As a result of a small survey of graduates of the IPT program the following
letters were returned in November of 1995. Names and companies have been edited
out to preserve confidentiality when needed. 

.............................................................................
 
I'm making about 30K here at my current position. It's a reasonable salary for
this neighborhood - as long as you don't have my student loans to pay off! 
 
My duties are:
1.) Build device color profiles (DCPs) and the new standard ICC (international
color consortium) format profiles for printers and proofers. Some of the
devices I have made profiles for include: HP 550, HP560, HP650, HP Color
LaserJet, Epson Stylus Color, Kodak XLS8600, Canon BJC-800, Canon BJC-600, and
the list goes on...
 
If you know anyone that has a copy of Windows95, you will see ALL of the work
that I did here for my first 6 months!!! It's pretty wild when you see a
product in the stores that *YOU* had a hand in making. Just about all of the
profiles conatined in Windows95 were made by yours truly.
 
2.) I do some miscellaneous color science stuff... write a Matlab script here
and there or trouble shoot color problems.
 
3.) Help out the customer support people with technical issues.
 
4.) Right now, I'm developing a "test plan" to be used for ongoing testing of
competing color management products. There are a bunch of products out there
right now that need to be tested, so once the test plan is finished, it will
be distributed to a bunch of engineers who will do the actual testing. I will
compile the data they return to me in a report, and I will probably give a
presentation to a bunch of marketeers at some point.
 
As far as discontinuing the tech program...I'm not at all surprised -with the 
air heads they've got running that place (excluding Andy, of course). That's
really sad because, as far as my company is concerned, *ALL* they want are grads
with our background! The color science manager here is a grad from the old
photo science program, and the management here generally feels that RIT is the
only place where students are learning about color science, tone repro, and
other imaging issues.
 
.... I think the concept of the tech program is good, but someone needs
to come up with a good combination of "roots" photo courses and computer
stuff. Too much computer stuff is probably one of the worst things you could
have because the kids might as well be comp-sci majors! 
 
Anyway, that's my 2 pennies. I do know 2 things that helped me get this job:
 
1.) I knew what CIE LAB was on the interview
2.) I knew about photography on the interview
3.) I knew how to use computers on the interview
 
...............................................................................
 
Hello Andy,
 
I am responding to your last message that you sent me and also to inform you of
what is new with me. I have just recently changed jobs. My job at ...... was
becoming not so challenging anymore because i finished the project I started on
when I first started there and they never gave me another one. I wrote a
program for analyzing tumor colonies. The image analysis instrument, the
Omnicon 3800, uses a Data Translations DT2867LC fram grabber in a pc with
Windows. There is an external stage that holds either 36 35mm plates, 16 60mm
plates, or 6 mutiwell microtiter plates. My program was written in C++ in
Windows and controls the stage, reads the colonies and produces reports to
inform the technician how differnent doses of kemothereputic drugs affect
different sized tumor colonies. I will have to bring it by the next time i am
in Rochester and show you.
 
Anyways, after I finished writing that program, they never gave me any more
program projects to write. I was basically providing tech support on their
instruments and doing installations. I don't care to travel for business that
much. So I decided to look for another job. I found one.
 
I am now working at a company call .... My title is Programmer/Network
Admistrator. I learned quite a bit of networking at ... and it helped me get
this job. ... is a government contractor and they have a contract for creating
a new defense navigational system for their Los Angelas class subs and thier
Tridant subs. It is a system that will show a virtual representation of the
terrain around them based on topographical data in a database. The sub crew
doesn't need to fly blind anymore. It will also scan the surrounding terrain
to update the database in real time. If the sub is on a crash course with the
terrain or another sub or surface ship, the system will detect it and warn the
pilot. If the pilot doesn't respond, the system will adjust the subs course so
that the collision is avoided. The system will use a silicon graphics reality
engine and will be programmed using c++ in Unix. I am responsible for
establishing a network for the company in the office that i will be working in
and then I will also be on a team of programmers that will program the
navigational system. My salary was raised by 3K from ... to a total of 36K.
After a 90 day evaluation period, it will be raised another 3K from there.
 
