ACADEMIA

Clemson University and Adobe will work together to enable campus-wide access to Adobe’s world-class Creative Cloud tools for all Clemson faculty, staff and students, effective immediately.

In addition to the Creative Cloud software, Adobe will invest in an innovative, state-of-the-art Adobe Digital Studio to be housed in Clemson’s R.M. Cooper Library. The studio will serve as a teaching, training and collaboration environment to support next-generation learning and creativity.

This collaboration, the first of its kind between Adobe’s education division and a university, began when some Clemson faculty and staff visited Adobe’s headquarters in San Jose, California, this semester. This joint effort includes training support for Creative Cloud tools, access to the Digital Publishing Suite platform to enable academic and professional publications, and on-campus student internship programs sponsored by Adobe.

“It is becoming increasingly more difficult for tools and services to keep pace with the growth in mobile computing,” said Jim Bottum, Clemson’s  CIO and vice provost for information technology. “Our program with Adobe embraces mobile technologies and collaboration by providing direct access for Clemson’s students, faculty and staff to the complete set of Creative Cloud applications and enables them to be more competitive in today’s knowledge economy.”

Adobe and Clemson will integrate Creative Cloud applications into the curriculum to allow seamless access for faculty and students in all disciplines. This innovative program serves the dual purpose of inventing new learning opportunities and transforming communication practices across many disciplines while enabling all Clemson students to be more competitive in the workforce.

“As humanities students, we haven’t had the same opportunities as STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) students with regard to cutting-edge learning technologies,” said senior English major Katie Flessas. ”With access to Adobe Creative Cloud, we’re leveling the playing field.”

Through this collaboration, Adobe will help Clemson become a flagship institution for using Adobe tools and developing new applications for digital publishing and content creation across campus. Adobe Creative Cloud is a platform for making, sharing and delivering creative work, and it includes industry-leading software packed with innovation across design, Web, video, collaboration and digital-imaging tools.

“Ubiquitous access to Adobe’s Creative Cloud will transform and elevate the quality, innovation and creativity of our communication practices at every level and across all media,” said David Blakesley, Campbell Chair in Technical Communication and professor of English. “Clemson is already known as a leader in communication across the curriculum, so this new implementation raises the bar for everyone.”

Jan Holmevik, associate chairman of the English department and chairman of the Academic Technology Council, agrees. “Providing this unprecedented access to all of Adobe’s industry-leading creative tools is going to open important new opportunities for innovation that will ultimately position Clemson University and its faculty and students at the very forefront of the invention of next-generation learning,” he said.

The Adobe Digital Studio in the Cooper Library will serve Clemson faculty and students as they develop projects and publications using Adobe tools. With the goal of facilitating student and faculty digital literacies in the context of courses, research and creative inquiry, the studio will serve everyone on campus and deploy technologies that supplement and enhance the Clemson experience.

“Today’s students want to make a difference in the world, and they want to do it using the technology tools they’ve grown up with,” said Jim Holscher, Adobe’s vice president of education field operation. “Through our work with Clemson University, we are providing faculty, staff and students with the right tools to successfully create and communicate their ideas while mastering essential communication skills that will increase their marketability to potential employers.”

Kay Wall, dean of libraries at Clemson, said, “As the physical center of campus and the second-most frequented student gathering place, Cooper Library is the iconic cornerstone of Clemson University. Our students use this space to collaborate on course projects and other learning experiences. Today’s students are moving from consumers in education to creators through their learning experiences and the Adobe Digital Studio will provide the tools and support to develop and prepare these creators for the challenges in their chosen careers. We are genuinely excited to be a partner in facilitating that experience with Adobe and our innovative faculty at Clemson.”