The University of California - Santa Cruz

Date: Dec 31 1969
Major: Fine Arts - Painting/Sculpture/Photography/etc (This Major's Salary over time)
My program is extremely well funded for a Master's program but we had a new Dean that thrust our department into ongoing campus finance issues and departmental politics. In addition to actually caring about the work we do, the students and faculty came together to fight for one another. However, when the administration got involved—the faculty went neutral and communication went through back-door channels. Problematic.

In all, the faculty members I am working with on my thesis are top-notch and they prove themselves by going toe-to-toe with the outstanding academics and industrial visitors that come to our campus. I also see the distinction in the work the faculty get's published and the reputation they've garnered. I've popped the academic bubble a few times and ask people in the media world if they know of the work these professors do and I usually get a very good response. Even though the faculty have their quarks and can be a little bit involved with their own projects, its to be expected. However, the faculty I work with usually give me the time of day and go the extra mile to ensure that I feel supported and am holding up my end of the graduate school bargain.

Our facilities are outstanding for a public university (beating out the regional UCs Berkeley and Davis) and I can only say this because members of my cohort went there for undergrad.I'm happy that I went to UC Santa Cruz for my Masters' degree, but I also must say that I am frustrated with the Dean who make everyone else's lives that much harder and frustrating. If you have the opportunity and the funding to go to UC Santa Cruz for their DANM program, I highly recommend it, but just don't get bogged down in the weeds.