KMH Integration Re-writes Lesson Plan for Higher Ed A/V
When KMH Integration led the design and build-out of Montclair State University’s new School of Communication and Media a few years ago, the goal was to do more than install new technology in a new building. The project quickly took on a new identity and became known as “Hollywood East,” since it gave media students at the east coast school access to the same content creation and production workflows being used on the sets of movies and TV shows every day.
KMH has continually accelerated that trend of enhancing the higher-ed learning experience for students, most recently with three projects underway at State University of New York (SUNY) Oswego campus, Temple University, and the City University of New York (CUNY). The scope of each project is different, but the overall goal is the same: preparing students for their future careers by giving them hands-on access to the technology they will likely encounter in their first professional environment.
“More schools are building lab environments to simulate ‘real-world’ workplaces and complement what their media and production students are learning in the classroom,” said Kevin Henneman, president of KMH Integration. “The more time students can spend learning how to use a 4K camera or IP switcher now while they’re in school, then the more attractive they’ll be to a potential first employer. Making that connection is what’s driving our engagements with our higher ed customers.”
SUNY Oswego
KMH Integration is upgrading and expanding SUNY Oswego’s TV production facilities, building two studios, two control rooms, editing and post-production suites, and supporting equipment rooms. The new spaces will be fully 4K-ready, with a flexible infrastructure that can easily grow with the program when it’s ready to upgrade from SDI/baseband. Planned completion for the project is the fall 2025 semester.
Temple University
KMH Integration is completing the first phase of a multi-year upgrade to the Temple University TV (TUTV) facility, which the school uses to teach television production and to broadcast local original programming. KMH is upgrading the entire infrastructure for the TUTV studios and production spaces, enhancing the on-air quality and giving students expanded instructional opportunities.
CUNY
A similar project is underway at CUNY, the nation’s largest urban public university with 25 colleges spread across New York City. CUNY hired KMH to provide consulting and planning for their future facility upgrades, including budget development, technology and workflow recommendations. The CUNY TV facility doubles as a local public cable access channel and a student education space.
“These schools recognized our expertise in designing and implementing professional broadcast and production workflows, and that’s essentially what we are doing for each of these projects,” Henneman said.
KMH is also working with these and other schools to identify new opportunities for students to begin their professional career path, through student internships or work study programs.
“Several of our key employees began with us as interns, so we clearly recognize the value of student-employer relationships,” Henneman said. “We’re a believer in working with the next wave of potential employees and helping them prepare for their careers. It’s the only way to keep any industry, especially ours, growing.”