Dance, Theater, Film schools consolidating at OU

Ohio University's College of Fine Arts (CoFA) will merge its schools of Dance, Theater and Film in the fall of 2013.

Since May 2010, the college has been addressing the possibility of curriculum reorganization and delivery to meet the needs of this changing world, according to a news release. "A plan is being developed to guide the college to an organizational model that articulates new opportunities for growth, collaboration, reorganization and inter-disciplinarity," the release said.

The plan will create an organizational model for the CoFA to allow new opportunities for growth and collaboration for students, faculty and staff across disciplines, according to the release. The merging of the schools of Dance, Theater and Film will be a part of the process.  

"The entire college explored how to enhance teaching, learning and performing in a changing artistic and educational landscape," OU Executive Vice President and Provost Pam Benoit explained in the release. "As a result of the hard work that has been done, students will be able to move easily between disciplines and pursue their artistic and expressive passions in new ways."

The college's new format was a long and thoughtful process that developed over more than two years of research with input from students, faculty and staff. Student feedback was vital to development of the college's plan to create a larger interdisciplinary structure, the release said. Dean of the College of Fine Arts Charles McWeeny solicited input from a panel of undergrad and grad students from across the college to determine their needs and concerns going forward.

"Many of our students were already pursuing interdisciplinary work with their peers, and they were enthused that we were determined to facilitate it further," McWeeny said in the release. "We are responding to a student desire that was evident by their participation. In fact, some even served on subcommittees regarding the reorganization. Our intention with merging the programs is to give students the rounded and strong educational background that they need to fully realize their promise. A student who wants to focus exclusively on one discipline will still have that option, but we are creating an even more welcoming space for those who want to work across disciplines."

The College will also develop a Center for Arts Innovation and Studies to further encourage interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary collaboration, research and scholarship. The center will offer more flexibility in curriculum, degree and certificate offerings for students, the release said.