Oversight at LBCC Leaves Terminated Graphic Arts Program Active for Two Years

Lewis Franklin - Photo by Chris Trotchie 

On Wednesday, April 15, the graphic arts students arrived to their classes for what they thought would be just another day. What they were told changed everything they thought they were working to accomplish at LBCC.

There was apparently an error - the AAS Graphic Arts degree doesn't exist.

Dave Becker, dean of business, applied technology and industry, spoke to the students enrolled in the Associates of Applied Science Graphic Arts program and broke the bad news. None of them will get the degree that they came to LBCC to earn.

In 2013 the program was officially terminated for financial reasons, according to President Greg Hamann. Since then the program has not been accredited at LBCC.

Just before spring break someone noticed the mistake. An apparent oversight and lack of communication between administration, admissions, and financial aid resulted in the program not stopping.

Since the 2013 termination, new students have been enrolling for the degree, financial aid has been received, and instructors have been teaching the curriculum. All printed and online materials still listed it as active.

There are 10 graphic arts students scheduled to graduate this term. Of them, seven will get a Visual Communication degree and three will receive an Associate of General Studies.

Katie Turner is in her second-year of the program, but in her third year at LBCC. Two years ago she switched her major from fine arts to graphic design. After three years on campus she is now getting neither of the degrees she studied for. Instead she will get a Visual Communication degree.

"I'm pretty pissed off about it. I feel really lied to. It's two years down the drain they can't give me back," said Turner.

Lynn Tackett, also a second-year student, lives 60 miles from LBCC and commutes four days a week to be in the labs from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

"I'm getting Visual Communication, not the graphic arts degree that I thought. I don't know how something like this can fall through the cracks," said Tackett.

Doug Hibbert, scheduled to graduate this term, lives four miles from Chemeketa Community College. He chose to commute to LBCC because he felt it was the better program. He has since taken out school loans and financial aid to pay for it.

"They sold me a program they can't honor," said Hibbert. "I've got money tied up in this."

After hearing the news of the program's apparent termination, he scrambled to see if he could salvage his investment and transfer to Chemeketa. He was told that only 25 percent of his credits are transferable. Six weeks before graduation, LBCC can only offer him an Associate of General Sciences.

"I'm waiting to see what the campus is going to do and I told Dave I will look into a class action lawsuit to represent the 30 of us," said Hibbert.

The damage this will cause the college is unknown.

Lewis Franklin, graphic arts department chair, found out about this dilemma two days before spring break. He frantically worked with Becker and Frossene King, graphic arts instructor, to try and find a favorable resolution. Unable to do so, it left them no choice but to tell the students.

"I'm a little bit lost," said Franklin. "The details that went on above my pay grade I don't know. I don't understand it."

Franklin and King have formed a family bond with their students. They are struggling with having to tell them that despite all their specific training that qualifies them for specific jobs, they won't have a degree to prove it.

"It's very disappointing. I think that the students put their trust in us and we let them down in a big way," said King. "Now they're being told the degree never existed and they get a sub-par degree. It's unconscionable."