MFA in Dance students will develop creative, technical, and academic skills appropriate to the profession.
Objective
Breadth Of Knowledge In The Field
MFA graduates should have a solid understanding of dance technique, choreography, production, and history, and should be able to write or speak from that base of information.
Indicator
Written Comprehensive Exam
Students will be given a choice of topics provided by graduate faculty, relevant to all aspects of study that the student has experienced in the program. A passing grade on the Dance MFA Program's written comprehensive examination will serve as an indicator that a Dance MFA candidate has acquired a breadth of knowledge in the field of dance. Additionally, the student's ability to write critically and at a standard acceptable to the profession will be demonstrated.
Criterion
Pass Rate
As demonstration that the Dance graduate program is successful in preparing students for the written comprehensive examination, at least 90% of students will the exam at the first sitting or upon retaking it.
Finding
100% Written Comprehensive Pass Rate
In the Fall of 2009 and the spring of 2010, three candidates sat for the comprehensive exam. All passed on the first sitting.
Action
Review Standards For The Examination
With a record from the last decade of more than 90% of students passing the exam on the first sitting, the dance faculty has some questions regarding the rigor of the exam. In the fall of 2010, dance faculty plan to meet and consider the content of topics given to the students, as well as the standards for passing.
Objective
Develop Choreographic Skill
Students will demonstrate substantial growth and proficiency in choreography, employing effective tools of composition to create well crafted original statements in movement. The ability of students to create extended works of choreography is an important indicator of the Dance MFA Program's success in producing graduates who have developed appropriate creative capacities and are prepared for future professional endeavors.
Indicator
Evaluation Of Required Choreographic Work
Required Choreographic Work is evaluated on common standards of choreographic effectiveness: 1. successful communication of an idea; 2. effective use of innovative movement vocabulary; 3. Structure; 4. Transitions; 5. Space, time and energy; 6. Technology; 7. Collaboration with other artists; 8. Alternative performance spaces. 9. Successful matching of performers to the needs of the piece; 10 well rehearsed cast. These choreographic evaluations take place within the two required MFA choreography courses in (DNC 5676 and 578). Although evaluations are conducted by course instructors, above mentioned aesthetic and technical criteria which are pertinent to the particular choreographic work are applied by each instructor. Instructors judge student work as Not Meeting Standards/ Meeting Standards. Gradations of judgement and subtleties of critical impressions within those two categories are communicated to the student in extensive qualitative, face-to-face feedback.
Criterion
90% Of Students Will Be Judged Satisfactory In Proficiency
90% Students will be judged to have satisfactory proficiency in choreography based upon the instructor's evaluation on the pertinent common standards specified in the indicator.
Finding
100% Of Enrolled MFA Students Judged Proficient In Choreography
100% of the students enrolled in DNC 578 in fall of 2009 were evaluated as being proficient in choreography based upon the instructor's evaluation on the pertinent common standards specified in the indicator.
100% of students enrolled in 577, independent studies, earned proficiency ratings on their evaluation of choreographic proficiency ( In addition, in order for any student to earn a grade of B or better in DNC 577 or 578 he/she was required to have been rated satisfactory or better in choreographic proficiency.)
Indicator
Presentation & Evaluation Of Thesis Concert
As the culmination of the MFA thesis project, students present a public performance of an extended original choreographic work which is evaluated by the Thesis Committee on common standards of choreographic effectiveness: 1. successful communication of an idea; 2. effective use of innovative movement vocabulary; 3. Structure; 4. Transitions; 5. Space, time and energy; 6. Technology; 7. Collaboration with other artists; 8. Alternative performance spaces. 9. Successful matching of performers to the needs of the piece; 10 well rehearsed cast. Extensive feedback is given during scheduled showings of the work in process, and in review of the concert following its presentation.
Criterion
All MFA Thesis Students Meet Choreographic Production Standards
100% of MFA Thesis performers will be assessed by Thesis Committe to meet standards for choreographic effectiveness. (In addition, Students who meet the standard for acceptable choreographic production will receive a passing grde for that portion of DNc 699, Thesis II.)
Finding
Outcomes Of Student Concert
Two candidates presented thesis concerts in 2009-2010 (Marian Hart, Jennifer Salter). the respective committees for each student determined that the choreography presented realized the students' idea to an acceptable degree. Hart's concert was assessed as a highly successful choreographic product. Salter's was deemed adequately successful, with some excellent sections, and some that fell short of expressing her intentions clearly
Action
Experience With Choreography
Following a review of program outcomes and a review of the curriculum, faculty are satisfied with the content of the course offerings as a foundation in choreography, but concur that students need more experience with choreography in order to produce higher quality work for the thesis project. Currently lacking faculty to offer additional courses, we will continue to encourage independent projects, external experiences and we will mentor rigorously.