Ferris State University Television Digital Media Production students will be enjoying
access to new studio and field equipment thanks to a $10,600 grant awarded by the
Higher Education Television Authority in Grand Rapids.
TDMP Program Coordinator Glen Okonoski said Grand Rapids Community College serves
as the fiduciary for this collaborative arrangement. Ferris provides programming to
Comcast Cable Channel 28, which airs as the “College Channel” in Grand Rapids.
“Our agreement is to produce 28 episodes of ‘Ferris Sports Update’ a year, 20 yearly
episodes of ‘Ferris in Focus,’ a magazine-style show that features university programs,
staff and life in Big Rapids, and six episodes per year of ‘Expect Diversity,’ a talk
show hosted by our Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion, David Pilgrim,” Okonoski
said. “Our students get top-level experience serving as production staff on these
shows, and we frequently place interns at the GRCC studios, where these contributions
from affiliate schools are received.”
Aquinas College, Calvin University, Davenport University and Grand Valley State University
join GRCC and Ferris as content contributors. The “College Channel” schedule includes
presentations from organizations such as the West Michigan Sustainable Business Forum.
The grant supports a technological upgrade that will benefit TDMP students in their
learning and production efforts.
“Our computers that support video editing and studio production were purchased in
2012. This grant will cover the replacement of two of the five units, while our department
will fund the acquisition of three others,” Okonoski said. “Since the grant award
is specific to address equipment related to content creation for the College Channel,
we will also purchase three tripods, which will facilitate fieldwork for those programs.”
Okonoski said this latest award brings the amount received in HETA grant support to
nearly $50,000 over the last three funding cycles.