5XÉçÇø celebrated its designation as an Adobe Creative Campus with the grand opening of the Adobe Creative Commons, marking a significant milestone in the institution's commitment to digital literacy.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony, held as part of "Kent State Adobe Day," showcased the new space located on the first floor of the University Library. The event featured a full day of training and information sessions led by Eric Rowse, senior solutions consultant at Adobe and former creative professional.
John M. Rathje, vice president for information technology and chief information officer, emphasized the strategic importance of this initiative.
"The Creative Commons is part of our strategy to improve digital literacy to become fluent with the tools that are foundational to both educational and economic success," Rathje said.
Kent State's status as an Adobe Creative Campus – a distinction shared by only about 90 institutions worldwide and three in Ohio – comes with substantial benefits for the university community. Students have access to the Adobe Creative Cloud suite for $75 per year, a significant reduction from the previous student rate of $240 annually.
This initiative aligns with current trends in higher education. According to recent studies, 85% of high school seniors consider a school's embrace of innovation as an important factor when choosing a college. Moreover, students in courses using Adobe Creative Cloud were 8% more likely to return to school the next term than those who were not.
The newly opened Adobe Creative Commons will offer on-demand tutoring for students seeking help with Adobe programs. Staffed by students from various majors proficient in Adobe tools, the Commons aims to provide peer-to-peer support for a range of creative software needs.
"Adobe is a global leader in creative software, and we are proud to be an Adobe Creative Campus, and as a result of this designation, provide enhanced value to our students and faculty," Rathje said.
The university offers workshops for Adobe Photoshop, InDesign, Express and Acrobat, with plans to expand these offerings through the new Creative Commons.