INSIDE OUR SCHOOLS
Dr. Lorne M. Buchman (Photos – artcenter)
ArtCenter College of Design President Dr. Lorne M. Buchman announced his plans to retire on June 30, 2022.
By News Desk
The announcement came in a letter to the College community last Friday.
The College has evolved significantly during Buchman’s tenure, with sustained and noteworthy enhancements across all aspects of college life, including community building, resource development, program growth and campus expansion.
Highlights
- A cornerstone of Buchman’s community-building efforts and strategic plan development was his continued emphasis on shared governance. “It’s still a work-in-progress,” he readily admits. As it evolved, shared governance formalized ways in which constituents across the College could inform and participate in decisions about key initiatives of the institution, including new program growth, educational and student services, acquisition of and improvements to campus facilities; and the development of technological resources.
His advocacy for art and design is also evident in his current role as chair of the board of the Association of Independent Colleges of Art and Design (AICAD), a consortium of nearly 40 similarly focused colleges across North America that collectively support and strengthen art and design education in a global context. - Through Buchman’s commitment to access and affordability and the robust support that followed, the College’s financial aid capacity has also grown considerably, with a 35% increase in annual donor scholarships, 115% increase in economic diversity grants, and a 12% increase in general scholarship awards. Overall, the College has seen an increase of $12.5 million in institutional scholarships; from $6.5 million in 2009 when he arrived to approximately $19 million in 2021.
Buchman also raised $2 million in endowment for a presidential discretionary fund, which he has used annually to assist students who are experiencing severe economic hardship, especially with respect to food and housing insecurity. - During Buchman’s presidency, the College increased the number of its degree programs in keeping with industry demand and student interest. The College now boasts an enrollment of nearly 2,200 undergraduate and graduate students—a significant increase of 32% from 1,500 students when Buchman arrived in the Fall of 2009.
- Buchman has nearly doubled the College’s square footage by expanding its South Campus. Originally a satellite campus for the College’s public programs, South Campus has become a vibrant nexus for ArtCenter activities at the gateway to the City of Pasadena.
CalArts President, Ravi S. Rajan, shared these reflections:
Lorne has been an amazing colleague, and strong supporter of a strong art and design ecosystem in Southern California for his nearly 12 years here. As a theatre scholar and professional, he has brought a multidisciplinary approach to his work in art and design, which is a hallmark of the creative thinking in Los Angeles.
The ArtCenter community has benefited from his deep knowledge of both education and the arts, and his steady hand as a leader. It will be hard to replace him.
Board Statement
Following Buchman’s announcement, Su Mathews Hale, chair of ArtCenter’s board of trustees, said:
The board is indebted to Lorne for his superb and compassionate leadership. His diligent work has always been in service to our students, ensuring they receive the best possible art and design education and learn skills that will benefit them and influence the world around them long into the future.
Mathews Hale and the board of trustees have already begun planning the search for a successor. Input from all constituencies within the community—including students, faculty, staff and alumni—will be an essential part of the process.
Source: Artcenter
[This article has been updated to add additional comments by CalArts president, March 29, 11:18 am.]
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