updated on a regular basis by a committee composed of representatives of the Information and Logistics Technology Department, the TPEF, Printing Industries of the Gulf Coast, other industry leaders, local “feeder” school instructors, and GRTC alumni.
In addition to the GRTC area of emphasis, graphic communications technology students complete several management-related courses to complete their degree in Technology Leadership and Supervision (TELS). TELS core courses include production control, human resource management, logistics, quality control, leadership, and leading technological change in the workplace. A complete description of the TELS/GRTC program can be found at http://www.graphics.tech.uh.edu/program/degreePlan.php.

1993 - Curriculum & Goals Established

The graphic communications technology curriculum (GRTC) is an area of emphasis in the Technology Leadership and Supervision (TLS) Program. It is designed to prepare professional supervisors and managers for the highly unique and specialized printing and publishing industry, which is ranked among the largest industries in the United States. Individuals who wish to lead printing and publishing businesses need a broad understanding of graphic communications processes from ideation through image preparation, reproduction, and finishing. In addition, they need a background in supervisory theory and methodology. Because no other baccalaureate-level graphic communications technology program specializing in supervision exists in the state of Texas, the need for printing supervisors is acute. To satisfy this need, the Department aspires to become the premiere center for graphic communications technology in the Southwest. Eventually, the department's goal is to compete with the nationally known and respected programs offered by California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, and by Rochester Institute of Technology.

The TLS degree focuses on providing individuals with a competitive advantage when moving into leadership and supervisory roles in technology-based organizations. The program investigates the rapidly changing and complex nature of leadership in organizations that use and rely on technology. The TLS degree provides a long term, empowering approach to the practice of leading people rather than the short term, command and control approach to utilizing human resources. Students learn about leadership, the importance of organizational vision and values, developing human resources, and managing technological resources in corporate, government, non-profit, or community organizations. Leadership skills in goal setting, time management, verbal and visual communication, and leadership values and abilities are developed through relevant real world applications.

The faculty of the Industrial Technology Department worked with the TPEF and the Printing Industries of the Gulf Coast to construct a nine-course (27 semester-hour) graphic communications technology area of emphasis that meets the needs of the printing and publishing industries as well as those of the TLS degree plan. GRTC courses cover printing processes as well as electronic publication (multi-media and Internet), prepress, press, finishing, and costing activities. Approval for the specialization was acquired from the TPEF (acting as the advisory committee) and the faculty of the Department. The graphic-specific courses have been approved by the College, the University, and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Since the curriculum was originally established in 1993, GRTC courses have been reviewed and updated on a regular basis by a committee composed of representatives of the Industrial Technology Department, the TPEF, Printing Industries of the Gulf Coast, and GRTC alumni.

In addition to the TLS/GRTC area of emphasis, graphic communications technology students complete additional courses in technology and supervision, including courses in production control, OSHA/EPA compliance, and the impact of technological change on the workplace. A complete description of the TLS/GRTC program can be found on the Credit Courses page.

To serve students majoring in other fields, a fifteen semester-hour minor is offered by the College of Technology. This minor is recommended to students who major in journalism, fine arts, graphic design (studio arts), computer science, information systems, CADD, and architecture. A complete description of the GRTC minor is found on the Credit Courses page.

The GRTC program also serves all students enrolled in the Information Systems Technology (IST) degree program. IST students take courses in GRTC courses in Visual Communications Systems and Multimedia.

Besides providing instruction for University of Houston students, GRTC has a strategic partnership with the North Harris/Montgomery County Community College District so that students enrolled in desktop-publishing courses at Kingwood College can participate in GRTC courses through two-way interactive television.

By Fall 1998, Enrollment totaled 54 Students

In fall 1998, the graphic communications technology specialization and minor were serving a total of 54 students. According to Texas Printer magazine, this enrollment was the largest of any four-year college printing-related program in the state of Texas. At that time, the number of courses offered each semester exceeded the teaching load of one full-time faculty member. Therefore, at least one course or lab was taught each semester by a part-time professional from the industry.
The first student graduated with a minor in graphic communications technology in 1995, while the first specialist graduated in 1996. By the end of the Spring 1999 semester, over 40 students had graduated with either a major or minor specializing in graphic communications technology.

