Courses taught: Print & Online Design (552), Photojournalism I (410), Photojournalism II (510), Picture Editing (511), Advanced Photojournalism (610), Visual Communications (310), Directed Studies in Journalism (506). Guest lectures in: Communications in Society (104), Corporate Television (589).

National awards received by students include:

• 1995 College Newspaper Designer of the Year, 4th Place, Brian James.
• 1996 Best of Newspaper Design, Society of Newspaper Design, Silver Award, Sports Page, Brian James.
• 1996 College Newspaper Designer of the Year, 2nd Place, Brian James
• 1997 Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Awards, 1st Place, Edmee Rodriquez.
• 1997 NPPA College Photographer of the Year, 2nd Place (Sports), Edmee Rodriquez.
• 1998 Hearst Journalism Awards Program, 4th Place (Features/Portraits), Chris Hamilton.
• 1998 Hearst Journalism Awards Program, Photojournalism Finalist, Chris Hamilton.
• 1998 NPPA College Photographer of the Year, 1st Place (Spot News), Chris Hamilton.
• 1999 NPPA College Photographer of the Year, Gold Medal, Chris Hamilton (after transferring to Western Kentucky University).

The table below displays the teaching evaluation numbers I entered in the corresponding table in my Blue Form. Apparently, these numbers actually caused some concern for the members of the Promotion & Tenure Committee because, I was told, they had never turned in a Blue Form with teaching evaluation averages. (Think about that.)

The first column is the course number. The "Type" column is the designation of the course as required, elective, and/or as a survey course. The final two columns represent the average response to the questions on the teaching evaluation forms for "Amount of learning you experienced in the course" (Xa) and "Teacher's knowledge of subject" (Xb).

The scale used on the J-School's teaching evaluation forms is: 1=Poor; 2=Adequate; 3=Good; 4=Very Good; 5=Excellent.

Here are comments from some of the letters that my current and former students sent to the University on my behalf. I have removed the students' names to protect them from the widespread and unchecked retaliation occurring at KU.

• I graduated from the J School in 1998 having completed the magazine sequence and the photojournalism sequence. Being the last photojournalism student to have graduated from your school, I had worked closely with Mike. Only two professors in the Journalism school were always open and ready to listen to my questions, see my work and give advice, because they cared, not because they were getting paid. Mike was one of these. His door was always open and I knew upon entering his office, the visit was going to be very beneficial. The style and knowledge I received from him in design class was extremely beneficial too now that I am holding a great job in New York City. It was influence from these classes that has allowed me to become a graphic designer in the city, incorporating my knowledge and experience of photography with typography, design and layout. All these facets are areas in my knowledge that were positively affected by Mike throughout my education.
  
  Professor Cuenca is a valuable asset to the University of Kansas Journalism School. His tenure will mean he will be able to keep up the prestige of the school through his teaching style and influence.
  
  
• As a Graphic Design student in the school of Fine Arts, I have found that KU is behind the times in regards to computer technology. I have made an effort to seek out and take any sort of class which deals with the computer in the classroom, but they are rare.
  
  It is unfortunate, since it will be the first thing that my interviewers will ask me when I try to find work.
  
  A lot of what I have learned has been through self-teaching, but Mike Cuenca is responsible for the rest. I am currently taking his Print and Online Design class and I really wish I could've taken it years ago for all the tools it has provided me with.
  
  Mike Cuenca is a valuable asset to the J-School because of his broad scope of experience. He has dabbled in just about every field of journalism and design, not to mention he is a very objective and enthusiastic teacher.
  
  I think it would be a shame if politics overshadowed his aptitude as a teacher. If you choose to refuse Mr. Cuenca tenure, you are cheating not only the students but also yourselves and the integrity of this institution by allowing politics and bias to dictate your judgement.
  
  
• As a senior in the School of Journalism, I have been exposed to many teachers that have assisted me in my academic pursuit. However, of all these teachers, there are very few that have had the experience, passion and enthusiasm that Mike Cuenca brings into the classroom everyday he teaches.
  
  Since the board is evaluating Mr. Cuenca for his tenure, I wanted to express how valuable I feel he is to this school. Currently, I am taking Print & Online Design (J552), and have learned more this semester than in a lot of my J-school classes. As I began this class in the Fall, I was the definition of "computer illiterate." As the semester has progressed, I have absorbed a plethora of skills because of the teacher Mike Cuenca is. His patience, willingness to work outside of class, lectures and hands-on labs have taught me to be "computer friendly." For as important as computer skills are in the modern world of journalism, I have been surprised that more computer/design classes haven't been implemented. All in all, I feel that this class has been a necessity to my future career. Even more importantly, I couldn't have gotten this far without the expertise and excellence of Mike Cuenca.
  
