we eo RT ao eR Ge a — af From the minutes of the Com- puter Committee: Continued from the November 18 general computer meeting was the discussion regarding Ron Bar- ron’s position as Technical Assis- tant. His position has been extended to May 12, with negotiations to con- tinue in the new fiscal year with the possibility of regularizing his posi- tion. Michael Agrios noted the differ- ence between what Ron’s job descrip- tion actually read, and some of the extra duties he’s been performing fairly regularly in the computer areas. The committee was reminded that Ron is a technical assistant and not a studio assistant, and that questions and tasks VoOoL.4NO.6 of a non-technical or non-hardware nature should be directed to the appro- priate faculty or the Audio-Visual Manager. Painting instructor Paul Hess, and Dean Emeritus Tom Hudson, attended the committee as guest speakers, and voiced their concerns about ECCAD’s . computer curriculum and resources. Hudson reflected upon the last twenty years of advancements in com- puter technology, and problems arising from the lack of proper educational programs to come to terms with these advancements. He stressed the fact that visual literacy training should be as much a part of the standard secon- dary and post-secondary curriculum as numeracy and computer literacy. He BY KEVIN LOUIS How serious are you in being a full-time student at this college? Recently, the Program Advisory Council (PAC) approved anew grad- ing system for the whole college. The grading system had been under re- view by the College for some years. It was brought about to determine a student’s overall standing in the Col- lege and toensure different programs donot have different systems of grad- ing. The new grading system could be in place as early as the Fall, 1989 semester. A major component of the new grading system is that students are ex- pected to complete all college courses satisfactorily with a “C” grade or bet- ter. Grades of “D” and “F” will be monitored by the Registrar and may affect a student’s academic standing. How could this new grading sys- tem affect you? Any student who receives 12 cred- its of “D” or“F” grades over a period of two or more semesters will be placed on probation for the next semester in which the student is registered. More- over, any student who receives 8 cred- its of “D” grades or 4 credits of “D” grades and 4 credits of “F” grades in any one semester will be placed on probation for thenext semester in which the student is registered. In addition, a student who receives 8 credits or more of “F” grades in any one semester will not be permitted to register for another semester until after a review of his/her grades has been made by a subcommit- tee of the PAC to determine if (a) the student may be permitted to register on probation or (b) the student is to be suspended from the college. In more simple terms, if a student receives 2 “FP” grades in one semester the student risks being suspended from the Col- lege. Hello real world. However, if a student is placed on 1989 added that a large majority of people aren’table to deal with arapidly chang- ing society, and that proper educational systems need to be developed to change this, especially at the high-school level. It was mentioned by one faculty mem- . ber that the number of students enroll- ing in computer courses are already fairly computer-literate, but still have difficulties developing visual concepts ~ through the computer. Paul Hess provided an update on the use of the Commodore 64 comput- - ers up at the Painting Annex. While some students were adapting to the electronic medium fairly easily, some students suffered because of a lack of experience with computers of any kind. It was suggested that more thorough introductory computer courses be made available to beginning students. It was also proposed that a faculty member do some workshops at the Annex to help familiarize students with basic com- puter concepts and computer use. Paul Hess also read a memo from painting and drawing instructor Rick Williams, who recommended compulsory intro- ductory computer courses in the Foun- dation year for all students planning to enter the painting program. The plan for the next few meetings is to continue this review of the com- puter curriculum, and recommending possible changes or additions. From March to October of this year, Vancouver’s exotic sister city, Yokohama, Japan, is holding a major six-month long exposition ala EXPO 86 called The Yokohama Exotic Showcase (welike to think they called it this to coincide with this Exotica Issue, but our Japanese sources confirm that the name of the Show- case was chosen over two years ago). Vancouver’s presence at YES ‘89 ( a positive acronym if ever there was one ) can be partially credited to ECCAD’s own whimsical and colour- ful Sam Carter. Sam was commissioned to develop, design and oversee the creation of the probation, his/her grades will be moni- tored during the probation period and at the end of the period the student could either have his/her probation lifted or continued, or the student could be given an academic suspension from the College. Another