Technical College System of Georgia board members voted Thursday to phase out Gwinnett Technical College’s commercial photography program, disappointing several current and former students who asked the board at the meeting to reconsider its decision.
TCSG board members and system officials said they regretted the decision, but it was done for budgetary reasons and added that there are similar programs at other system colleges. The program will phase out in about two years, officials said.
“Unfortunately, there are times when difficult decisions need to be made,” board member Joe Yarbrough said during the meeting.
The program's supporters were perplexed by the decision. They shared data with board members showing enrollment increased from 107 students in 2016 to 158 students last year. The retention rates and graduation rates were 68 percent and 79 percent, respectively. They also cited news accounts from September that the college was upgrading its commercial photography curriculum. More than 1,400 people have signed a petition to keep the program.
Commercial photography “is the communication language of today. The need for professional providers of visual content is only increasing,” Leslie Bass, who said she graduated from the program about two months ago, told board members.
Bass and others said after the meeting they’d explore ways to keep the program.
TCSG officials said students currently in the program will be able to complete their commercial photography studies at Gwinnett Tech.
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