Career outcomes for those who graduate include becoming a Director of Photography, Camera Operator, Assistant Camera Operator, Editor, Assistant Editor, and High Definition Specialist. Additional information about this new short-term film program may be obtained by contacting Glynn Beard, Program Director, School of Film, at glynn.beard@brooks.edu

Brooks Institute is proud to announce that the United States Department of Veterans Affairs  has given approval for the school to participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program under the Post-9/11 GI Bill. The Yellow Ribbon Program became effective on August 1, 2009 and Brooks Institute has already begun enrolling veterans for its September/October academic session.

Under the Post-9/11 GI Bill, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will pay tuition and fees benefits up to each state’s highest public undergraduate tuition per credit hour and fees per term. In the state of California, eligible veterans will receive up to $287 per credit hour (based on eligibility tier) for classes taken at approved institutions of higher learning.  Brooks Institute continues to demonstrate its commitment to the support of our military population through its participation in the Yellow Ribbon Program.  For veterans who are 100% eligible for the Post 9/11 GI Bill, Brooks Institute will provide  contributions, through the Yellow Ribbon Program, in the form of an institutional grant of up to $4,525 per year for tuition and fees that exceed the CA in-state maximum.  The VA will match this contribution, thus providing up to $9,050 for eligible veterans and ensuring military students have the opportunity to obtain an affordable degree from a premier institution.

“Eligible veterans will also receive a monthly housing allowance of up to $1,800 per month, as well as a yearly books and supplies stipend of up to $1,000 every 12 months,”  according to Brooks Institute President Dr. Roger C. Andersen.  “This new program provides veterans with a very attractive financial benefit package to attend Brooks Institute and obtain their degrees in professional photography, film, visual journalism or graphic design.”

Whether someone is completely new to the field or seeking new skills to enhance an established career, Brooks Institute’s educational philosophy of “learning by doing” can provide a person with the artistic, technical, and business expertise needed in the field of photography.

“Our 63-year old school achieved its greatest growth in the late-1940s and early-1950s with the passage of the GI Bill that followed World War II,” said Vice President of Academic Affairs David Litschel.  “Many veterans decided to pursue their dream of a career in the visual arts by attending Brooks Institute of Photography – now Brooks Institute. We anticipate another large number of veterans will take advantage of this great new program to pursue their dream at our prestigious school.”

Classes are taught by experienced instructors in professional photography, film, visual journalism, and graphic design at beautiful, scenic campus locations in Santa Barbara, California.

For more information about Brooks Institute visit www.brooks.edu.

For more information about the Yellow Ribbon GI Education Enhancement Program visit http://www.gibill.va.gov/School_Info/yellow_ribbon/index.htm.

Left to right: Bill Robbins, Roberto Riccio, Dr. Roger Andersen, David Litschel Photo credit: Tracy Trotter

Roberto Riccio, Managing Director of Istituto Marangoni, a world renowned fashion and design school with campuses in Paris, London and Milan visited Brooks Institute on Thursday, June 25. Istituto Marangoni and Brooks Institute are  both  Career Education Corporation schools. During the visit to the Jefferson Campus, Vice President of Academic Affairs David Litschel, Professional Photography faculty member Bill Robbins and I discussed possible joint ventures and partnerships we agreed to pursue in the coming months.

In January 2008, Brooks Institute implemented a truly innovative program to generate “the next big idea” from the grass roots of our employees. The Innovation Excellence Award program solicits proposals from all employees that can generate additional revenue, reduce operating expenses, and/or increase operational efficiency. For the five quarters that the program has been in effect, Brooks has received more than a dozen proposals each quarterly cycle from full-time and part-time faculty and staff. The school has implemented five innovative ideas to improve our school. The employee receives $500.00 and special recognition at the school’s quarterly Town Hall meetings as well as prominent mention in the bi-monthly President’s Newsletter.

Winning proposals ranged from the grand and big-scale (i.e. close our two ground bookstores and convert to a 100% online bookstore) to the small but significant (purchase 250 chairs and save over $5,000 in annual rental costs for different events throughout the year.)

“All of us at Brooks are thrilled to be recognized for our Innovation Excellence Award program, ” states President Dr. Roger C. Andersen. “The value of the program lies in its simplicity and buy-in from our staff. Also, it recognizes that every single employee can offer suggestions from his/her unique perspective that can greatly benefit the school. Best of all, this program can be adopted by any other school in the United States immediately so it is completely transferable to every work setting.”

This award will be presented to Brooks Institute at the CCA Annual Convention in mid June in Orlando, Florida.

The Career College Association (CCA) is a voluntary membership organization of private post-secondary schools, institutes, colleges and universities that provide career-specific educational programs. CCA has more than 1,500 members that educate and support over one million students each year for employment in over 200 occupational fields.

Student documentarians dressed in South Indian style for the occasion

People arrived early to view the print exhibit

In case you missed both of these events, you have one last opportunity to attend a documentary screening: this Thursday, April 9 from 5:00 to 7:30 p.m. at the Brooks Institute Visions Gallery at the Marriott Ventura Beach hotel.

The print exhibit will be at Brooks Institute’s Gallery 27 from April 2-24, 2009 & May 4-29, 2009. The print exhibit at the Marriott Ventura Beach will run from April 9 – June 20, 2009.