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UH and Océ Team to Solve Specialized Equipment Dilemma In what may be one of the most perfect solutions to an age-old specialized equipment dilemma, Océ, an international manufacturer of printers, copiers, and digital presses, agreed in late 2001 to provide a $65,000 state-of-the-art 3165 digital press to UH for about one month each semester. Under the terms of the agreement, Océ will deliver and install a digital press, train the instructor and students, provide service and supplies, and remove the machine at the end of the term. To read the entire story, click the above photo or click here. |
The Graphic Communications Technology program at the University of Houston was recently honored by two scholarship donors: UH is one of six universities nationwide that Time Incorporated Scholars may attend (read article) and one of five schools in which students may compete for International Newspaper Group (ING) scholarships (http://ing.azcentral.com/). You can read about Sheila Childers and Thirza David, two of the ING scholarship recipients, in the Spring 2002 Graphic Technologist. |
Graphic Communications Technology is an area of emphasis in the Technology Leadership and Supervision Program offered by the University of Houston College of Technology.
The primary objective of the Graphic Communications Technology curriculum at University of Houston is to prepare students for leadership roles (i.e., production management, quality control, sales, planning, customer-service, and estimating) in graphic communications businesses. Graphic Communications (GC) refers to the processes and industries that create, develop, produce, or disseminate products utilizing or incorporating words or pictorial images to convey information, ideas, and feelings. GC products facilitate learning, enjoyment, motivation, and commerce. Graphic Communications includes the family of market segments embracing the technologies of printing, publishing, packaging, electronic imaging, and their allied industries: they are often referred to as the graphic arts, print, or imaging industries. Effective contemporary graphic communication requires a mix of communications technologies: still- and motion multimedia and web sites in addition to printed media. For this reason, the Graphic Communications Technology curriculum at UH can be thought of as a tapestry created by weaving together print, multimedia, and web design technologies.
The secondary objective of the Graphic Communications Technology degree program is to prepare students for technological careers in the graphic communications industries. The program prepares students for a variety of careers, including Digital Imaging Technician, Electronic Prepress Technician, Multimedia Specialist, Webmaster, and Offset Lithographic Press Operator.
The courses cover the specific subject matter outlined by the Graphic Arts Technical Foundation (GATF) in their GATF Imaging Skills Curriculum. Therefore, graduates of the program are prepared to take GATF's certification examination. The curriculum also covers all the subject matter required to pass the certification examination for the General Requirements for Applications in Commercial Offset Lithography (GRACoL). There are also numerous vendor specific examinations, such as those offered by Adobe, which students will be able to pass-should they choose to do so-upon completion of the program.
Graphic Communications is a dynamic and ever-changing field, and is ranked among the largest industries in the United States. Texas is home to over 10,000 printing operations, employing in excess of 80,000 workers, that produce more than $6.6 billion in sales annually! In addition, there are literally hundreds of thousands of Texans who do graphic-related work, such as desktop-publishing, in non-printing firms.
Graphic Communications businesses need talented and educated people. In fact, Texas printing trade associations estimate that a minimum of 5,700 educated technicians are needed each year to allow the state's printing firms to maintain their current status and continue to grow. Nationally, the Graphic Arts Technical Foundation reports that there are over 22,000 unfilled positions in the printing and publishing industries.
Besides the need for technicians, there is an unmet need for leadership in the printing industry. In fact, the Graphic Communications Technology specialization at the University of Houston was inspired by the Printing Industries of the Gulf Coast, the Texas Printing Education Foundation and the Houston Litho Club because professional and educated leaders are very hard to find.
Graphic Communications businesses are exciting, dynamic and healthy in Texas. It needs highly educated people to lead it into the future. It needs you. Come, be part of it!
Graphic Communications Technology at UH
The University of Houston is involved with two distinct educational programs within the field of Graphic Communications Technology. The primary focus is the college-credit program that leads to a Bachelor of Science in Technology degree. The goal of the Bachelor's degree program is to prepare talented individuals with the vision and knowledge to lead the printing and publishing industry into the future. Leaders must have a broad-based education in many fields so that they may see the connections between trends and make wise choices. For this reason, students in the Bachelor's degree program learn about a wide range of technological fields, including electronic prepress technology, multi-media and Internet technology, presswork, finishing, costing, planning, and printing processes. In addition, students complete a rigorous university core curriculum, including courses in mathematics, science, social science, and English. A fifteen semester-hour minor is also available to students pursuing other majors. For more information, call 713-743-4089, or send an e-mail to JWAITE@uh.edu.
The University also cooperates with the Texas Printing Institute (TPI), a non-profit teaching activity of the Texas Printing Education Foundation, to offer non-credit short-term courses to working professionals. Courses are taught for three hours on evenings and on Saturdays, usually last only five weeks, and cover topics such as the operation of computer software and hardware. The TPI also offers courses tailor-made to the needs of specific businesses. For more information, call 713-522-1066.
Through its two separate programs, the University of Houston provides college students, professional technicians, and Houston-area printers with the answers to their educational needs.
Career Opportunities Students graduating from the Graphic Communications Technology specialization may pursue many careers including:
Printing Supervisor/Manager
The median salary range in 1999 for these jobs in the Houston Gulf-Coast area ranged from $22,000-$60,000 annually.
- Owner/CEO
- Plant Manager
- Production Manager
- Assistant Production Manager
- Estimator
- Sales Manager
- Supervisor
- Customer Service Representative
Printing Technician
The median wage range in 1999 for these jobs in the Houston Gulf-Coast area ranged from $19,000-$44,000 yearly (without overtime).
- Scanner Operator
- Electronic Prepress Technician
- Preflighter
- Graphic Photographer
- Color Technician
- Screen Printing Technician
- Press Operator
- Bindery/Finishing Technician
Graphic Communications Teacher
Teachers employed in Texas secondary, post-secondary and industrial settings average starting salaries of $28,000 annually.
- Junior-High Industrial Technology Teacher
- Senior-High Industrial Technology Teacher
- Community-College Instructor
- Program Coordinator
- Department Chair
- Vocational director/supervisor
Graphic Communications Salesperson/ Technical Representative
Graphic Communications Salespersons are generally paid on a commission basis so their salaries may range widely.
- Printing Salesperson
- Printing Supplies Salesperson
- Printing Equipment Salesperson
- Printing Equipment or Supply Technical Representative