The showcase will feature a variety of projects, highlighting students’ skills in branding, typography, illustration and other areas. Portfolio Day provides a platform for students to present their work to potential employers, industry professionals and the public.

Senior Roann Carter emphasized the event’s importance, calling it “more important than a graduation ceremony” for students to display their work and network. Carter is particularly excited to present a packaging project created for a Japanese root vegetable company.

“The journey for this project was a long one and its evolution is probably the most satisfying of all my projects as it all came together beautifully in the end,” Carter said. “I’m also particularly proud of the way I used Illustrator to create the effects I was looking for.”

Canon, a valued UofL partner since 2018, is sponsoring the event. The company’s ongoing support provides mentorship, workshops and learning experiences for students. Canon also provided funding to enhance the graphic design program’s Digital Print Lab.

Peter P. Kowalczuk, Canon U.S.A., Inc.’s executive vice president and Client Services Group president, said the support for the program remains an important way for the next generation of designers to learn from – and connect with – members of the creative industry.

“We are pleased to again be part of Portfolio Day with the University of Louisville and its wonderful program that helps to inspire young artists and designers,” Kowalczuk said. “Providing talented students with the means to succeed in the world of design remains a worthy goal, and we appreciate all the hard work the team at the Hite Institute continues to put in to make this event so successful.”

Portfolio Day will be held at the UofL Belknap Campus, Miller IT Building, Bigelow Hall. Admission is free and open to the public.

Learn more about Portfolio Day and Canon’s involvement by reading UofL News’ recap of the 2024 event.

Smith will maintain his position after winning the three-candidate election, the major action item on the agenda. The 32-year veteran, including eight as a senator, is UofL’s assistant director of Intramural and Recreational Sports. He was first elected in June 2018.

Andrew Grubb, a senior academic coordinator in the University Honors Program, unseated Marian Vasser for the vice chair position.

Grubb graduated from UofL with his bachelor’s degree in 2005 and his master’s in 2007. He returned to Louisville from Connecticut in 2010 in a temporary role before he was hired permanently in May 2011. During his time at UConn, he first experienced the administrative side of higher education when he was voted president of the graduate student senate.

“What I’m hoping for in fulfilling my duties as vice chair is to highlight the contributions of staff on campus, raise the profile of staff, a distinctive class of human who do invaluable things here to make the university work,” Grubb added.

Rhonda Gilliland held on to her role as the secretary-treasurer in a two-person race.

Each candidate had five minutes to share his or her campaign. Once the group for that position finished their presentations, senators were given time to ask questions about their stances on key issues.

In between secretary-treasurer race, director of gift administration and training for advancement, Judy Singleton, presented an update on Quasi Endowment. She mentioned during her time on the floor that the University foundation is putting out a request for proposal for an investment group, as the current unit has gone unchanged for the last 18 years.

Todd Kneale, director of total rewards in human resources, shared an update on health benefits. He is part of a group of consultants across campus focused on building a four-year strategy for health benefits, restricted to medical and prescription drugs. He said the group is benchmarking not only other institutions but also competing organizations.

The meeting wrapped up with senators sharing updates from their various units.

Smith started his report by informing senators that the strip mall, across from Cardinal Towne that previously housed Gray’s Bookstore, has been sold to a developer. The University is in talks with the new owner, who is proposing to build a more than 400-bed student-housing facility on the south side of that property. The developer is aiming to put a major retailer on the north side of the space. Smith said there is no proposed timeline at the moment.

Smith also informed the senators that an RFP is on the market for a craft beer partner, and the beverage would be sold in areas that have high concentrations of UofL alumni.

Following a notice that was sent out previously, Smith reminded those in attendance that Canon agreed to buy out the remaining leases on Xerox equipment and that more than 200 new Canon machines will be delivered to campus in the near future.

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UofL and Canon have signed a 13-year deal in which Canon will bring a total campus managed print solution to the university. Beginning July 1, Canon will be responsible for all print production and mail services, as well as equipment and supplies. The deal is expected to benefit the university immediately and for the long term, said Mark Watkins, UofL associate vice president of business services.

“During a time of increasingly tight budgets, the university must look for ways to operate more efficiently,” Watkins said. “Most importantly, this deal will ensure that we continue to offer a high level of customer service to our faculty and staff. But it also will guarantee an income stream that will allow us to keep up with the latest technology and trends in these areas.”

Canon will quickly implement several changes, including:

• Placing new multifunction copying devices in offices, libraries and public spaces that will increase availability of color and reduce cost per print
• Opening a new print and mail center in the Herman and Heddy Kurz Pavilion in the Student Activities Center
• Offering the ability to access any Canon device from a tablet, laptop or cell phone

The deal will save the university about $300,000 in the first year. Future savings are expected to approach $700,000 per year.

The transition will directly impact 19 current print shop and postal services employees. Canon representatives met with the staff last week to discuss the transition. According to Bob Knaster, UofL executive director of business services, the Canon representatives “highly value” the institutional knowledge of the team and have expressed interest in hiring as many current employees as possible.

“The anxiety the employees are feeling is understandable,” Knaster said. “But Canon has made it clear that they want to work with current staff as much as possible. And the university has made it clear to Canon and to the employees that we will work with them to make this happen.

“Canon has expressed a strong commitment to a long-term partnership,” he added. “Our faculty and staff can expect outstanding service while gaining the technological advances Canon will provide throughout the contract period.”

For more information, send email to: Wlbarn01@louisville.edu.

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