Drexel to now not provide Photography main

Michael Davis

In fall 2025, the present college students enrolled in Drexel University’s pictures program have been supplied a gathering with Jason Schupbach, the Dean of the Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design on the time, the place it was introduced that the pictures main could be placed on maintain. As it stands, there shall be no first years admitted to this system in fall of 2026 and the pictures class of 2030 would be the final class of purely pictures majors to graduate from Drexel.

There have been rumors final fall surrounding the potential finish of this system. Josh Blackman, a senior pictures main, acknowledged that there was discuss however “nothing was definitive.” Blackman additionally expressed that he felt Schupbach was “tone deaf” and “diplomatic” of their assembly and didn’t present substantial info on the state of affairs. Blackman additionally famous that they felt Schupbach was unsympathetic in direction of not solely this system, however pictures as an entire.

Izidor Peterson, one other senior within the pictures program, confirmed that the rumors arose in September of 2025 when Westphal had begun its recruiting efforts for the 2025 college yr. Peterson acknowledged {that a} pal they knew who labored in Westphal admissions had observed that promotional pamphlets printed for recruitment had omitted the pictures program from its checklist of potential majors. Peterson additionally stated that that they had heard an analogous story from a pal who had attended a school honest and had seen the identical pamphlets.

Peterson famous that Schupbach had additionally mentioned three different packages that may be going by an analogous course of as pictures, and that their college students had additionally not been knowledgeable. Blackman relayed that Schupbach had advised them they have been “not supposed to find out.” It is their shared perception that if the knowledge had not been leaked within the pamphlets, the scholars wouldn’t have been knowledgeable.

At the assembly with Schupbach, it was introduced that whereas the pictures program could be placed on maintain, there could be a research carried out to evaluate what could also be inflicting the dearth of enrollment and what the way forward for this system could be. It was additionally famous that there was potential for a merger with one other Westphal program. Despite additional inquiries, no different info has been launched to the pictures college students since.

“I have asked my program directors and professors,” Peterson lamented, as they gained little info from the school and expressed that the professors could also be simply as at nighttime as the scholars.

Peterson confirmed the decline in enrollment, because the graduating lessons of ’27 and ’26 have been each solely a couple of third of what that they had been in earlier years. While this system had by no means been very massive, the sentiment is robust that Drexel’s pictures main is uniquely profitable.

Peterson remarked that this system produced “by far the most working photographers.” Ci Song, additionally a senior and pictures main, famous that the shut knit nature of the pictures program was a powerful good thing about this system and that they might be afraid of dropping that shut knit group within the occasion that this system have been to merge with one other main.

While these rumors of a possible merger are unconfirmed, Amanda Tinker, interim Photography Program Director, did provide a press release to make sure “that photography remains an important part of the teaching and curriculum at Drexel.” This could have referred to the truth that the pictures minor will stay an possibility, though its administration stays unknown.

Peterson didn’t agree with Song’s sentiment that dropping the close-knit nature of this system could be disappointing. However, he did add that any merger associated to this system would almost definitely scale back the extremely technical nature of the curriculum that lots of its college students worth.

Song additionally famous that the “dark rooms is what made our program special.” Blackman defined that the pictures program presently has entry to 1 communal darkish room and a number of particular person stalls and that there’s actually nothing prefer it in Philadelphia. The services are additionally open to alumni, which might not be helpful within the occasion they’re shut down. It is presently not acknowledged what is going to occur to the services transferring ahead.

Blackman expressed sentiment that this system carried a sure looming air to it ever for the reason that announcement and that the professors are “beyond stressed.” He additionally famous that two professors, Paul Runyon and Andrea Modica, just lately retired from their positions in this system. He advised The Triangle that in some ways, they have been the “core of the program”.

Peterson additionally talked about their retirement as associated to the decline in enrollment for this system, as d they have been by no means changed, and that Drexel had not employed a full-time professor for this system in eight to 10 years. He felt this system was not as valued because of its small measurement.