New and Expanded Facilities

In 1998, Dr. Bernard McIntyre, then Dean of the College of Technology, commissioned a five-year strategic plan for Graphic Communications Technology (GRTC). The plan was completed by a committee composed of a cross-section of Texas Printing Education Foundation (TPEF) board members, GRTC alumni, representatives from the Printing Industries of the Gulf Coast, and the GRTC curriculum coordinator (Dr. Jerry Waite). The plan contained a thorough evaluation of the existing program and suggestions to make
the program stronger. Two major recommendations were given: (1) to revise the course structure to make it even stronger, and (2) to expand the facilities to house an ever-growing student population.

Based upon the strategic plan, Dr. McIntyre allocated nearly 4,000 square feet of laboratory space in the 102 Wing of Building T to be used for GRTC courses. The space provided by the Dean is in an historically significant building known on campus as Technology I. Technology I was one of the original University of Houston buildings and was constructed in the late 1920’s. During the 1940’s, the building gained some notoriety because it was used by the military as the Houston-area training facility for personnel preparing to fight in World War II. It is reportedly one of the first air-conditioned classroom buildings built in the State of Texas.

Of the approximately 4,000 square feet allocated by the Dean to GRTC, 1,500 square feet (known as Rooms 102A-T and 102B-T) were occupied in Fall 1999. Digital prepress, multimedia, and web development classes are taught in Room 102A-T). Digital photography, color management, and color output are taught in Room 102B-T. Room 102A-T accommodate 30 students and Macintosh workstations, as well as output devices and other peripherals. The remaining 2,500 square feet, known as Room 102F, was occupied in 2000 and is used for image transfer—single and multicolor conventional and digital presses—as well as bindery and finishing equipment.

The Graphic Communications Technology laboratories are filled with a variety of state-of-the-art equipment that is updated on a regular basis. More information about the labs is available at http://www.graphics.tech.uh.edu/program/facilities.php.

Growing Faculty and Staff

To meet the needs of a growing student body, as well as a more diverse curriculum composed of print, web, and motion media, three additional professionals joined the GRTC program in the early 2000’s.

First on board, in 2004, was full-time graphic designer/lab assistant Ms. Ella O'Neal. Prior to Ms. O’Neal’s arrival, students had to limit their use of the Graphics computer lab to times when an instructor was available. No longer. Ms. O’Neal, who offices in the Digital Prepress lab, keeps the facility open for business 40 hours per week. In addition to sharing her experience and real-world graphic design tips and tricks with GRTC students, Ms. O’Neal assists faculty members during class sessions and spends time designing projects for the College of Technology and experiments for the GRTC students. More about Ms. O’Neal can be found at http://www.graphics.tech.uh.edu/people/faculty_staff/ella.php

In 2005, Ms. Monika Zarzycka joined the GRTC faculty as a full-time lecturer. Ms. Zarzycka brings to the program a wealth of experience in computer graphics, graphic and web design, and multimedia. She teaches Visual Communications, Computer Graphics, Multimedia, and web-related courses. She is responsible for developing courses in video postproduction to augment the GRTC print and web emphases. More about Ms. Zarzycka can be found at http://www.graphics.tech.uh.edu/people/faculty_staff/Zarzycka.php.

Mr. Harold Halliday joined the GRTC team in 2006. He has many years of offset press operation experience and spends about half of his time sharing his skills with the GRTC students as they progress through the hands-on print-related courses. Mr. Halliday spends the rest of his time using the GRTC equipment to produce printed products for the College of Technology. Learn more about Mr. Halliday at http://www.graphics.tech.uh.edu/people/faculty_staff/harold.php.