Offer a Video Technology Degree Program at Ivy Tech

Ivy Tech has previously offered various film production classes under the section name "Video Technology (VIDT)." Currently, Visual Communications (VISC) is the only program at Ivy Tech that offers these classes as electives. Unfortunately, Visual Communications is not offered through the Bloomington campus, but the best way to solve the issue would be to unburden the Visual Communications program of the Video Technology classes and allow them their own program. A Video Technology course would be, essentially, a film production course, designed to teach aspiring filmmakers the skills necessary to produce film and television.

In addition, a basic filmmaking class that is not offered yet is Screenwriting. This would be an essential class to a Video Technology degree, and in general, a really interesting elective for creative writers. The Bloomington campus has many wonderful programs, instructors, and students. However, by lacking this degree, it is putting many students in a unique position. Many Ivy Tech students in general (and Bloomington students specifically) are being forced to transfer to other schools in order to take these classes. Offering this program at Ivy Tech would allow students more choice and convenience.

Finally, the Visual Communications program is only offered at the Evansville, Indianapolis, Columbus, Lafayette, Fort Wayne, Kokomo, Sellersburg, South Bend, and Terre Haute campuses. In spite of such a lengthy list, many campuses seem to lack many classes that are needed to complete the degree, meaning some students have to switch between campuses that may be of inconvenient distances in order to complete their degree.

Many of the Bloomington students come from the Bedford and Mitchell areas, and some come from much farther away. In order to be part of the Visual Communications degree, a Bloomington student would realistically only be able to go to Indianapolis, Columbus, Terre Haute, or Evansville without travelling farther than necessary. Even with this, this drive will most likely take an hour at least, and two at most.

For a college that is striving to be seen as a convenient but educationally sound option, many students are missing out on the former.

This petition's goal is to do three things:

1. Expand the amount of Video Technology (VIDT) classes offered (including the addition of a Screenwriting class), and
2. begin offering a Video Technology degree program at Ivy Tech in general and the Bloomington campus specifically, and
3. begin offering the Visual Communications program at the Bloomington campus.

SEE WHAT YOU CAN DO WITH A VIDEO TECHNOLOGY DEGREE:

This Short film was filmed on location at Ivy Tech Community College - Bloomington, by students of the Fall 2016 VISC 105 Video and Sound Class. This petition is aimed at creating an entire program structured around teaching students how to make things like this: