Education & Research Group Marks Progress
GAERF awards grants, launches Web site for students, and certifies program success.
Staff -- graphic arts online, 9/1/2004
The Graphic Arts Education and Research Foundation (GAERF), best known for providing since 1983 more than $4.5 million for some 125 educational and research projects at about 45 institutions through its grant-making program, recently announced progress on two other initiatives it administers, recruitment and education accreditation.
The organization was founded by the three owners of the Graphic Arts Show Company (GASC): National Association for Printing Leadership; NPES The Association for Suppliers of Printing, Publishing and Converting Technologies; and the Printing Industries of America/Graphic Arts Technical Foundation.
GAERF, based in Reston, Va., channels a portion of revenues earned by GASC-managed shows into projects supporting a strong future for the printing field.
In June, GAERF launched the second phase in its "Make Your Mark in Graphic Communications" program, which began with the distribution of career-information kits distributed to 65,000 high school teachers and guidance counselors nationwide.
The new initiative, a new Web site, makeyourmark.org, is designed for students exploring careers in graphic communications. It includes information on the scope of the industry, products, and career possibilities. It also features photo interviews with real industry managers, an interactive quiz inviting students to match their interests with career options, and information about colleges with graphic communications programs, including scholarships and job search tips and links.
Also, as part of its PrintED accreditation program for high school and post-secondary graphic communication programs, GAERF awarded certifications in July to 108 students who earned passing scores on a standardized on-line examination begun earlier this year, and developed a series of exams (three of seven thus far) with which to measure and demonstrate the success of graphic communications courses of study.
The aim of the tests is to ensure that PrintED-accredited programs would produce graduates who could demonstrate minimal competency in key technical areas, in response to a growing emphasis on accountability in education.
At present, PrintED accredits more than 150 programs and 50 candidate programs.
A few months ago, Randolph W. Camp, president of Monroe Graphics, Monroe, Ga., was elected chairman of GAERF.
