About SCPS
SCPS Bulletin Covers
The bulletin has been the flagship publication of NYU’s School of Continuing and Professional Studies (SCPS) since its founding in 1934—reinforcing the School’s philosophy of keeping ahead of adult learning needs and trends through courses, workshops, seminars, and conferences.
For the past 35 years, SCPS has showcased unique, artistic creations on these course bulletin covers, producing for several generations of New Yorkers an iconic image of the School and University. It has been said that the SCPS bulletin cover is ‘ The New Yorker’ of college catalogs; people look forward to getting each issue, to see the latest work of art.
History
SCPS—then known as the NYU Division of General Education—produced its first bulletin in August 1937 featuring Syd Browne’s pen-and-ink sketch of 20 Washington Square, the Division’s first address. The bulletin, which was no larger than a booklet, contained almost 100 pages of courses in liberal arts, sciences, and college preparation.
Browne’s sketch remained on the cover until 1939. Throughout the '50s, the Division’s bulletin grew from a booklet to a full size publication, and was printed each semester. In 1966, the Division became the School of Continuing Education and Extension Services. But it was not until 1969 that the School began to experiment with artistic creation on its bulletin covers, starting with visual artist Otto Piene’s “Light Sculpture.”
Over the years, a variety of media have been used, including some innovative three-dimensional pieces—Jonathan Milne’s paper sculpture of a red apple with the Washington Square Arch for its backdrop; Joel Nakamura’s painting on hand-tooled tin; Susan Leopold’s mixed media collage; and perhaps two of the most challenging, Steve Miotto’s mosaic, and Eric Harshbarger and Henry Lim’s LEGO™ sculpture.
More recently, such world-renowned graphic artists and designers as Peter Max, Al Hirschfeld and Takashi Murakami have created cover art in their unique, signature styles.