creeping

classes start on Monday and I am still in vacation mode. I'm going to be assisting with a video documentary class this semester. there were several challenges facing students last semester (I know because I was one of them) such as logistical and technical complications in the lab. I am hoping to be available to help navigate some of these possible problems. I will also be researching the idea of creating a media club. Something that can respond to projects on camp this that will benefit from an amateur videographer/photographer/?.

flyer for sp '05 course

Making Video Documentaries:

A hands-on video production class focusing on empowerment, community and social issues

This course combines theory and practice in an intensive introduction to the history, theory and practice of social documentary production.

Students learn basic digital video field production, lighting, sound, interviewing and non-linear editing using equipment in labs and the field.

A practical and theoretical framework for making documentaries – Mondays @ 11:30 w/ labs

Registration: Contact:
CPCS students through
CPCS-WISE – CMCTTR 220-2

Non-CPCS - speak to advisor

Fred Johnson -
Matt Landry – matthew.landry001@students.umb.edu

admissions - outline

Outline - admissions of admission

I think it makes sense to think of this project as a documentary video letter, as described in the video activist handbook Chapter 11 page 196.

The intended audience of this project would be the Chancellor's office, the dean of CPCS, the director of the admissions office and the vice chancellor in charge of admissions.

I. Introduction
A. Option one - Narrator voice as we walked down a hallway towards the wits end Café - what is CPCS and what are some major concerns?
B. Option two - conversation between narrator and another student.
1. “How are your classes is going?” “OK but there doesn't seem to be many offerings this semester” “I was talking to someone from liberal arts the other day and they didn't even know what CPCS was” “we should figure out why we feel like we have issues and no one knows who we are”
C. table conversation with three different perspectives on what CPCS is at the wits end Café
D. Narration of history by Professor (Michael Stone, Joan Arches) Dean?
1. relate to the College to the urban mission
2. promotion of CPCS from the University
3. other issues caused by CPCS (isolationism)
4. In addition get some facts from Sarah Bartlett related to enrollments and retention - two other serious issues for CPCS
5. why do you think that enrollment is down
II. Admissions
A. outline process by admission worker
1. Is this process fair to all colleges?
B. five stories from current CPCS students
1. Questions
a. Why were you first interested in CPCS?
b. What was your first contact with the University?
c. Did University admissions guide you to the College of your choice?
d. Are you happy with where you are?
III. Enrollment
A. Why is enrollment down?
B. How is this impacted by the current admissions process?
IV. Retention
A. how does CPCS compare to the other colleges


Items and red may be beyond the scope of this project.

This raises some specific questions:

What about the larger problem of university enrollment being down? Should we look for problems in admissions that relate to this as well?

How should interviews be done? i.e. should we use a narrator off-camera?