component of this new grading system is the introduction of new letter grades. The addition of plus and minus signs to “B” grades and “C” grades will be incorporated. “A” grades will not be changed since gradations of excellence will be difficult to justify. It is hoped that with the addition of plus and minus signs to grades students will be given a better indication in distin- guishing their own work performance. For example, the following expla- nation was given for the C+/C/C- grade: Acceptable—Competentperformance in which the student demonstrates, through written or visual form as ap- propriate to the course, a generally adequate grasp of the issues pertinent tothe subject area. The studentdemon- strates creative ability and/or logical thinking and is able to analyze and integrate ideas in his or her work. It is hoped that the full range of grades will reduce unnecessary and extraneous pressures for higher grades among students. The main thrust of the modified grading system is to identify those students who are performing poorly in classes and to arrange between. the student and the Associate Dean most appropriate to the student’s program area for advice and assistance in achiev- ing a better performance record. The College hopes with this new grading system that high standards of academic and practical excellence will be achieved and maintained for the bene- fit of all students enrolled in the col- lege. te ot what? Vancouver Pavilion at this festival. During the summer of 1988, Sam worked with a group of equally whim- sical and colourful ECCAD students ( Laura Brown, Trish Lohner, Ron Kowalski, Mike Smart, Amanda For- bis and Val Nelson )to create videos, , decorative elements and the overall design of the pavilion. In the fall and winter of 88, ECCAD’s Laura Brown and Bill Kirpatnick got up to their elbows in papier mache and paint to recreate, in minature, all those well- known Vancouver landmarks we all know so well that they don’t even have to be mentioned, along with the whim- sical and colourful cavorting animals you’d expect to find in Vancouver ( salmon, beavers, geese ). International performance artist and ECCAD grad Andrew Wilson who coincidentally was also not bor in Calcutta, India, brought colour and whimsy to the production of these items. Along with this whimsical and colourful three-dimensional city map, the Vancouver Pavillion boasts a 25 foot long aluminum and plastic Salmon Lantern, an even larger totem pole, a huge cityscape done in silk, a tiny gallery shop that will sell BC arts and crafts, and a giant-sized dollhouse made out of BC wood and aluminum, which by DAVE SCALE features, along with more traditional dolls by BC artists, a life-size papier mache skate boarding puppet by Van- couver artist Marina Szjarto ( a colour- ful, whimsical and exotic name if ever there was one ). Naomi Singer, though not person- ally involved in any part of the design or production of the Vancouver Pavil- ion at YES ’89, does have the distinc- tion of knowing all the people named in this article. The Yokohama Exotic Showcase opens March 24th and runs until the middle of October. STHE ARM OF LAURA BROWN E.JOHN LOVE'S aS a — BY KEVIN LOUIS How serious are you in being a fultime student at this college? Recently, the Program Advisory Council PAC) approvedanew grad Ingsystem forthe whole college. The grading system had been under re- ‘lew by the College for some years. Iewas brought about to determine a student’soverallstandingin the Col- legeandtoensuredifferent programs donothavedlifferentsystemsofgrad- Ing. The new grading system could be in place as early as the Fall, 1989 ‘A major component of the new grading system i tha students are ex pected to complete all college courses satisfactorily with a"C" grade or bet- ter. Grades of “D" and “F” will be monitored by the Registrar and may affect a student's academic standing, How could this new grading sys tem affect you? [Any student who receives 12rd. From the minutes of the Com- puter Committee: Continued from the November 18 general computer meeting was, the discussion regarding Ron Bar- ron’s position as Techical Assis- tant. His postion hasbeen extended to May 12, with negotiations to con tinue in the new fisal year with the possibility of regularizing his post- ton. Michael Agrios noted the differ- tence between what Ron's job descrip- tion actualy read, and some of the extradutieshe'sbeenperforming fairly regularly in the compoter areas. The ‘committee was reminded that Ron is a technical assistant and not a studio assistant, and that questions and tasks of a non-technical or non-handware nature shouldbe directed to the appro- priate faculty or the Audio-Visual Manager. Painting instructor Paul Hess, and Dean Emeritus Tom Hudson attended the committee as guest speakers, and voiced ther concerns about ECCAD's ‘computer curiculum and resources ‘Hudson reflected upon the last ‘twenty years of advancements in com- puter technology, and problemsarising fom the lack of proper educational programs to come to terms with these fdvancements. He stressed the fact that visual Hieracy taining should be ‘a much a pat ofthe standard secon-