The Graphic Arts Education and Research Foundation has approved five new grants for 2003, supporting a variety of projects designed to enhance industry education at every level. The five new grants amount to $92,134 bringing the total funding distributed by the Foundation since its inception to over $4 million. More than 45 different institutions have received GAERF funding. Central Missouri State University was awarded a grant to host a one-week institute during the summer of 2003 for the purpose of providing high school graphic arts teachers with the latest in technical information and activities to help them learn how to continue to justify their program in today’s secondary curriculum mix. Participants will learn practical, motivating ways to incorporate the newest, most interesting technology in promoting their programs, and presenting educational curricular offerings that will be in demand rather than targets for closure. For further information, contact Dr. E. Lee Weir at [email protected] or (864) 543-4726. The Association House of Chicago was awarded a grant to fund a portion of a workforce development program, Graphic Futures. This program provides educational hands-on training in the printing industry that will ultimately lead to career track opportunities with livable wages and growth potential for underemployed and unemployed individuals. Graphic Futures will provide individuals with pre-employment training, case management, and support and placement services. As the printing industry is faced with an aging skilled workforce in a technologically evolving work environment, the goal of Graphic Futures is to prepare a committed workforce for the graphic communications industry. For further information, contact Cynthia Schmidt at [email protected] or (773) 772-7170. Georgia Southern University was awarded a grant to continue and expand the comprehensive printing industry-training program known as Southeastern Comprehensive Opportunities in Printing Education (SCOPE). Expansion will include more online course development, extension of programs to regional states, and focus on development of standardized, structured certificate education programs. A first-year GAERF grant enabled the university to create the Printing Education Network (PEN) that focused chiefly on developing online training efforts. But much more was needed by the industry, and with the support of a 2002 GAERF grant, SCOPE was created, providing a broader program that included not only online education but contract training, printing workshops, and continued development of Printing Education Network (PEN). Utilizing electronic technologies to deliver training and onsite laboratory instruction, GSU improves the education level of the current labor force, thus helping to find qualified staff for available positions within the industry. For further information, contact Dr. Jim Holmes at [email protected] or (912) 681-0334. California Polytechnic State University was awarded a grant to fund a Graphic Arts Teachers’ Workshop during July 2003 to educate and update teachers in the latest technology, management, and teaching strategies for the industry. The workshop will focus on providing a basic understanding of the most significant and timely topics facing graphic arts instructors, including design and prepress, printing and publishing using the major processes, binding and finishing, and management issues. The program will include a combination of lecture, discussion, and laboratory activities and will be divided into two distinct sections. The first section will focus on computer graphics, desktop publishing, journalism and yearbook instruction for thirty (30) graphic arts teachers, counselors and industry professionals. This one-day session will provide individuals with the opportunity to be brought up-to-date on current industry trends. The second section will consist of four days of instruction that will specifically target the graphic arts teacher. Attendance will be reduced to fifteen (15) and will focus on more advanced concepts and hands-on opportunities. California Polytechnic State University was also awarded a grant to fund a Flexography Workshop during August 2003 to educate teachers and industry leaders in basic color flexographic prepress and printing. As there is no training of this type west of the Mississippi, the workshop will greatly improve industries ability to meet the many technological changes in the quality of flexography. For further information on the programs at Cal Poly, contact Steve Godin at [email protected] or (805) 756-5170. The Graphic Arts Education and Research Foundation was founded in 1983 by the National Association for Printing Leadership (NAPL), NPES The Association for Suppliers of Printing, Publishing, and Converting Technologies and the Printing Industries of America (PIA) to serve as a source of financial support for educational and research projects that promote a strong future for the printing industry. The Foundation is funded with income generated by the major national and international trade expositions managed by the Graphic Arts Show Company (GASC), which was also created by the three industry associations.