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Printable VPA Academic Strategic Plan PDF 417KB

VPA Academic Strategic Plan
An Interim Report: October 2017

Questions? Please contact VPA Office of Academic Affairs at 315.443.5955

DRAFT 10-16-2017

COLLEGE OF VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS OFFICE OF ACADEMIC AFFAIRS

VPA ACADEMIC STRATEGIC PLAN: AN INTERIM DRAFT

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• Strengths
• Weaknesses
• Opportunities 
• Threats

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Printable VPA Academic Strategic Plan PDF 417KB

VPA Academic Strategic Plan
An Interim Report: October 2017

Questions? Please contact VPA Office of Academic Affairs at 315.443.5955

DRAFT 10-16-2017

COLLEGE OF VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS OFFICE OF ACADEMIC AFFAIRS

VPA ACADEMIC STRATEGIC PLAN: AN INTERIM DRAFT

Introductory Statement

This report should be considered as a DRAFT version of the College’s Academic Strategic Plan.  With the arrival of new Dean Michael Tick this academic year, the creation of a highly participatory faculty and staff process was necessarily delayed until Dean Tick had time to gain a solid perspective on the College’s needs, strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.  A college-wide academic strategic planning committee, with faculty and sta from all areas of the College was established in early January, 2017.  Working in subgroups, the committee has generated a wide range of strategic initiatives and action steps, many of which are included in this draft report.  

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1. Nancy Cantor Warehouse – School of Design

   1. VPA would like to explore the feasibility of renovating an existing building or constructing a new facility in proximity to the Shaffer Art Building, Comstock Art Facility, the School of Architecture, the College of Engineering and the iSchool. We continue to see and hear from current and prospective Design students and their families that the location of the Warehouse causes hardship. Students are significantly removed from campus life, spend considerable time bussing to and from the facility, and incur additional expenses by being located off-campus (i.e., parking fees for private lots, lack of bookstore access, etc.).
   2. A facility located on or near main campus would alleviate these hardships for Design students and also provide an opportunity for synergy between programs that is currently lacking or difficult to facilitate. Prior to 2005, Design programs were located in various facilities on main campus, but within reach of the School of Architecture, the iSchool, and the School of Engineering. Since being consolidated within a single facility the collaboration within the School of Design has grown exponentially, while the synergy between the School of Design and our most obvious partners has waned, perhaps due to an “out of sight, out of mind” mentality.
   3. Additionally, a new Design facility located on main campus (or adjacent to Comstock Art) would provide the college opportunity to improve our operational processes by eliminating redundancies in services across the college that are currently necessary simply due to location, particularly wood, metal and print shops, all operated at considerable cost.  (For example, we operate wood/metal shops at the Cantor Warehouse, Smith Hall, and Comstock Art.)

2. Crouse College – Setnor School of Music

   1. The College would like to explore the feasibility of development of a School of Music Building in close proximity to the Regent Theater Complex (home of the Department of Drama and Syracuse Stage), 820 E. Genesee Street. The building would become the new home to the Setnor School of Music, as well as support facilities for the Theater Design and Theater Management programs with the Department of Drama, currently housed above Phoebe’s Restaurant.
   2. Built in 1888, Crouse College is a beautiful, impressive and historical fixture on the Syracuse University campus. It is, however, not an appropriate facility for a 21^st century school of music, most notably for nonexistent sound abatement, inconsistent HVAC (including humidity control), and lack of modern performance and practice/rehearsal venues.
   3. Ideally, the Setnor School of Music and the Department of Drama would be in close proximity as they share similar needs for curricular space for delivery of music lessons, performance, stage management instruction, and prop, costume, lighting and sound shops. 
   4. In addition, having a highly visible performing arts center and concert hall on campus can serve the entire campus community as a central hub and venue for major on-campus events and performances while remaining sensitive to its primary purpose in serving the educational mission of the School of Music and Department of Drama.

3. Regent Theater Complex (home of the Department of Drama and Syracuse Stage)

   1. The need for renovation and updating the Regent Theater Complex becomes essential. The degree programs in acting and musical theater are the most competitive programs at Syracuse University and yet are housed in facilities built in 1919 and last updated in the 1980's. A state-of-the art theater complex is crucial to maintaining the caliber of students applying for admission to the BFA in acting/musical theater. Current facilities are inflexible and utilize outdated technology, lighting, sound, rigging, etc. and do not support academic excellence
      

4. Crouse College – Department of Communication and Rhetorical Studies (CRS)

   1. As one of the first academic programs in the country to offer an academic program in communication and rhetoric, it is fitting to provide a historic facility to house CRS. The development of a performing arts center to house the Setnor School of Music would allow the college to relocate the Department of Communication and Rhetorical Studies from Sims Hall to Crouse College. Crouse College was built in 1888 and is in need of restoration to its fully glory, as well as integration of appropriate HVAC systems, instructional spaces, technology, etc. With this renovation, we anticipate having the ability to increase undergraduate enrollment, implement a new PhD program, and reestablish a competitive debate team.

5. Shaffer Art Building – Department of Transmedia

   1. The Shaffer Art Building was completed in 1990 and has not been updated since. We have consistent complaints from students and faculty about the lack of air conditioning, ventilation, and functioning windows. The Department of Transmedia offers a highly-ranked program in film, yet has limited facilities and technology to deliver its curriculum. We propose that Shaffer Art Building be renovated to more fully accommodate the Transmedia curriculum, to include film and photo studios, sound studios, editing suites, and graduate student studios.

6. The Belfer Laboratory -- Setnor School of Music

   1. The Belfer Laboratory, administered by SU Libraries, features a Live End/Dead End recording studio and control rooms designed by Chips Davis, nationally recognized acoustic expert and recording studio designer. One control room is furnished entirely with digital equipment by Syracuse University's Setnor School of Music. It is used as a teaching laboratory for students in the Music Industry and Bandier programs, the Sound Recording and Technology program, and the Audio Arts program.  With increased enrollments in these programs, we have outgrown this antiquated facility.  Last semester VPA discussed with David Seaman, Dean of Libraries and University Librarian, the idea of expanding this facility by adding a second floor that would connect to Byrd Library. Dean Seaman is supportive of the project.

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