  The point of this letter is to let you know from a student's perspective that Mike Cuenca is an asset to the School of Journalism. Mike has earned a untarnishable reputation among students at this university. It was recommended to me by my fellow peers to enroll in this class. As a few of them said, "You should take a class with Cuenca....He's great." Well, they were right. He is great. It is disappointing that it has taken the university ten years to recognize Mr. Cuenca's contributions to this school. I guess what's even more disappointing is that there are so many teachers in this school that have earned that merit simply by being "big wigs" in the corporate world and/or being well liked among the staff. As a student at this university, how valuable a teacher is should be measured by how effective he/she is in the classroom, not by whether or not he/she is popular among the staff. At the same time, just because a person excels in the real world of journalism, doesn't mean that individual is an exceptional teacher. I believe that there should be more teachers like Mike....Teachers who care about their students and the way they learn.
  
  I can say that I will leave the School of Journalism well prepared for my future in Advertising. When I graduate from this university, I will take with me a lot of skills and knowledge that will assist me in marketing myself. I strongly believe that I would not have the preparation needed without at least one class taught by Mike. I hope that the recipients of this letter take my sincere words into consideration when reviewing Mike Cuenca for his tenure. Without a question in my mind, I feel as if he DESERVES it, because he has EARNED it. I appreciate your time in being sensitive to what students like me think. It is teachers like Mike Cuenca that impact students while they are here, and long after they leave.
  
  
• I have taken a couple of classes with Mr. Cuenca and I wish I could have taken more. The knowledge that he taught me with regard to the journalism world has helped me tremendously. I have worked for close to 2 years in a KC ad agency and the skills that he taught in class have been used over and over. Mr. Cuenca has fought to keep the photojournalism emphasis going by introducing new technology like web site development to display the student work and digital shooting and editing. His overwhelming experience in journalism and specifically photojournalism coupled with his ability to convey that knowledge helped make him one of the pillars of my college experience! Please seriously consider the tenure of Mr. Mike Cuenca to the journalism faculty losing him would be a big loss to the J-school, but a HUGE loss to the students. Thank you for your consideration of this note.
  
  
• I hope that this short note will be read and seriously considered. I am a student at the University of Kansas, and a part of the School of Journalism. I am not majoring in anything Newspaper related, but am an Advertising major. Being a student of Advertising, I am disappointed in the lack of design skills, and computer skills I have been taught in advertising class rooms. Last semester, after taking Ad Copy and Layout, and never being encouraged to try using a computer to create my ads, I decided to take something a little off the subject of advertising, and learn a little about design, layout, and Quark. This is how I came to take Print and Online Design with Mike Cuenca this semester, and why I am writing this note.
  
  I am sure that you all know what Print and Online Design is about. At least, I hope you already do, so I'll save you those details. The important thing that I wanted to say to you all is that Mike Cuenca is the most knowledgeable, most understanding, most helpful, and the most encouraging teacher that I have had the privilege of learning from since I have been at the University of Kansas. I don't think that it is an easy class, and being the "non-computer-person" that I am, I have struggled with learning the materials for the class, and putting my projects together. But Cuenca has been helpful through the entire semester, and I am going to leave this class with everything that I wanted from it: greater computer skills, a basic understanding of design, and a stronger vocabulary to help me talk to "that side" of the business.
  
  I don't have a lot of positive things to say about the School of Journalism in general these days. I am not impressed with the fact that there is no way for anyone interested in the creative side of advertising to develop any kinds of skills in the school. I am disappointed in the University for letting this type of thing happen. I could talk for years about that, but I'm not going to. What I "came here" to say is that if you push out Mike Cuenca, you are throwing away the most valuable asset that the Journalism School has for a creative side of anything. You are not only taking away a teacher, something that you may think can be easily replaced, but you are leaving us without a mentor. Cuenca is honest. He's respectable. He understands us. He strives to know us. And he can teach us more than you seem to be willing to let him, already. There aren't many professors that I can say that about, and soon I'm afraid there won't be any.
  
