A new college has moved into town, offering a mix of creative arts courses that are proving popular with today’s high school graduates. Education Management Corporation of Pittsburgh, Penn., purchased Tucson Design College last fall. The school was renamed Art Institute of Tucson and became part of the company’s 40-plus campus Art Institute system.
Existing fashion programs transitioned from associate degrees to bachelor’s degrees, requiring the department to reapply for accreditation and delaying the opening date until March of this year, explained Elizabeth Heuisler, director of the fashion departments. But she feels the wait was worthwhile. "We’re getting a very good response. Other colleges around town all offer associate degrees. Here students can get a bachelor’s. It will make a difference in getting jobs."
Students who began the fashion program under the Tucson Design College name will finish coursework as planned. New enrollees study under an accelerated schedule, graduating in three years.
The school’s annual fashion show is being revamped this fall to take on a more environmentally friendly and philanthropical approach. Its November 16 Runway for Research fundraiser will benefit the pediatric cancer unit of Steele Children’s Research Center. Instead of designing and creating fashions as in past years, students will restyle donated clothing from retail shops.
Currently receiving a great deal of attention, Heuisler pointed out, is the Culinary Arts program, directed by Chef Bill Sy. "It was a real coup that we got him," she said, listing a few of his many credentials.
After serving as the academic director of Culinary Arts at the Art Institute of Phoenix for 10 years, Sy took over the same position in Tucson last year. He’s earned numerous advanced educational degrees and has held employment world wide. His long list of distinctions includes Certified Master Chef, China; Certified Executive Chef, American Culinary Federation; Gold Medal, Tucson Hot Food Competition; and Education Chair, American Culinary Federation Western Region.
Sy attributes the increased popularity of culinary education in the past decade to television cooking shows such as those on PBS and the Food Network. "Young people receive influence from TV. I go to high schools a lot – it’s trendy for them – it’s a good thing," said Sy, who estimates that the number of colleges teaching Culinary Arts has doubled in recent years.
Tucson’s Art Institute offers a three-year bachelor’s degree and a one-year, eight-month associate degree in Culinary Arts, as well as an associate degree in Baking & Pastry. Other programs include Advertising, Interior Design, Digital Filmmaking & Video Production, Graphic Design, Media Arts & Animation and Web Design & Interactive Media.
Following last year’s change in ownership, the college moved into a larger location at 5099 East Grant Road in space previously occupied by University of Phoenix. "We have the whole first floor plus three-quarters of the second floor and we’ll expand to the rest of the building eventually," Heuisler reported.
The new location allows the culinary school enough room for two kitchens with high-end equipment, student seating, two 42" plasma TVs and an extensive audio/video system.
Involvement with students at the high school level is helping drive the enrollment at the Art Institute schools. Several departments are organizing events or contests to generate interest among the younger set.
In May the Culinary department kicked off its Best Teen Chef Cook-Off, a local competition among area high school students with a winner moving on to the next level. "Each campus sends one gold medalist and immediate family or teacher to go to the national competition," which this year was held in Las Vegas, Sy noted. "The national winner goes on a national TV network and wins a scholarship."
The Fashion department’s equivalent event will be this fall’s Passion for Fashion Competition, open to high school seniors. In the Fashion Design category, students submit designs for eveningwear. Students in the Fashion Marketing contest create a marketing, merchandising or retail management product or plan.
"It’s being partnered with Seventeen Magazine," Heuisler said. "The grand prize is full tuition (to the college) where they entered and a trip to New York City for Fashion Week in February," including attendance at fashion shows and a meet and greet with magazine staff. Entry information will be available through the Art Institute of Tucson and Seventeen Magazine’s October issue. Entry deadline is November 21.
Summer Studio 2008, held June 15-18, turned out to be a big success according to Heuisler. The series of workshops provided teenagers 16 and older hands-on experience in the creative arts, exposing them to a sampling of the curriculum available at Art Institute of Tucson. Participants worked with the JW Marriott Starr Pass in a multi-disciplinary green campaign.
Culinary students toured the resort’s gardens to learn about growing locally, while fashion students created market bags and designed uniforms for the front desk and restaurant staff. Those in the advertising and graphics fields designed a logo for the resort, and filmmaking students documented the entire process. Heuisler felt the program gave participants a wonderful college experience.
Instructors at the school are current or past business people who bring real life lessons into the classroom. Heuisler emphasized that due to the school’s growth, the directors will be looking for additional faculty members. "We’d like to have a real variety of instructors to have different experiences. People with industry experience are welcome and they’re required to have a master’s."
Art Institute of Tucson offers year-round 11-week quarters with classes expected to expand with the October enrollment.
Christy Krueger is a Tucson-based freelance writer.
Art Institute of Tucson
5099 East Grant Road
(520) 318-2700
www.artinstitutes.edu/tucson
Provides year-round education with 11 week quarters. They offer degrees in fashion, culinary arts, advertising, interior design, digital filmmaking and video production, graphic design, media arts and animation and Web design and interactive media.
