What is ACCGC, you ask? It's the "Accrediting Council for Collegiate Graphic Communications." And why should you care? You should care because it's an accreditation program that ensures that graphic communications students have access to programs that will fully prepare them for a future in the printing and graphic arts fields.

For a school to gain this accreditation they must demonstrate that they are teaching up-to-date skills (camera skills and film stripping are becoming obsolete in the digital age) and promoting best practices. The future graphic artists and printers must have a wide range of competencies in addition to just knowing how to create files and run equipment. They need to be able to evaluate new equipment, implement quality programs, and be able to market themselves.

Enrollment in college graphic arts programs are declining because many high school students don't see the graphic arts as a viable career option. ACCGC is working to change that by helping to make college-level printing programs more relevant and promotable.

Cape Cod Regional Technical High School is helping prepare the printing professionals of tomorrow by incorporating RISO's digital duplicators and high-speed full-color inkjet printers into their curriculum. Students print all kinds of documents on both an MZ790 digital duplicator and an HC5500 full-color printer.