On Point with Juandolyn Stokes welcomed Professor Felesha Love, formerly of the Art Institute of Atlanta (AI) and student William Collier who shared their responses to the abrupt closing of the private school.
“Unfortunately, I got the news along with faculty members, staff, and students who found out last Friday [September 22, 2023] that the school would be closing permanently on September30,” said Love.
For the last two years, Love has taught courses in Branding, Marketing, Audio, Business Media, and Fundamentals in Audio/Video.
“I had finished finals. It was utter shock, but I saw the signs with administrations changing hands, issues with enrollment, faculty layoffs, and the elimination of housing,” she added.
What Love says she expected to see was more marketing so they could let people know what they had to offer. Now this chain of eight schools will be closing its doors in all states after 75 years of existence.
Love says what was equally as important as what students learned in the classroom is what they present in a boardroom to seek seed money because the classroom is not enough to prepare with the expansion of technology like AI (artificial intelligence), which is affecting everybody.
Another area of concern is job placement.
Love said, “There are seasoned professionals and graduates looking for jobs. The question is: Where are they? It’s hard for me to find a job in media or a full-time faculty position.”
In addition to being a college professor, Love is also the founder of “Black Women in Radio (BWIR),” an organization that is dedicated to acknowledging, and celebrating the contributions of Black women to the art of radio.
“I put together BWIR because I know I am not the only seasoned professional looking for a job.”
Collier was a graphic design student at AI and he was working on his clothing brand, “Flying Titans.”
“I am thankful for the knowledge I learned at the A.I. I think what they did was unprofessional and dishonorable. This decision has left students scrambling,” said Collier.
He added some courses that were offered at A.I. are offered at HBCUs, it’s not many.
However, both Collier and Love appreciate the offer from Morris Brown College, President Dr. Kevin E. James who posted this on social media to Art Institute of Atlanta students:
“Students at the Art Institute of Atlanta-you are welcomed at Morris Brown College; Atlanta’s most affordable HBCU. You do not have to start over-we will take you in.” #TheHardReset
Collier said many of his classmates have already started their applications to Morris Brown.
“It’s refreshing and relieving when a Black leader can welcome students from AI to an HBCU,” said Collier.
Love said, “It’s a breath of fresh air. It’s beautiful when you are seen and when a leader takes control.”