[mgilley]

Arts Community- Scholar Notes Meeting 2, Oct. 4, 2016

Attending: Janet Stephens, Catherine Moore, Chanju Lee, Stacy Rusnack, Katherine Balsley, Todd Mueller, Harry Boone, Marc Gilley, Brian Etheridge.

 

Where do we intersect with other disciplines at GGC.

– Macarthur grant example- Alzheimer’s therapy through theater work: https://www.macfound.org/fellows/956/ (in fact I would suggest any of the Macarthur Foundation Fellows as great examples to follow)

– Music and Art Therapy are existing programs- maybe a good fit with Nursing or Psychology

– Digital Media- driving home the role of design and the arts in general in a digital world (apps that don’t make sense, aren’t well designed, poor sound design- poor sound quality in general work, knowledge of the programs, no knowledge or apptitude for meaningful content)

– Develop high quality student scholarship in general.

– Make the most of block scheduling by developing learning communities- let students know that block scheduling can change during drop/add so they can take the class most suited to their interests.

– Many more options possible here.

Suggested Actions

– Present relevant research with students, even at the 1— level, showing the effect of the arts on the mind, on society, on the individual, etc…. (teaching tips).

– Develop projects across disciplines- work with classes in design, bring in arts speakers who can speak across disciplines (Arts as business, arts as technology, arts and science, arts as psychology, etc… ). This was suggested in the Art Committee meeting- I stole it and put it here too (with attribution).

 

 

What can we bring to GGC generally-

– Community outreach (previously Music worked with Hudgens, Art Faculty have discussed showing at Hudgens), public events, exhibits, concerts, film fest (arts festival?). Community based Art projects.

– Focus on retention- numerous surveys show good retention rates for underserved populations who engage in the arts (some have been shared already)

– Engage students in learning communities, further connect the arts with subjects students are engaged in.

Suggested Actions:

– Work with School of Transitional studies to develop programs? (recent idea, not discussed in the meeting)- applied studies (studio work, percussion groups) document for ourselves any impact Arts engagement has on underserved students. Possible research outcomes here as well. I think it is important to focus on the quality of the experience here- it isn’t enough to paint a couple grizzly bears, the quality of the thought process and experience of taking part in the creative act is paramount.

– Broaden the horizons of silo’d majors.

 

Concerns about our role at GGC include-

-Convincing administrators that the study of the arts is an Academic Subject. That retention comes not because they are easy, but because of the quality of thought and work that students can engage in.

– That while we document Arts education at GGC (Student surveys, student participation, outcomes in the workforce) we do not loose the essential character and quality of the unique possibilities and strengths of the art’s inherent merits.

– Lack of scholarship funding in arts- recruiting students specifically for arts.

Suggested Actions-

– Present relevant research with students, even at the 1— level, showing the effect of the arts on the mind, on society, on the individual, etc…. (teaching tips).

– Document industry support

– Survey Regional campuses (how are the arts viewed, supported, and developed… what tactics can we steal or create). Oglethorp as a starting point?

– Develop innovative curriculum- film as model?

 

Possible outcomes of this group-

– A statement including research, philosophy, needs, outcomes etc… a GGC arts elevator pitch, that we can all draw on.

– Grant Applications- Chanju shared one possibility already

– Create/propose an Arts IEE goal

– Collection of available resources showing academic retention rates, jobs and economic numbers, new research on the impact of the arts, Industry support, etc… a resource grab bag.

– A collection place for ongoing GGC student surveys?

– Engage the Gwinnett community with focused and sustainable outreach- start small.. but don’t stop. (Develop GGC resources and community resources to support this).

– Develop program with SLA and Transitional Studies as detailed above. Music will make a proposal for the Dean, other disciplines are welcome or we can serve as a test case and bring others on board if it proves successful.

– Define the level of Quality we aspire to in our students.

 

Teaching tips:

When creating group projects balance/average the group grade against an individual’s contributions to the group to avoid freeloaders.

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