Arts Administration Graduate Student Orientation
August 25-27, 2022
Welcome to the official page of the Arts Administration Orientation, a three-day event held annually at Southern Utah University. Based on the Mission and Learning Outcomes of the Arts Administration program, the goal of this orientation is to welcome students, providing a practical programmatic foundation so that they are adequately prepared for the scope and culture of the Arts Administration Program.
This page includes the conference schedule, descriptions of events, and maps. Please note that some events require an RSVP, linked below. We look forward to seeing you all in September!
Note on Our COVID-19 Preparations and Precautions:
As we plan the 2022 Arts Administration Orientation Conference, we are staying up-to-date on best practices in regards to COVID-19 safety. We are listening to our Southern Utah University and State of Utah leadership, as well as local and state health officials, to ensure the best possible experiences for our attendees.
As is the current policy on the campus of SUU, the plan 2022 Arts Administration Orientation will be mask recommended, and we will be practicing safe interaction and sanitization. Knowing the situation is fluid, however, if rules are further restricted or relaxed, we will adjust as needed.
To view SUU campus policies in regards to the safety of our students, employees, and guests, visit suu.edu/coronavirus. Additionally, SUU is following the procedures outlined by the State of Utah, which can be viewed at coronavirus.utah.gov.
Thursday, August 25
09:00 am - WELCOME
All AA faculty, students, and mentors will meet together for introduction and instructions regarding the orientation process.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. The Southern Utah Museum of Art (SUMA) Classroom
11:00 am - SESSION 2
Digital Literacy & Networking [MA Students]: Students will learn about resources to find, evaluate, and communicate information requiring both cognitive and technical skills and what resources are available outside of the program to help the student network with and research organizations to meet those expectations. BMH Classroom
Assistantship Introductions [MFA Students]: Students will be taken to their respective assistantship locations and given a brief introduction to their position, responsibilities, and coworkers. Leave from the SUMA Lobby
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. The SUMA Classroom
01:00 pm - SESSION 3
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. 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. The BMH Classroom
02:30 pm - SESSION 4
DBT Training [MA 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. The BMH Classroom
Program Culture [MFA 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. The SUMA Classroom
04:00 pm - SESSION 5
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. MFA Students with Josh in The SUMA Classroom and MA Students with Rachel in The BMH Classroom
05:00 pm - FREE TIME
06:00 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. RSVP Required (as part of the General RSVP form). The BMH Backyard
Friday, August 26
09:00 am - SESSION 6
SUMA Tour: Students will be guided on a behind-the-scenes tour of Southern Utah Museum of Art by the Executive Director, Jessica Kinsey. Meet in the SUMA Lobby
10:00 am - SESSION 7
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. Note: masks required. Meet on the Sam & Diane Stewart Family Foundation Plaza (The Patio), SUMA
After the USF visit, MA students will be released, and MFA students will be taken to SUU Human Resources to fill out their employment paperwork.
11:00 pm - FREE TIME
01:00 pm - SESSION 8
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. The SUMA Classroom
05:00 pm - FREE TIME
06:30 pm - Introduction to the Utah Shakespeare Festival: Frank Mack, USF Executive Producer, and Kami Terry Paul, USF General Manager, will meet with students briefly to introduce themselves and the Tony Award-winning Utah Shakespeare Festival. Meet on the lawn behind the Balcony Bards Seminar Grove
06:45 pm - Utah Shakespeare Festival Play Orientation: From the USF website: "Learn more about the play at our free Play Orientations. Conducted by theatre experts, these introductions will answer your questions and help you more fully enjoy the plays." Balcony Bards Seminar Grove
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 Sweeny Todd: 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 wickedly funny musical (winner of eight Tony Awards) has been delighting and terrifying audiences for over four decades. It is the dark tale of Sweeney Todd who returns to London and seeks revenge against the dastardly judge who ravaged his wife, stole his daughter, and sentenced him to exile. His thirst for blood soon causes the bodies to pile up—just in time for his neighbor to find the perfect to ingredient for her meat pies." RSVP Required (as part of the General RSVP form). The Engelstad Shakespeare Theatre
Saturday, August 27
09:00 am - SESSION 9
Program Breakfast: We will all meet together to break bread and watch videos of advice from graduating students about how to make the most of their time in grad school.The SUMA Classroom
10:00 am - SESSION 10
Alumni Panel: An informational panel discussion of alumni from both degree tracks, facilitated by Rachel Parker (Director). The SUMA Classroom
11:00 a.m. - FAREWELL
Closing remarks from Rachel Parker (Program Director), Brian Swanson (Department Chair), Shauna Mendini (Dean), and James Sage (Associate Provost). The SUMA Classroom