Arts Administration Graduate Student Orientation
August 26-27, 2024
Welcome to the official page of the Arts Administration Orientation, a two-day event held annually on the campus of Southern Utah University for graduate students in the Arts Administration Program. This orientation is required for students on the MFA track, and optional for those on the online MA track.
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. We look forward to seeing you all in August!
Orientation RSVP - REQUIRED (COMING SOON)
Monday, August 26
09:00 am - WELCOME
All AA students, faculty, and mentors will meet together for introduction and instructions regarding the orientation process. (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 Southern Utah Museum of Art (SUMA) Classroom
11:00 am - SESSION 2
Alumni Panel: An informational panel discussion of alumni from both degree tracks, facilitated by Josh Stavros (Director). (50 minutes) (Livestream link and passcode will be posted here in August.)
The SUMA Classroom
12:00 pm - LUNCH at SUMA
Join the staff at Southern Utah Museum of Art (SUMA) for a complimentary lunch and opportunity to meet other program mentors and assistantship supervisors from SUU. Vegetarian options will be available. (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 (found under the MFA and MA Information drop-downs for the respective degree track) and prepared to ask questions about the Arts Administration Program. (50 minutes)
The SUMA Classroom (MFA Students)
The BMH Classroom (MA Students)
02:00 pm - SESSION 4
DBT Training [MFA Students]: 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
Program Culture [MA Students]: This session will focus on developing a positive learning culture for all members of the Arts Administration program. We will discuss how culture develops, how our values inform our choices and interactions, and ideas, tools, and application on building culture intentionally. (80 minutes)
The BMH Classroom
03:30 pm - BREAK
05:00 pm - AA POTLUCK SOCIAL
All AA faculty, students, mentors, and family members are invited a casual get-together in the backyard of the Burch Mann House, home of the Arts Administration Program at SUU. During the social, member of theUtah Shakespeare Festival's acting and artistic company will be doing a play orientation for The 39 Steps. After the social, we will walk over together to the evening events at the USF
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 orientation attendee for this performance. Additional tickets can be purchased at a reduced rate of $15. From the USF Website: "This fast-paced “whodunit” comedy is performed with only four actors—balancing suspense, non-stop comedy, and a good splash of romance. Richard Hannay unwittingly entangles himself with the mysterious Annabella Schmidt, and the next day he wakes to find her dead in his flat. He sets out on the adventure of a lifetime, careening from place to place and muddle to mess. The smash hit from our 2010 season is back by popular demand. This highly stylized theatrical romp will leave you laughing and amazed."
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 the Executive Director, Jessica Kinsey. (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 current MFA-track students working in assistantships at USF. (50 minutes)
Meet on the Sam & Diane Stewart Family Foundation Plaza (The Patio), SUMA
11:00 pm - LUNCH at USF
Join the staff at Utah Shakespeare Festival (USF) for a complimentary lunch and opportunity to meet other program mentors and assistantship supervisors from SUU. Vegetarian options will be available. (50 minutes)
The Frehner Rehearsal Hall
12:00 pm - SESSION 7
Capstone Presentations: Over the summer, graduating students 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 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) (Livestream link and passcode will be posted here in August.)
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.