  Beyond my short speech here, I think that the important thing to remember is that I am taking the time to write and send this note. I, like yourselves, am a very busy person. I have never taken the time to write a letter like this before. But I think that Cuenca is important enough as a teacher to deserve at least this from me. For all the time he spends with us, and for the great teacher that he is. I realize that I would not be effected by his leaving, since I'll be graduating in May, but by taking him away from the school, you are ruining the chance for him to teach others, and I can't stand the thought of that. I'm taking advantage of his being here while I can, and I've reorganized my schedule for next semester so I can take another class of his (Visual Communications: A class that I've heard has been talked about being cut.) In short: He is an excellent teacher, and if you care anything about the future students of this University, you would never let him go.
  
  
• Not only is he extremely knowledgeable, he is very patient and tolerable, which is quite important when you are teaching a relatively new medium where some students work at a faster pace than others. Most importantly, not only is he a very good teacher, he is a good person that has a great teaching style and dialogue with his class. And in terms of learning new skills for the advertising/journalism world, his is one of the most valuable classes I've been enrolled in at the J-school.
  
  
• After spending almost three years as a student in the Journalism school, I have come to the conclusion that it's not as perfect as I once thought it was. As a freshman I was under the impression that there were many aspects to the journalism school as a whole, creativity and design being some of the most important ones. Unfortunately, it is only after spending so much time in the school that I have realized only two professors I have ever had felt the same way, Arlo Oviatt and Mike Cuenca. These two professors are the only ones who have ever taught me anything about the art involved in journalism. One of these professors is no longer at the school and I think it would be extremely detrimental to the department if we also lose Mike Cuenca. Through Cuenca's Print and Online design class I was able to learn more about layout and design than I have in my entire three years as a student here. His extensive knowledge of design is a valuable asset that this school is desperately in need of. As a student who is very concerned with the future of the industry and the department, it is my opinion that it is crucial for the education of future students to experience Mike Cuenca as a professor.
  
  
• During my time at the William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Communications, Mike Cuenca was the most influential professor regarding my career as a photojournalist. His help and encouragement came at a time when I was considering leaving the J-School. The lessons I learned in Cuenca's photo editing class are valuable to me every day at work. Cuenca's standards for photographic content and composition helped raise my own. Cuenca's presence as a faculty member adds to the diversity necessary for a healthy working and learning environment. It is my strong opinion that Mike Cuenca should receive his tenure at the William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Communications. If he were not to, the University of Kansas would be losing an invaluable asset and an experienced professional in the field of photojournalism and newspaper design.
  
  
• As I approach graduation from KU in December, I find myself reflecting upon my college career. Halfway through my college education, I was days away from leaving KU. I was discouraged because it appeared KU didn't offer any sort of avenue for me to study my first love, photography. There were definitely other options open to me. I graduated from high school with an International Baccalaureate degree and a 3.9 GPA. However, photography was the only thing that held my interest. Working with photographs made me feel proud to create, and I wanted to be proud of my life's work. At the last minute, I decided to interview with a counselor from the School of Journalism.
  
  When the counselor assured me that I could study all the photography I wanted to at the school, I was sincerely grateful. It turned out he was part right, part wrong. Unfortunately, by the time I entered the school only two photography courses were left. However, I was still happy on that first day of class in Photojournalism I. The chance to study photography in college was all that mattered to me. Through those two courses, I regained my focus and determination to graduate. Also in those classes, I met the teacher whose invaluable experience and guidance would help make my college education meaningful again.
  
  Admittedly, it's a bit much to say Mike Cuenca solely saved my college career, but he made it possible for me to study and grow through photography. For me, that was all that I ever wanted, and I am forever grateful for the opportunity. Mike has a way of connecting with his students like no other teacher I've had in college. From day one, he establishes a relationship of trust, respect, and friendship with every willing student. There is no question that he has the impressive experience and knowledge of a veteran photojournalist and visual communicator. However, much more important than this, Mike has a passion for photography and all things visual. It's a passion that is shown through his commitment to his students, and it is certainly contagious.
  
  I'm a member of a shrinking minority of students at this school who make photojournalism their life's work. This is sad, but it's also something that can be fixed. It is vital that you keep an established visual educator of Mike Cuenca's caliber on staff. Many times I have felt Mike has been the only voice I have here. I deeply appreciate his support and dedication to photography. More than that, his friendship and guidance will be remembered as long as I work in photography, which will hopefully be all my life.
  
  No one can deny we are increasingly becoming a visual society. Change is on the ever nearing horizon, and this school is in danger of being left behind. I urge you not only to grant Mike Cuenca tenure, but to make him the foundation through which you make a recommitment to the visual arts in journalism at KU. Thank you for your time.
  