The courses that the IPT program offers are very valuable. I have often used
Color Theory, Optics, Physics, and other photo tech classes. The most
important courses were my concentration courses in programming, and DIP of
course. Make sure none of the courses get cut and if possible add more
computer related courses. Well if you have any other questions, e-mail me
back. 
 
...........................................................................
 
PARTICIPANT: ....
AGE: 25
EMPLOYER: ....
DURATION OF EMPLOYMENT:   1 1/2 year
TITLE:                    Imaging engineer
SALARY:                   $40,000 / year
HINDSIGHT:                Should have had more math, science,programming
courses. It would allow smoother transition for graduate program.  
 
Major skills obtained     RIT courses    Professor
                          Image Proc.1 2 3 - Dr. Rao 
(impact to work           Color Measurement - Glen Miller
 performance the most)    Image Evaluation - Jack Holm
                          C, C++ - Carl Salvagio
                          Instrumentation - Andrew Davidhazy
                          S.E.M. - Jack Holm
                          M&P - Dr. Strobel
                          Photo 1 - Prof. Kushner
                          Tech. Writing - (liberal arts prof.)
 
It should be noted that the Technical Photography program's unique combination
of arts and sciences was the reason my employer has selected me over other
electrical engineering and Imaging Science candidates. 
 
IMPROVEMENTS/MODIFICATIONS:
 
University calculus, physics over college calculus, physics. 
 
And encouragement of students to "cross train" by taking course of other 
majors. (ex. circuit course in electrical engineer, image process. in 
Imaging science...etc.,)
...............................................................................
From: TechShootr@aol.com
 
Since I am an empoyee of the United States Government, my pay is a public
matter, so I don't really care who knows...
 
As an ensign (paygrade O-1) with three years of service, my base pay is $24,696
gross. I also receive allowances for housing, food, cost of living, etc. This
depends on where I live and whether I'm living in government housing. Needless
to say, living in Hawaii means I get a substantial amount more.
 
Considering that average rent in Hawaii is $1100/mo ($13200/yr) added to my
food ($146/mo) and cost of living ($265/mo), my total gross income comes to
$42,828.
 
In February, I promote to Luitenant (Junior Grade). That would bring my income
to $47,628!
 
Dawn just took a look at that figure and wondered, "Where is it all going?"
When it can cost $7 for a jar of peanut butter, it goes very fast! Actually, my
salary should be pretty average with any IPT grad working in the same area
doing the same sort of thing.
 
Now for the JOB DESCRIPTION:
 
Naval Intelligence Officer (my profession - very general)
 
Provide in-depth analysis on matters of military intelligence to the
warfighter. This includes analyzing reports on geopolitics, military
capabilities, government/military activities, and any other related information
to determine the posture, intent, and readiness of a given country to fight
against the US and NATO countries.
 
Airwing Imagery Officer (my current position - 2.5 yrs)
 
Provide expertise and coordination on matters of aerial/space reconnaissance,
imagery, and battle damage assessment (BDA) to the Carrier Air Group Commander
on the USS NIMITZ. This includes working with imagery from systems controlled
by "national agencies" and coordinating, analyzing, and disseminating imagery
from the carrier's tactical reconnaissance squadron using the Tactical Aerial
Reconnaissance Pod System (TARPS). This involves coordination with the
squadron, photointerpreters, the ship's photo lab, air operations, and the
NIMITZ battle group intelligence structure. Imagery is handled in silver form
and analyzed on light tables. It is disseminated digitally via a secure unix
network much like the Internet.
 
Skills I've found invaluable:
 
A detailed understanding of Ag and digital photography, remote sensing,
stereography, photogrametry, scanning systems, radar imaging, infrared imaging
(NIR and thermal), color science, multispecral analysis, aerial photography
mission planning, sensitometry, photochemistry, digital image processing, unix,
dos, windows, mac, data compression, video, online servers, and recognition of
military equipment throughout the world.
 
