[First an aside. I've noticed that some posts have referred to some
of my questions as arguments. Although one might infer a position on
my part from the following questions, they are not meant as a covert
argument; they are questions. Much is made on this list of scientific
method and one of the basic methods of science is to start off trying
to disprove one's point of view so pointed questions will, I hope, be
taken as areas that need exploration and/or explication rather than
as rhetorical assaults. One could argue that if my point of view is
completely clear in my questions then that is a sign of failure on my
part to question enough.

I hope for comments from a range of points of view on any or all of
the following. Some questions are particular to Arizona State
University in response to one of Jacques' comments but please feel
free to answer for your own institutions.]

--------------

I'm curious whether anyone has any comments on what seems to be a
disparity between Ken and Jacques' comments.

Ken wrote(in response to my graphic design- and US-centric questions)
that "The Ph.D. has NEVER been proposed as the highest degree award
in the practice of graphic design. The College Art Association is on
record that the MFA in graphic design practice is the highest degree
in the profession, and many of us on this list agree with that."

Are there any of you who do not agree?

Jacques wrote that "For example, they left a college where graphic
design only offered a bachelor's degree and joined one in which they
are expected to be involved in the graduate as well as the doctoral
programs. This challenge has been partially met by stressing HIGHER
ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS FOR ALL NEW HIRES. THE MFA MAY NOT BE GOOD
ENOUGH ANYMORE FOR A RESEARCH INSTITUTION LIKE ASU ." [my emphasis]

Jacques (and/or anyone)--are the ASU design programs not largely
practice-based? How does that square with Ken and the CAA's point of
view?

Are any of you involved in undergraduate programs that are not
primarily practice-based? If your program is other than
practice-based, how do you present that to potential undergrads (who
tend, in my experience, to assume that the purpose of enrolling in a
design program is to learn to become a designer)?

Assuming the ASU programs are practice-based, does ASU tend to start
new faculty at other than underpaid Assistant Professor rank? How
does one attract the rare faculty that has PhD and MFA degrees as
well as working experience?

When there are not enough of those to go around, what to you think
will be the requirement sacrificed--PhD degree, research experience,
MFA degree, or practical experience?

Considering the trend in the US in recent years to fill nearly all
jobs at the Assistant Professor rank, has anyone seen a trend in
design fields akin to business, law, and medical fields of augmented
pay to attract these new faculty who have multiple advanced degrees,
practice, research, and teaching experience, and thus presumably have
other opportunities?

Gunnar
--
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