  
• As I understand, Mr. Mike Cuenca is up for tenure review and I know that there is no one more deserving than him.
  
  Mike is one of the most spectacular teachers I have ever met. His knowledge of the creative and visual arts is vast and admirable. He has been a very special addition to the journalism school and many students look up to him for advice, counsel, and inspiration. I don't think that I have ever met a man who is as nice, supportive, and genuine as Mike.
  
  Mike has worked hard to integrate several forms of journalism into his classes. With his wide knowledge of the different medias and his many published books, he could be considered a "renaissance man" of the journalistic arts. I know that the William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Communications prides itself on having people from the professional world of journalism serve as instructors. Mike is the epitome for this concept. He has done a little bit of every thing proving to be a valuable asset for the school.
  
  To give Mike Cuenca tenure would be a great reward for all of the hard efforts that he has brought to the journalism school. He has broadened minds, expanded possibilities and encouraged future visual artists in the journalism school to meet their full potential in class and after graduation.
  
  
• I graduated in May 99 from the J-school in advertising. I have followed the goings on at the University, partly with the Kansan and partly with my relationships with students and faculty. While in the Ad sequence at KU I had Bengtson, Linville-Del Pico, Lazarino, Davis, Basso, Oviatt, and Cain. For my electives I took Photojournalism I and II and Visual Coms. Not coincidentally, Mike Cuenca was my teacher in the three electives.
  
  Mike's classroom demeanor is calm and open, obviously favorable and conducive to real learning; not your typical by-the-book memorization. The thing that amazes me about Mike's tenure process is that there is any question of his ability and value to the J-school. I was always wary of my professors and other instructors, and was moderately concerned with some of their credentials. Why were my teachers not working in their field of expertise? Where was their work? I wanted something true. To question Mike Cuenca's value or level of work in his field is laughable. To find him not worthy of tenure would be a loss.
  
  
• I think the Journalism school needs more professors like Mike Cuenca. He really listens to his students and trys to help them to furthur their education and learning experience not only in academics, but life in general. He really listens, because he is interested in what they want in life. He helps them to get out of school something that they can really use. Not every student wants to do exactly what the Journalism school structures its classes towards. For example, My major was advertising. I did not want to work for an agency, and that seemed to be the only objective that advertising students worked for in their classes. Mike Cuenca was the only professor that I approached to talk with about alternative options for my future that actually listened to me and helped to guide me in career plans.
  
  
• I was really disappointed to hear that Mike Cuenca's tenure was denied today. I just received an e-mail a few minutes ago that told me the news and I am still in disbelief, so you'll have to forgive me if my words seem somewhat choppy.
  
  I guess the best way to start off this letter is to tell you that Mike is one of the few teachers that I have had at KU that has made me feel welcome in his class. He is always more than willing to answer questions and he makes his students want to learn.
  
  I have browsed through Mike's resume on his website (www.seekpeace.com) time and time again because I am amazed at how qualified he is to teach. I am even more amazed that he could not be deemed beneficial for the University of Kansas.
  
  I feel bad for Mike because I know that he loves to teach and I know that this whole process has been weighing heavily on him. And the fact that he found out two days before Thanksgiving that his tenure would be denied seems to be dripping with cruel irony. One day soon the University will find out what a mistake it has made.
  
  
• Hey, I can't believe they voted no. Well, actually when looking at who did I can believe that they would be so ignorant.
  
  
• I am very sorry to hear that the tenure committee could not realize what a gifted professor you are. You are one of the few professors at this university, especially in the j-school, who cares about the students. Your influence on your students goes much beyond what they learn in the classroom. The j-school is losing one of the most positive and talented professors I've ever known. Just remember that you've touched your students' lives with your warmth and passion for what you do, and we'll never forget you. Thanks for everything, and I am certain you'll continue to be successful in all you do.
  
  
• I just want you to know that I am very upset with KU. But this kind of thinking is typical, I am afraid. I could never understand it. The truly excellent teachers are always forced out of the business of teaching. Even though students desperately need Profs. like you, I suggest that you take your talent to the industry. Life is short and you want to spend as little of it as possible working for and dealing with assholes. I know that sounds selfish because you may feel like you're giving up on the students, but I have read too many success stories that begin with "I started out teaching. . . . " I know this may read as sappy, but honestly you are one of the Profs. I will remember from KU and I'm not even part of the j-school.
  
  
  
  
  

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