Commentary:
 
I can't begin to tell you how IPT prepared me for this job almost as though it
were a perfect fit. I do not believe this would have happened if I had my
degree in Imaging Science or Photographic Illustration. I have found ways to
apply nearly every course I have ever taken in the program. I owe my success
thus far to the faculty of IPT. The administration of RIT would be
hard-pressed to find another program amid all that red brick that provides such
a practical and current education. When I mention my almamater to superiors
and colleagues, many will say they have heard good things about the program I
come from and expect much of me because of it. My degree has put me leaps
ahead of my peers in other airwings as they have little imaging background when
they start in this position. For that, I am greatful to RIT.
 
Please pass on my feelings to anyone who asks...
 
Rick Behrens
Class of 1994
..............................................................................
 
I have been in my current position for 5 years. I graduated in 1989. My 
responsibilities include: managing daily operations of a government digital 
facility, assessing and recommending new imaging technology, creating and 
maintaining a digital image library, photographic documentation, training 
government personnel on new digital imaging technology, and supervising three 
people. My current salary is $35K per year. 
 
..............................................................................
 
i think the tech program worked for me because you could learn about
photography and other kinds of imaging and then apply it to another field of
study. it's tuff though because there are so many other fields of study. you
have to make up your mind pretty early on as to what you want to concentrate
in. for me, i figured out what i wanted to concentrate in through the survey
class. every week i would see something new that was realted to imaging. i hope
this class is still working this way, i know there have been problems in the
past with making it required. maybe the course shouldn't be so passive, where
the students just come in and see what's happening, maybe you should give
assignment that would make them go out in search of interesting things that
they could get a job doing. i think this is key, finding something interesting
that you could do for a living. once you find out what it is then you can
figure out what classes you need to take so you can do it.
 
i think the core courses where good. i think there should have been a seperate
M&P course for techs. i think more emphasis should be placed on the science and
math classes. from what i understand there is now some kind of digital
processing class, i wish it was ther sooner. guidance, once you have some idea
what you want to do you need to be able to talk to somebody about how to get
there. 
 
about my job:
title:        image technician
salary:       $24,000
responsibilities: scanning all the black & white pictures for the magazines.
maintaining the scanner. adjusting the scanned images in photoshop.
manipulating pictures in photoshop. creating background textures in various
applications for the designers. outputting all the film for the black & white
sections of the magazines to the imagsetter. maintaining the imagsetter. 
troubleshooting problems with sending pages to the imagsetter. processing the
film from the imagsetter. maintaining the processor. buying film and chemistry
and other supplies for the art department. attending trade shows and
conferences to stay up to date on technology. 
 
...............................................................................
 
I am currently earning about 35K annually. I generally work a 50 hour week,
but I don't get overtime. Extra time becomes comp-time which I can take off
later supposedly at my convenience. Additionally I have a 401K retirement
plan here as well as dental and some sort of health benefits. I am uncertain 
of my health benefits as I have never had need to use them. I do not get
evaluated or reviewed. I have been working in my major for 7 years. My
salary history:
 
Year 1 20K, at Company 1, Year 2 24K at Company 1, Year 3 28K at Company 1
Year 4 28.6K at Gov't Agency, Year 5 31.5K at Gov't Agency, Year 6 32.9K at 
Gov't Agency, Year 7 34.8K at Gov't Agency
 
Years beyond this I am really vague on. Anyhow my salary has not even kept
pace with inflation the past couple of years. The above figures are averages
of what I earned that year Some years we have received no pay increase,
others we have gotten 2% or 3%. 
 
I consult with different researchers, determine their needs, then take
whatever steps necessary to gathering their data. I use any imaging technique
that I feel is appropriate. This has involved everything from simply handing
them an extension tube to having specialized cameras installed in various
expriments filming experimens. I am qualified to fly on the microgravity
plane and have secret clearance. I have had to insure the quality and
processing of film that has flown on the shuttle, I've had to hire and manage
student interns. Some projects I've been involved with I have had to devise
new procedures and fabricate my own equipment. 
 
