Program Description

The University of the Arts

Pre-College Summer Institute
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania


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For More Information, Contact
Pre-College Programs
The University of the Arts
320 South Broad Street
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19102
215-717-6430
800-616-ARTS (toll-free outside Pennsylvania)
Fax: 215-717-6433
http://www.uarts.edu
E-mail: precollege@uarts.edu

Type of Program: Visual and performing arts; media and communications
Participants: Students entering their junior or senior year of high school, as well as recent graduates, ages 16–18
Enrollment: Approximately 400
Program Dates: July 6 through July 31, 2009
Heads of Program: Erin Elman, Director of Pre-College Programs and Outreach; Kristina Wyatt, Curriculum Coordinator, Melissa DiGiacomo, Operations Manager, Rosi Dispensa, Coordinator of Special Projects and Scholarships

Location

The University of the Arts (UArts) is unlike any other university. It is the only university in the nation teaching a broad range of visual, performing, and communication arts and focusing exclusively on the arts. The University comprises three colleges and a liberal arts division. Summer program courses are offered in each college of the University: College of Art and Design, College of Media and Communication, and College of Performing Arts.
UArts is located in the heart of Center City Philadelphia on the Avenue of the Arts (South Broad Street). It is in the center of the arts and culture district and within walking distance of museums, galleries, theaters, and the cultural life of the city.

Background and Philosophy

The Pre-College Summer Institute was created as an opportunity for students who have had varying interests and backgrounds in the visual and performing arts to study together in a university environment. Some participants enroll to discover their individual talents. Others want to build on their education. Still others seek to learn about specific careers in the arts. The programs are flexible enough to address all of these various needs.

Program Offerings

The Art + Media Exploration program allows high school students to explore their individual talents and interests, learn new art and design skills, and develop a better, more comprehensive portfolio. The program provides students with a visual and media arts education experience comparable to one at the college-freshman level. It is also a great opportunity for young artists to experiment with new materials and art forms as they expand their portfolios. The Institute offers students a choice of more than forty courses, from which they choose two to four to create their own unique schedule and experience.
Performing arts programs include the four-week process-oriented acting and/or musical theater programs as well as a two-week intensive dance and/or jazz performance program for instrumentalists and/or vocalists.
Interested students should visit the UArts Web site (http://www.uarts.edu/precollege) for the complete list of programs and dates.

Enrollment

The Pre-College Summer Institute enrolls students from all over the world. A letter of recommendation from an art instructor or guidance counselor, school transcripts, and a portfolio or audition tape are required for a scholarship.

Daily Schedule

9:00
12:00–1:00
5:00
7:00
10:30
12:00

Classes begin
Lunch
Classes end
Social activities
Curfew (Sunday–Thursday)
Curfew (Friday and Saturday)

Extra Opportunities and Activities

Activities include museum visits, concerts, films, trips to the New Jersey shore, barbecues, and other social events. At the end of the program, there are a reception and an exhibition of works created by the visual arts students and a showcase presentation by the performing arts students.

Facilities

The University of the Arts campus comprises ten buildings with classrooms, studios, theaters, galleries, lounges, residential apartments, and administrative offices.
Visual arts students work in studios with fully equipped shops for working in ceramics and jewelry/metals, photography labs, and state-of-the-art multimedia labs.
The facilities used by performing arts students reflect the growing range of tools available to professional composers, artists, and performers. They include a music technology studio, a recording studio, editing suites, practice rooms, and light-filled dance studios with mirrors and resilient floors with 4-inch suspension for safety and comfort.

Staff

The staff includes Erin Elman, year-round Director; Kristina Wyatt, Curriculum Coordinator; Melissa DiGiacomo, Operations Manager; Rosi Dispensa, Coordinator of Special Projects and Scholarships; and Sarah Pohlman, Administrative Assistant.
Faculty members are expert, practicing professionals in the visual and performing arts. They provide instruction and direction to developing student artists who are serious about academic study. The faculty members understand the demands of their respective professions and are expert at imparting knowledge, technique, energy, and discipline.

Medical Care

The University’s Health Services Office is open weekdays, 8:30 to 5:30, and is professionally staffed. In instances of medical emergencies, students are taken to Thomas Jefferson Hospital for care.

Costs

For 2008 tuition and housing pricing information, students should contact the precollege department directly. Information is also available on the Web at http://www.uarts.edu/precollege.

Financial Aid

Scholarship funds are limited, therefore awards are competitive. Partial scholarships are awarded for talent and/or merit; full scholarships are also based on need. Partial and full scholarships are available for students in all programs. Scholarships are disbursed in varying amounts, including full tuition, half tuition, quarter tuition, and a $200 merit scholarship. Applying for a scholarship is optional. Students are encouraged to submit registration materials as soon as possible.

Transportation

The University is easily accessible by public transportation from New Jersey and suburban Philadelphia via the regional rail lines of PATCO and SEPTA, respectively. UArts is also convenient to Amtrak and Greyhound stations and to the Philadelphia International Airport.

Application Timetable

The scholarship deadline is April 5, 2008. The registration deadline to apply with only a deposit is also April 5, 2008; after this date, payment in full is required with the registration. The final registration deadline is May 30, 2008. No registration is accepted after this date.