Last November, the University of Hawai’i Board of Regents approved three new permanent Creative Media Degrees at UH Maui College, Kaua’i Community College, and Hawai’i Community College.
The programs were granted temporary Provisional status to last three years in 2016, but the arrival of the pandemic complicated consideration of the permanent degree. With this vote, the three programs are now formally recognized as Established by the UH Board of Regents.
“As an island creative that graduated from Baldwin High on Maui in 1982, I was forced not only to leave the island but also the state to pursue degrees in Art, Graphic Design, and Radio, Television, Video, and Film on the mainland,” shared UH Maui’s program coordinator Brian Kohne. Until recently, young local creatives like himself faced the dilemma of limited options for professional creative growth on the island. “Achieving permanency in the eyes of the UH Board of Regents recognizes the work of many throughout the islands to build an educational path in media here at home, and also reflects the strides we’ve made in the creative industries sector over the past 20 years.”
Since 2020, UH Maui College has seen an enrollment rate increase of 60%. The opportunities provided by ACM Maui have been game-changing for students, as they no longer need to leave the islands to pursue Animation, Graphic Design, Filmmaking, and now Creative Media.
Kaua’i Community College has also seen great success, with the Creative Media program currently maintaining 45 students, with about 100 students taking a Creative Media course each semester. “By providing a diverse mix of viable digital media learning experiences, the Creative Media program is a hub of digital media talent that local businesses can count on to help grow their businesses,” shared Kauai Community College program coordinator Stephen Watkins. “In essence, the Creative Media program provides skills needed for students to make a living and to become valuable contributors in Kauai County.”
Similarly, the Creative Media program at Hawai’i Community College currently maintains over 60 students in the program, a 56% increase following the COVID years, and one of two majors on the campus to see an increase in enrollment. “[The] program provides students the opportunity to develop and hone in on skills that they are passionate about,” said Hawai’i Community College’s program coordinator Meidor Hu. Supported by the technical education that the program provides, students will be able to apply their enhanced creative media skill set to projects of all scales.
These new programs are vital for the prosperity and growth of Hawai’i’s creatives. With barriers to creative work and opportunities decreasing thanks to the ACM System, students across the islands interested in Creative Media now have a variety of options to choose from on where they want to continue their academic journey.
Local creative graduates of UH ACM programs from all over Hawai’i have been trailblazers in filmmaking, acting, producing, and other forms of digital media, having been featured in works with global audiences. This landmark achievement in expanding opportunities for Maui, Kaua’i, and Hawai’i Island is instrumental in supporting local voices, experiences, and talent.
Comments ( 0 )