Brittany Thiesing
Staff photographer

Another command-shift will be in order this fall for the graphic design program.
On June 17, 2009, the graphic design program was reinstated to Cowley College when it was announced that Sunni Goentzle, graphic design instructor, was to be hired.
Unfortunately, Sunni’s teaching contract has not been renewed for this summer and the following semesters.
Sunni began her collegiate career taking classes at Cowley College. She spent more than seven years working as a graphic designer at Southwestern College and has ten years of professional experience as a freelance designer. When she was hired for the graphic design program at Cowley, she redesigned the curriculum and as handled the teaching and recruiting duties for the program.
The graphic design program at Cowley College focuses on the basics of good design through the iterative design process: problem definition, problem analysis, idea exploration, idea development, focus, refinement, and production.  “We have no intention to discontinue the program,” said vice president of academics affairs, Slade Griffiths.
The only change that has been made so far is moving the program to the humanities department, beginning with the 2012 fall semester.
“This is still in discussion stages right now,” said Marlys Cervantes, humanities department chair. “We just want to serve our students as fully as we can.” Until now, the graphic design program has been part of the business department.
“Graphic design has connection to both the business and the art department,” explained Beverly Grunder, the department chair and director of business and industry training.
“It was decided to move the program to the humanities department because of the close connection to the arts, communications, and journalism programs.” Cervantes said it had been housed in the business department because the emphasis was on marketing.
“Graphic design is one of those programs, like many, that fall into overlapping areas,” said Cervantes. With the graphic design program moving to a different department, the courses will take place in the computer lab in Kerr Technology.