Staff Focus

Dr. Chuck Münster

Director, Center for Continuing and Professional Studies  
 

Tell us about the history of CCPS and how it came to be part of Pratt?
Continuing and Professional Studies began in 1975 with the establishment of the Pratt Manhattan Center. The original focus was on professional development and technology.  Over the past 36 years, the unit has broadened its scope to include a wide range of programming that includes fine arts, computer-related design, management and professional development, as well as architecture, graphic design, and crafts.

What exactly does CCPS offer and how does the school fit into the overall mission of Pratt?
Continuing and Professional Studies serves the educational needs of non-traditional learners. Our programs include the following: The Pre-College Program giving high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors an immersion experience in art, design or architecture; the Professional Studies programs, which gives professionals training to upgrade their skills, enables them to maintain or obtain professional licensure, or prepares them for certification in the vocation of their choice; Continuing Education, which offers courses covering disciplines primarily within Pratt’s area of study, such as art and design; and finally, Credit Programs, which include the study abroad and summer elective intensives.

What are the most popular courses or programs at CCPS?
Our computer graphics, photography, and sustainability certificate programs have shown increased popularity, especially with international students. They are designed to fulfill specific career aspirations for individuals who, in most cases, already have a bachelor’s or master’s degree. By far, the summer intensive courses have grown the most, with a 75% increase in enrollment since they were introduced five years ago.

Who is the typical CCPS student?
The Continuing and Professional Studies student is one who is not the traditional student enrolling in any of Pratt’s other four schools.  She or he is the professional adult, the undergraduate or graduate student who is not majoring in art, design, or architecture, or the high school student seeking to explore the exciting world of a Pratt education. 

We aspire to serve the current and emerging needs of diverse, non-traditional students and alumni in ways that align with Pratt Institute's overall vision; that complement Pratt's regular program offerings; and that are relevant and useful to today’s and tomorrow’s society and world.

What exactly is a summer intensive, and is there anything new about the summer intensives this year?
The Summer Credit Intensive courses are designed for the college-level or adult learner seeking exposure to new subject areas in fulfillment of academic or professional interests and objectives. The intensive courses were developed and modeled after highly successful summer Ivy League university programs which allow non-matriculated students to study under esteemed faculty at these universities and transfer credits back to their home colleges. Pratt, as a renowned art, design, and architecture school and a leader in sustainability has become highly sought after by students around the world to study in these disciplines. Each intensive course represents three undergraduate elective credits.  This summer we are offering the following courses: Photography, Fine Arts: Painting and Drawing, Graphic Design, Fashion Design, Architectural Design, and Photography. This summer, for the first time, we will be introducing classes in Digital Photography, Interior Design, and Creative Technologies.

Anything else new at CCPS that we should know about?
We have recently entered into a partner agreement with The International Facility Management Association (IFMA) to offer a credentialing program for professional facilities managers. Today more than ever, companies are interested in their current or prospective employees’ ability to demonstrate that they meet industry-wide standards. The IFMA Facility Management Professional Credential Program is a comprehensive training and assessment program that provides facility management professionals with the tools to master today’s FM knowledge and skills to earn their FMP credential.

What benefit does CCPS offer alumni?
CCPS is a dynamic and ongoing link to Pratt alumni. An integral part of our mission and an important goal for us is to continually provide state-of-the-art updates and enhancements to the skills and competencies they learned at the Institute. Alumni are also an important source for us in identifying faculty and developing new courses. We offer a 10% discount off the price of all courses to Pratt alumni, one of the many benefits of the newly created Pratt Alumni Association. Class offerings and prices vary. Contact CCPS for a current catalog and details on how to register: pratt.edu/ccps or visit alumni.pratt.edu for more information.

What do you do for fun after hours?
What was said about Jack being a dull boy…. Most of my free time is spent in some Pratt capacity because running Continuing and Professional Studies is so much more than a career.  It’s actually a whole lot of fun.

Aside from that, fixing up my co-op, enjoying my Siamese rescue kitten, and being infatuated with everything that this great city has to offer pretty much round out my life. 

Photo: Federico Savini

FACULTY AND STAFF NEWS AND NOTES

Composer and performer Svjetlana Bukvich-Nichols, visiting associate professor, Digital Arts, participated in a night of experimental music at Le Poisson Rouge in New York City featuring renowned avant-garde musician and electric violinist Ana Milosavljevic. One of Bukvich-Nichols’s original compositions was performed in addition to the world premiere of Milosavljevic’s latest work—a collaboration with choreographer Takehiro Ueyama and his company TAKE Dance—based on a Macedonian folk song called Zajdi, Zajdi. Bukvich-Nichols also accompanied the set with performances on keyboard, electronics, and voice.   

Joseph Hemway, vice president of information technology and CIO, Information Technology, was credited in an online article published by EdTech Magazine. Hemway was recognized for overhauling computer operations at St. Francis College in Brooklyn, where he worked as the school’s assistant vice president and chief technology officer, through “virtualization,” a strategy that allows a single server to run multiple operating systems and applications simultaneously. 

Frank Lind, professor, Fine Arts, was quoted in The Financial Times about the work of courtroom sketch artist and alumna Marilyn Church (B.F.A. ’59), commenting on her distinctive style and artistic technique. Church has been the sole visual documenter of some of the country’s most famous and infamous hearings.

Janice Robertson, visiting associate professor, History of Art and Design, spoke at the Fashion Institute of Technology’s first ever EduTech Day on March 10. The symposium addressed physical and virtual learning spaces and trends in classroom design. Robertson joined Brian Emery, chair of the photography department at FIT, in a conversation titled “Are we teaching art or technology? How can we do better?”

Theodora Skipitares, associate professor, Art and Design Education, debuted her new production of Aristophanes’ Lysistrata at La Mama Theater in New York City on February 8. Skipitares adapted, designed, and directed the show, incorporating puppets and masks to tell the comedic story of Lysistrata’s mission to end the Peloponnesian War. Skipitares was praised for her contemporary approach to this famous story in an article by Rachel Saltz that appeared among the theater reviews in The New York Times on February 8.

Laurel Thompson, professor, Creative Arts Therapy, recently received her doctorate from Union Institute and University in interdisciplinary studies, with a concentration in psychology and a specialization in creative arts therapy. Her dissertation was titled “Artistic choices in therapeutic practice: The use of art forms in creative arts therapy.”

Steve Zucker, chair, History of Art and Design, was profiled in The New York Daily News on February 25 about the launch of his new website, Smarthistory.org, which he created with Beth Harris, digital learning director at The Museum of Modern Art. The site provides free art history commentary on works of art organized by time period, artists, and style.