An introspective look
With San José State University (SJSU) being the leading producer of workers in the Silicon Valley, our university's graduating classes are certainly exceptional:
The Charles W. Davidson College of Engineering was ranked third in the nation among public engineering programs offering bachelor's and master's degrees in 2015 by the U.S. News & World Report.
The SJSU computer engineering program was ranked first in the nation among public engineering programs offering bachelor's and master's degrees in 2015.
Our College of Humanities and the Arts, Department of Design is ranked in the top 25% of animation programs, according to Animation Career Review.
Overall, San José State University ranks in the top 50 of regional universities in the West United States, according to U.S. News & World Report.
San José State neighbors
Our university is right in the heart of Silicon Valley; being native to the Bay Area, we are local to a sizable number of top computer graphics companies.
A need for representation
For those of us who dream of working in the computer graphics industry (like at the companies mentioned above and more), networking and connecting in the industry is essential.
We are Silicon Valley's largest institution of higher learning. With no prominent student representation or organization towards computer graphics, our campus is disconnected from the visual and interactive world.
As a part of San José State University's core promise of "powering Silicon Valley", we must embrace the visual side of technology.
SJSU is a place of resilient and creative students—we work hard and smart. But we have an unmet need for realizing our passions towards computer graphics. Thus, we propose the Computer Graphics Club at SJSU.
The Computer Graphics Club focuses on three goals:
Your part in innovation
The Computer Graphics Club aims to be an asset to your academic life, not a burden. We want the club to bring a positive influence to its members, the SJSU campus, and the computer graphics industry.
The design of the Club is to be around your wants and needs, so we need your input!
Base ideas for the club
- CG Industry guest talks
- Software/tech workshops (augmented/virtual reality, computer vision, CUDA, Maya/MODO 101, VJing, ray-tracing/rendering, OpenGL/WebGL/DirectX)
- Collaborative projects (film shorts, apps, digital installation art)
- Movie nights!
- Group trips to local CG events (Silicon Valley/San Francisco SIGGRAPH chapters, local CG/VR events)
- Extended trips to large CG conferences (SIGGRAPH, GTC, SVVR Expo)
- Oculus Rifts/HTC Vives/Google Cardboards for club use
- CG software (Mudbox, Smoke, Flame, ZBrush, Vue, Avid, Toon Boom...) at educational discounts/free for club members
As of Fall 2016, the Computer Graphics Club is now a reality. But we need your input to make it great.
There are so many exciting possibilities in store for the club, but it can only happen with your support.
Make it your story.
The art challenges the technology, and the technology inspires the art.
—John Lasseter, CCO of Pixar Animation Studios
Data sources:
- San Jose State University statistics - U.S. News & World Report, http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges
- Animation Career Review, http://www.animationcareerreview.com/articles/top-50-animation-schools-and-colleges-us-%E2%80%93-2016
Image sources:
- Cover image & footer - Screenshots from Big Hero 6 film, © Disney & Walt Disney Animation Studios
- SJSU Campus - Daderot from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:San_Jos%C3%A9_State_University_-_DSC03875.JPG)
- VR/Oculus Rift - REX/Michael Bowles / AP
- Paperman © Disney & Walt Disney Animation Studios
- SIGGRAPH 2013 - ACM SIGGRAPH