Master of Fine Arts Student Orientation
August 26-27, 2024
Welcome to the official page of the Arts Administration Master of Fine Arts Student Orientation, a required two-day event held annually on the campus of Southern Utah University for students starting the conservatory resident MFA* program in Arts Administration.
Based on the Mission and Learning Outcomes of the Arts Administration program, the goal of this orientation is to provide a practical programmatic foundation so students are adequately prepared for the scope and culture of the Arts Administration Program at SUU.
This page includes the orientation schedule and descriptions of events, as well as the required RSVP. We look forward to seeing you all in August!
*Online MA track students have separate orientation materials online in the Arts Administration Student Hub. If you are an MA track student and have not yet been added to the Hub, please contact your advisor.
Monday, August 26
09:00 am - WELCOME
All AA-MFA students, faculty, and mentors will meet together for introduction and instructions regarding the orientation process. This welcome will be led by Jason Moodie, Director of Learning and Visitor Experience at the Southern Utah Museum of Art (SUMA) (50 minutes)
The Burch Mann House (BMH) Backyard - 90 South 200 West
10:00 am - SESSION 1
IT & Canvas Help: Members of the SUU IT team will check all things IT-related for students, including logins and passwords, and SUU Canvas staff will walk through a basic Canvas training for those unfamiliar. Please bring your own laptop or tablet. (50 minutes)
The SUMA Classroom
11:00 am - SESSION 2
Alumni Panel: An informational panel discussion of alumni from the MFA track, facilitated by Donn Jersey, Director of Development and Communications at the Utah Shakespeare Festival (USF) (50 minutes)
The SUMA Classroom
12:00 pm - LUNCH at SUMA
Join the staff at SUMA for a complimentary lunch and opportunity to meet SUMA program mentors and assistantship supervisors. Special thanks to the Office of the Dean of the College of Performing and Visual Arts for sponsoring this event. (50 minutes)
The SUMA Classroom
01:00 pm - SESSION 3
Q&A Panel with the Director and Associate Director of the AA Program: Please come to this session having read the AA Handbook and prepared to ask questions about the MFA track and the Arts Administration Program as a whole. (50 minutes)
The SUMA Classroom
02:00 pm - SESSION 4
DBT Training: In this session, students will learn how elements and principles of dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) can guide classroom interaction, critical thinking, and provide a framework for balancing school and life. This session will be guided by a mental health professional with specific DBT training. (80 minutes)
The SUMA Classroom
03:30 pm - BREAK
05:00 pm - AA POTLUCK SOCIAL
All AA faculty, students (from both degree tracks), mentors, and family members are invited to a casual get-together in the backyard of the Burch Mann House, home of the Arts Administration Program at SUU.
The BMH Backyard
06:30 pm - PLAY ORIENTATION
During the social, member of the Utah Shakespeare Festival's acting and artistic company will be doing a play orientation for The 39 Steps.
The BMH Backyard
07:10 pm - USF Greenshow: From the USF website: "Leave the noise and stress of the world behind as you prepare for the evening’s play with our free outdoor entertainment: The Greenshow."
The Ashton Family Greenshow Commons
08:00 pm - USF Performance of The 39 Steps: The Arts Administration Program has secured one (1) complimentary ticket per student (from either degree track) for this performance. Additional tickets can be purchased at a reduced rate of $15. Please contact the AA Associate Director at rachelparker@suu.edu if you wish to purchase those reduced rate tickets.
The Randall Jones Theatre
Tuesday, August 27
09:00 am - SESSION 5
SUMA Tour: Students will be guided on a behind-the-scenes tour of Southern Utah Museum of Art by Becky Bloom, Assistant Director of Curatorial Affairs at SUMA. (50 minutes)
Meet in the SUMA Lobby
10:00 am - SESSION 6
USF Tour: Students are invited on a walk-through of some of the spaces of the Utah Shakespeare Festival, led by USF Education Director, Stewart Shelley. (50 minutes)
Meet at the Fred Statue outside the Englestad Theatre and USF Administration Offices
11:00 pm - LUNCH at USF
Join the staff at USF for a complimentary lunch and opportunity to meet USF program mentors and assistantship supervisors. Special thanks to The Utah Shakespeare Festival for sponsoring this event. (50 minutes)
The Festival Artists Lounge (outside of the Frehner Rehearsal Hall)
12:00 pm - SESSION 7
Capstone Presentations: Over the summer, graduating students in both degree tracks have linked theory with practice through a Capstone Project. Upon completion of these projects, students return to Cedar City to give a presentation on the experience and how it all relates back to their time in the AA program. This is also a wonderful opportunity for incoming students to see what the end of their tenure in the program could be like. (approximately 2 Hours)
The SUMA Classroom
02:00 pm - FAREWELL
Closing remarks from Josh Stavros (Program Director), Brian Swanson (Department Chair), Michael Schmidt (Dean), and James Sage (Associate Provost). (30 minutes)
The SUMA Classroom
After the Orientation Conferences closes, MFA students will be taken to SUU Human Resources to fill out their employment paperwork.