When we think of art, many of us think of the elementary basics like painting, drawing, sculpting, dance, theater and essentially anything else where one craftily creates something new and displays it through some sort of medium.

However, art can encompass so much more than what we typically think of. 

Art goes beyond the concept of expression of an idea through a particular medium or skillset. Art involves originality, resourcefulness and developing new ways of thinking that are applicable and relevant outside of just the realm of art.

And for this reason, we believe that the success of art disciplines is so vitally important.

We need people who can strategize and execute company visuals, such as websites and logos, and who can come up with diagrams and designs to help explain complicated concepts. We need people who have basic skills of drawing and spatial awareness to help create layouts or organize offices. We need people with aesthetic abilities and innovative ideas to help bring new concepts to the table. 

Because of all of these necessities and others that apply to most jobs, it worries us when the maintenance of these art-related fields is threatened. Edward Feser, dean of the College of Fine and Applied Arts, said that visual and design disciplines in public universities may falter if change doesn’t occur. 

The cost for students in FAA has been steadily growing over the years, from $28,492 in 2008 to $31,198 in 2013. These rises in cost have to do with necessary costs for the department superseding tuition revenue.

While the issue of funding is an overarching, pressing issue in the case of art programs, we do not believe that these particular disciplines should falter because of that. 

There is most definitely a reputation for art-related degrees being tied to low-paying jobs that deters some students, but as mentioned previously, there are skills pertinent to this discipline that are applicable to all sorts of fields.

Students should not be turned off or withdraw from pursuing majors or minors in FAA because they can be taken alongside other majors and minors as well, and they may also be able to teach sets of skills that are applicable beyond a studio.

We believe the services, skills and learning opportunities that may be provided in FAA, and art disciplines nationally, are just as important and qualified as others, and students should not be discouraged from entering this field.

We hope that changes in funding and minor alterations and broader applications of these programs will be enough to stimulate more student interest and maintain the survival of these necessary art disciplines.