Polytech worries disappoint head | Manawatu-Wanganui News | Local News in Manawatu-Wanganui

Whanganui UCOL head of creative programmes Sally-Jane de Salazar is surprised and disappointed by fears for the continuity and quality of the polytech's art and design courses in Wanganui.

She said students she talked to had no concerns, and she didn't know how to reassure Mr Turner and Dr Hendeles. She was happy to talk to them whenever they wanted.

The Wanganui Chronicle has also had fearful and mistrustful letters on the subject. Some of that angst may date back to the merger of the former Wanganui polytech with UCOL in 2001 - a time when feelings ran high. Some of it may be due to Wanganui's "Big Brother" relationship with Palmerston North.

"UCOL has been in Wanganui now since 2001. It gets a bit frustrating to me that this keeps coming up again and again," Ms de Salazar said.

Enrolments in first year arts and graphics were "quite good" - 32 for computer graphic design and 24 for arts - which boded well for the future.

And she said UCOL had added graduate diplomas in fine arts, animation and fashion to the arts courses available in Wanganui.

First year students were happy with photography arrangements in the shift to the old campus next year, and as far as Ms de Salazar knew they were all returning. The darkroom there would be fully operational.

All the arts equipment at Taupo Quay would be put into storage and would be safe. The polytech's contract with the current photographic technician was finished, but another would be hired if needed.

All the facilities that photographic students needed would be available, and Ms de Salazar said the polytech had always said analogue photography was what it did.

There was no thought of closing down either photography or printmaking, though neither had a lot of senior students.

The arts courses were advertised on television on C4, because it was a young person's channel.

"We are targeting youth, and Wanganui youth."

As for inquirers about arts courses being given wrong information at Palmerston North, Ms de Salazar couldn't understand how that could happen, but said she would follow it up.

She was sorry Mr Turner and Dr Hendeles had no faith in the revival of the summer school either.

"I'm quite excited about summer school and the planning that we're doing about that now."

She hoped the two would take up the open inivitation to Prospective, the polytech's first arts and design symposium in Marton on Saturday, because that would be an opportunity for them to see what was happening.