The Relationship between Industry and Educational Institutions Electronic photography is expensive and continues to be expensive. Concurrently, federal and state funding for education has decreased steadily over the last few years, and tuition fees at most institutions have reached a maximum that cannot be increased without causing a substantial decrease in enrollment. Educational institutions are forced to cut back their budgets and to look for alternate funding to keep their equipment current. The photographic industry has traditionally been very supportive of education and has donated equipment and material. However, with the development of electronic photography, new manufacturers enter the scene who have not traditionally been associated with the photographic industry.
New relationships have to be established.
The amount of capital involved and the life expectancy of donations has also changed. Whereas sixty thousand dollars are sufficient to equip a school with twenty or more high-end silver halide cameras including a variety of lenses that can be used for decades, the same amount might buy two electronic still camera systems of the same apparent quality that need to be replaced within a few years. Industry has a vested interest in the quality of photographic education. On one hand, graduates form a pool that can be tapped for future employees. Recent graduates with a good education in electronic photography theories and techniques have had no problems finding a job.