Anyway I hope this has been helpful for both you and the data base. Finally,
I have begun to wonder about the major I chose. I am concerned that perhaps I
am limited in my income possibilities. I paid a lot of money at RIT and I
would like to now earn a lot. If I have reached the max of my financal 
potential then I should seriously contemplate making a change. I like to
think that I am too young to have reached the peak of my career. That is my
concern here. Although I like what I do I have realized that there is no job
above mine. I will never be promoted. I don't see great potential for a
raise. Extra work doesn't manifest itself in extra pay: simply extra stress. 
Do I want to do this job untill I reach 65? Food for thought.
 
.............................................................................
 
My salary at graduation + 5 years is about $40K. Benefits include car,
computer, flexible schedule, training, etc. All these figure in to my staying
at a job for which I believe I'm underpaid. I look forward to your
tabulations.
 
Also, about the program... I wonder if they realize that the whole of the
photographic industry rides largely on the backs of PPHT grads. We may not be
the Leibowitzes or the Nachtways, but indirectly we are responsible for their
success or failure.
 
From education, to imaging engineering, scientific photography, digital
imaging, photogrhic reproduction, lab work, and even sales, without PPHT the
industry would be in tough shape. Without these positions, the industry would
greatly suffer. In short, we build the ladder that the stars of fine art,
photojournalists and all photographers climb upon.
 
...............................................................................
 
my annual salary is 15K approx.
 
...............................................................................
From: esaul@nikon.com (Eric Saul)
 
Unfortunately, I do not have the original document that I sent to you. But in
summary, I mentioned that salary info is not necessarily equatable from one
student of PPHT to another. It may be difficult for an employer to STANDARDIZE
salary based on the fact that someone graduated from the same program as
another. There are many other factors that the employer takes into account such
as: 
 
1. the individual's work experience (years in the field)
2. the size of the company
3. the skills and area(s) of expertise that person has (or doesn't)
 
I think sharing all other info relative to what everyone is doing and how they
got there is a great idea.
I forgot to tell you what I was up to here at .... Well, I am currently
training in the semi-conductor field with Intel and ...... I will be trouble
shooting and problem solving the fab (stepper machines). Actually right now I
am working on a smp (serious machine problem). You see, Intel, for example,
has many many steppers that make little pictures on silicon wafers. Each die
is representative of a chip in a computer. So, when a machine (we call 'em
steppers) goes down it means big $$. My job is to keep it up. My wife says
I'm doing a fine job. 
 
Anyways, We are looking for a house in ..... and then maybe a couple years
down the road we will have little ..... running around. Things are good. I
would be happy to talk with any student who might be interested in this field
or how 
 
I got here (I'm not quite sure myself). No, seriously, the cost of living on
the east coast drove me to look west until I found the southwest. It is very
clean here. You don't see a lot of garbage and #%$% on the side of the road,
no graffeti (did I spell that right?). The school's are not as great as out
East, but that is why we will send our kids to RIT. The name and our major has
opened many many doors for me. It's almost like a passport to the industry,
really!. Before the interview, I almost knew I was hired just because of how
excited my boss was about my education and description I gave him of my major. 
People in industry really look up to RIT grads. Not just because of the
classes they take but because they are overachiviers. By the way, that senior
project, SOUNDMAPPING, is still paying off for me. Of course, I promote it. So
is one of my co-ops (medical stock photo) I get a check from them for using my
images for about $144 3 x a year. Pretty good pay for no work.
 
.... is a very generous company. Every tool (software, hardware, e-mail,
books, pager, on the job training, etc.) is made available to me. All I have
to do is ask for it. I am surprised what you can get, by just asking for it. 
So many other employees in other companies don't ask for anything (except more
$) and they don't get anything.
 
