Students who have wandered the halls of the Art & Design Center (ADC) have most likely spotted an array of posters featuring unique designs, all designated to past semesters. These aren’t average wall decor – they point to a Chatham University tradition that comes with the close of every semester.
Survey is a recurring campus staple that highlights the work of students in upper-level classes. The event, however, has gone through a number of changes as it solidified its place at Chatham.
Ahead of the fall 2025 Survey, the Communiqué delved into the event’s history.
Survey was started in 2012 as a means to bring together and exhibit the work completed over the course of the semester in art, design and communication disciplines. It first began as a structured two-day critique of students’ work, where students would have individual sessions with faculty members. At this time, Survey represented all class levels rather than the 200-level and above courses that the event is primarily geared towards today.
“Initially, Survey functioned mainly as a required end-of-semester critique, emphasizing formal assessment, professional preparedness and rigorous feedback tied closely to grades and job-readiness,” Film and Media Arts Professor prajna parasher said.
Survey expanded once Chatham introduced graduate programs in communication, graphic design and film & digital technology. Graduate students, along with students presenting research papers, began to showcase at Survey, further expanding the event’s reach across the department.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Survey was transitioned to a virtual space, with student work being featured on social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook. The physical art was still displayed in the ADC over the course of a week during this time, so visitors could view the exhibitions in person while allowing for social distancing.
In fact, the virtual aspect of Survey is still prevalent today. Select student work can be viewed on the Chatham art department’s Instagram account (@chathamarts). Updates and details on events such as the Survey can also be found at this site.
Currently, Survey functions as a more informal gallery that invites all visitors to view artwork and move through the ADC at their own pace while still mirroring a professional exhibition environment.
Parasher says that Survey’s main change throughout the years is this shift from an evaluative benchmark to an overall celebration of creative processes within the community.
“Over time,” she said, “the message has foregrounded visibility, confidence and shared pride in student work, positioning Survey as a department-wide ritual that affirms creative growth, collaboration and the art, design and communication community’s evolving identity within Chatham.”
She also revealed the oftentimes unspoken reward of participating in Survey as a faculty member.
“A special joy comes from seeing the ADC itself transformed by their creative energy. Familiar hallways and studios become a living gallery, every surface carrying traces of their labor, risk-taking and imagination,” she said.
The fall 2025 Survey will take place from 4-6 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 11. The event is free to attend for all students, faculty, staff and other community members.
