Cal Poly’s graphic communication department, along with University of California Santa Barbara’s Associated Students Department (AS UC Santa Barbara) formed a partnership to provide an exchange of marketing and publishing services.
The partnership consists of University Graphic Systems (UGS), a student managed and operated publishing enterprise within Cal Poly’s graphic communcation department since 1968, and AS UC Santa Barbara, a student-run market and advertising agency. Both programs provide projects to its respective campuses. Now they are coming together to collaborate its services.
“It was done to establish a relationship between two universities that have students involved and hands on learning experience,” graphic communication department head and faculty adviser for UGS Harvey Levenson said. “It’s university students working for university students. The CSU working with the UC system.”
UGS has created UGS Print & Copy, a printing center providing services on campus and to local businesses. Graphic communication junior Ali Cameron is the sales manager for UGS and worked with AS UC Santa Barbara to create the partnership.
“Cal Poly has a unique thing going on with UGS that not many schools offer,” Cameron said. “We have a hands on print shop where students really get their experience. We are trying to partner with schools that don’t have that so we can meet their needs that they can’t reach on their own campus.”
The partnership provides students jobs, revenue and a variety of work. It permits a learn-by-doing work experience with students on other campuses.
“It’s a good way to get our name out there and get more business for UGS,” Cameron said. “It’s helpful for them to get our services, and in return AS UC Santa Barbara is a valuable customer because they get our name and business in a different city.”
The idea stemmed from a business relationship UGS has with CSU Northridge. UGS is a service provider for CSU Northridge’s student-run advertising and marketing program.
“With the relationship we have with CSU Northridge, students are learning, are benefiting and are doing great work for the industry,” Levenson said. “UGS does business for Northridge, and it has been working marvelously.”
So when Interim Art Director of AS UCSB JudyAnn Dutcher called Levenson to inquire about the services UGS offers, a similar partnership to that of CSU Northridge started to develop.
“After visiting UGS, I saw that UGS had great equipment, an established program, a committed department and most importantly, a program which supported student learning and experience,” Dutcher said. “With all these components in place, it made sense to partner with UGS.”
UGS started jobs with business cards and brochures for AS UC Santa Barbara within the past several months and are working toward meeting any of AS UC Santa Barbara’s printing needs.
“I appreciate the customer service, the good communication, the good pricing and the final products,” Dutcher said. “It has been a pleasure to work with UGS.”