..............................................................................
 
Title: Photo-Optic Instrumentation Tech
Salary: $31,500 
Benifits: Full medical & dential, 401k, 2 weeks vacation, profit sharing
based on _quartly_ _performance_ reviews_. Minimal product discount.
 
Duties & responsabilities: Digitize high speed films of on going testing,
and submit reports in triplicate of each. Support engineer's special testing
with high speed film and analysis. Coordinate and oversee a photographer
documenting post test conditions. 
 
Average 40 hrs/WK no overtime paid.
Travel approximatly 4 weeks a year.
.............................................................................
 
Internal Corporate Photography - Grip and Grins, Studio Portrait, Environmental
Portraits, Senate Hearings, Events
 
Most of my stuff is for internal use. Some is published outside. None
of it is copyrighted. Also I maintain the database for the photographic
library. Library related duties take up over half of my time. 
 
Annual salary: 32K 
...............................................................................
From: Eric Seymour 
 
I hope all is well at RIT and especially with IPT. I enjoy reading your
occasional email messages. In response to your job/salary survey, I think
this is a good idea, especially when we are between jobs.
 
I don't do anything directly related to photography (at least 
professionally), so I might not be the best reference point for salary. I'll
just describe my current position and what I feel was beneficial from the
program.
 
I currently work for NeXT Computer, Inc. We sell object oriented development
software and web building tools. I'm the Systems Engineering Manager for
NeXT's Government Sales team. We are a pretty small group who basically
covers all of North America, which means I travel a bit. Basically I both
manage SE's and I act as an SE since our team is so small. We need to be
experts in all of our products, which for me is fun because I like software
development and we sell development tools. I have managed to stay extremely 
technical despite having been out of school since May '89. All of our SE's,
including myself, are extremely competent programmers and in most cases used
to develop software full time. I have also been doing many presentations. 
One of our jobs is to effectively articulate the benefits of our products. 
Standup presentation skills are a must. Overall, my job satisfaction is
extremely high.
 
That being said, here's what I got from the program which I value today. 
Some of these points are intangibles, but I consider the lack of them
potential show stoppers to success.
 
1. Technical Writing. (this letter aside) Technical writing was emphasized
early and often. Certainly Barbara Birket's course alone was worth the
tuition. But even before that, the requirement by most of the professors to
write technical reports helped me tremendously. I can't tell you how many
people I've met from "good" schools and programs (including other programs at
RIT) who can't write and therefore can't communicate. Courses like Sensi, 
PhotoChem, Optics, etc. coupled with professors like Rus Kraus (perhaps the
biggest positive influence in my College career) really made a difference.
 
2. Technical Creativity. One thing that I got from IPT was a sense of
creativity (I know it's hard to believe). More importantly, I learned how to
combine this creativity in a technical field. In photography, the reasons
for doing so are clear. In Photo Chemistry, we learned the science behind
film so that we could produce better pictures. In High Speed/ Time Lapse, we
wrestled with physics and used photography to solve real world problems (and 
also to create cool pictures!!). In other fields like Computer Software,
creativity is lacking --Turn this bit on, turn that bit off. Just the facts. 
Free thinkers need not apply.-- The most successful people I've seen in this
industry are creative, and they usually have not come from Comp Sci or even
Engineering backgrounds. I'll give you an example. Terry Senovich, and IPT
grad from ~85, is part owner of a very successful software company based here
in Virginia. He is perhaps one of the best and most creative graphics and
user interface developers anywhere. His main software package is a charting
application that blows away the competition. IPT fosters creativity applied
to technology like crazy. This is true of virtually every course, but most
importantly from the core courses like Photo I, M&P, and Color Printing
Theory (Thanks Glenn!).
 
Well, that's enough for now. I need to go home and walk my dog. Oh... by
the way... I got married on October 14th to a College of Science grad
(Deborah Danielewicz, '89).
 
Take care and keep those emails coming.
 
--Eric Seymour
..............................................................................