“No starving artists”: Savannah College of Art and Design leans into creativity as U.S. college enrollment drops

The pandemic, soaring prices and inquiries over relevance had led to a 5% fall in enrollment at U.S. schools about the final two yrs. But one particular Ga faculty is bucking the craze many thanks to a unique method. 

For a class in sneaker style and design, or to shoot a digital commercial in the Arctic, head to the Savannah School of Art and Design — also recognized as SCAD — where design and style fulfills engineering. 

Enrollment is up 9% from the preceding year. 

“We are extremely oriented towards creation, much more so than custom,” faculty president Paula Wallace told CBS Information. “Whilst other colleges may possibly be far more emphasizing tradition about invention.” 

Wallace mentioned the curriculum is critiqued and updated many occasions a yr. 

The most preferred majors are animation, filmmaking and manner. Sneaker style is now a minor in a curriculum that’s evolving nimbly and virtually. It has an overall school committed to organization innovation. 

“Not a lot of men and women, when they are implementing for a attractiveness advertising occupation, can say they majored in magnificence and fragrance in faculty,” Hannah Harris, a 2022 graduate, advised CBS Information. 

Harris explained she’s figured out how to start a product or service and deliver her suggestions to everyday living. 

“Creativeness is definitely about invention that’s applicable,” Wallace mentioned. “We will not train anything that you are not able to get a good occupation in.” 

SCAD statements students have a 99% work level inside of 10 months of graduation — “no starving artists,” Wallace quipped. 

“Our pupils want to get the job done at Disney, Google, L’Oreal, and individuals businesses want to retain the services of and they do employ from SCAD,” Wallace mentioned. 

Editor’s take note: An before model of this short article incorrectly said that the Savannah University of Art and Structure gave most freshmen a VR headset. The university offers college students access to VR headsets from the to start with day they are on campus, but the headsets are not presents.