Tag Archives: Ferris

Documentary showcases West Michigan university’s efforts to stay open during pandemic

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The documentary “A New Normal” takes a look at how Ferris State University kept classes going through the pandemic. (Supplied)

WKTV Staff
kelly@wktv.org

As the world grapples with the deadly COVID-19 pandemic, Ferris State University stakeholders quickly collaborated to create a plan to keep campus safe and in operation after the state-wide stay at home order.

Nick Kuiper

The new documentary film from regional Emmy® Award winning filmmaker Nick Kuiper, “A New Normal,” features nearly 50 interviews with students, faculty, staff, and administrators as they share their experience during the pandemic. The film captures the stress of learning during a pandemic, the collaboration necessary to keep campus running, the creative problem solving necessary to keep stakeholders safe, and the challenges involved with quickly shifting classes online. A New Normal offers a roadmap of how one university utilized feedback from all their members to safely stay open.

One such story focuses on the Ferris Plastics program’s collaboration with Operation Face Shield. While campus shifted to online education, staff and faculty in the plastics program helped develop a mold for mass production of face shields and eventually creating over 40,000 face shields that were sent out across the globe.

Imagine being an excited student ready to embark on your first study abroad trip to Peru, when suddenly, in the middle of your excursion, the Peruvian government initiates a mandatory lockdown. A New Normal showcases the quick thinking of Ferris faculty as they rush to evacuate their students before being stuck in the country indefinitely.

 

Also hear from students and faculty in Biotechnology, as they quickly implement revolutionary wastewater testing technology to narrow in on COVID-19 clusters and stop outbreaks before it can spread around campus.

“A New Normal” will air on WKTV Channel 25 Oct. 13 at 2:30 p.m. and again on Oct. 14 at 10 :30 p.m. and Oct. 15 at noon.

 

WKTV Journal: Meet the Interns

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By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org

This June, WKTV had four Ferris State University students join the team.

For the past several years, WKTV has worked with Ferris State University having about two student interns at the station per year. The students usually come January through June or June through December.

All the students are seniors in Ferris State University’s Television and Digital Media Production.

So let us introduce you to our interns:

Tyler Bronsink at the July 20 Wyoming City Council Meeting. (WKTV)

Tyler Bronsink
Byron Center

What are you learning on your internship? How are you making a difference?

I’m learning more about shoots, the different types of cameras, and editing in new software like Final Cut Pro. I am helping craft census stories, shooting b-roll, and offering story ideas for the community.

What are your future plans, what do you hope this internship leads to professionally?

I hope to work with either a news station like WKTV or a film/media studio as an editor/writer.

What advice can you offer to other students seeking, hoping to learn about internships?

Pick a few (about five to six) that you would want to work at and make sure that the internship fits for you and offers a variety of job opportunities.

Matt Main works with the slider in preparation for a shoot. (WKTV)

Matt Main
Hemlock, Michigan

What are you learning on your internship? How are you making a difference?

I’m learning how to become a better video editor, director, cameraman, as well as media as a whole. Making videos and content makes me feel like I’m creating enjoyment and happiness in my audience.

What are your future plans, what do you hope this internship leads to professionally?

I hope to be hired with a video production company and work as an editor professionally.

What advice can you offer to other students seeking, hoping to learn about internships?

I would advise being aggressive and open in your searches; don’t stick to ideal situations only.

Rachel Weber is learning to be a better content creator at WKTV. (WKTV)

Rachel Weber
Rochester Hills

What are you learning on your internship? How are you making a difference?

I am learning how to be a better content creator as well as being a more sociable person.

What are your future plans, what do you hope this internship leads to professionally?

I am hoping that this internships opens doors into more sports-related productions.

What advice can you offer to other students seeking, hoping to learn about internships?

Remember that it is just an internship so it doesn’t matter where you go, just make the most of it.


Cole Zimmerman worked in the WKTV truck at the July 20 Wyoming City Council meeting. (WKTV)

Cole Zimmerman
Rockford????

What are you learning on your internship? How are you making a difference?

I’m mostly learning what was taught to me at Ferris; however, I’m learning new aspects of those lessons like new ways and methods of doing certain tasks as well as new equipment.

What are your future plans, what do you hope this internship leads to professionally?

I hope to become a script writer for TV and movies, and possibly a producer and/or director.

What advice can you offer to other students seeking, hoping to learn about internships?

When looking for an internship, don’t be picky and reach out to as many places as you can, and be open to new learning experiences.

UICA moving to former Grand Rapids Art Museum space, putting 2 Fulton up for sale

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UICA will be moving to the Woodbridge N. Ferris building, the former home of the Grand Rapids Art Museum. (Supplied)

By WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org

The Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts (UICA) announces its intention to relocate from its 2 Fulton West space to the Woodbridge N. Ferris Building, 17 Pearl Street, on the campus of Kendall College of Art and Design of Ferris State University, in Spring 2021. All in-person UICA programming, which has been paused due to COVID-19, will continue to be on hiatus until the organization reopens in the Ferris Building.

The decision was finalized June 17 by the Ferris Board of Trustees.

The UICA identity and mission will remain when it reopens in the LEED-Gold certified Ferris Building, which, until 2007, was the home to Grand Rapids Art Museum. One of the biggest questions that came to light with the announcement is what would happen to the alternative movie offerings at UICA. According to officials, UICA is working on outdoor movies, movie panel discussion opportunities, and potential upcoming partnerships.  

“The impact of COVID-19 has led us to rethink how we work and provide programming in the future, and I’m confident our re-envisioning of UICA will help it succeed,” said Kendall Interim President Tara McCrackin. “We realize this is an unexpected announcement, but we believe it is a necessary move to ensure UICA continues to be a leading cultural arts destination in Grand Rapids.”

UICA Executive Director Miranda Krajniak has been actively participating in this process and believes that UICA’s future stability enhances, not diminishes, its commitment to the community, and strengthens its connection to Kendall.

“We believe a smaller footprint and associated expenses will allow UICA a more stable foundation going forward,” said Krajniak. “Additionally, for some time now, UICA has been managing Kendall’s student art exhibition spaces, so the move will provide for more efficient operations and present a stronger alignment between Kendall and UICA.”

After a University-wide review of all programming, and subsequent conversations between Ferris, Kendall and UICA leadership, it became apparent that UICA’s current location, the 2 Fulton West building, is too large and expensive for the University to maintain going forward. 

The intent is to immediately begin adjusting the space at the Ferris Building to accommodate UICA. The building offers a world-class space that will easily allow UICA to re-envision its public offerings including activating an outdoor area for the downtown and student community.

Although the location will be different, UICA’s exhibitions and programs will continue to present the voices of those who have been oppressed, marginalized and exploited by society.

“We pledge to continue to work to recognize and act against the inequities that systematically hurt artists, neighbors, and diverse communities and to show work that reflects our entire community,” Krajniak added.

“We look forward to enhancing our partnership with UICA and the arts in West Michigan,” said Ferris President David Eisler. “The UICA plays an important role in the Grand Rapids community, and Ferris State University is pleased to see the relationship strengthened with Kendall College of Art and Design.”