MASTER LEARNING AT SPA?

Process

In the Department of Theatre, our approach to mastery is rooted in Anne Bogart’s defining of art creation as an act of “exquisite pressure – the pressure of collaboration, of time, of putting all this stuff together.” As such, our ask of all students is to do it now and then do it again, and to embrace the immediacy and urgency of creative study. Therefore, we assess artist-scholars on process and product. We assess students on how they show up for their own artistry and for their ensemble through rubric based feedback. Rehearsal etiquette, blocking and line memorization, note taking, journaling, and ensemble care are assessed throughout the year with graded quarterly check points.  Based on this Rubric, a student may be removed from final showings and given an alternative assignment with less impact to their scene partner/partner(s)

Performative Final Products

Final performative products can not be made up. If the artist-scholar knows in advanced they will be absent for a final performance, they must perform before they leave or complete an alternative assignment. If they are absent without notice, they must wait until the next performative assignment for skill assessments. They may still receive credit for any process they completed towards the final product.

If an artist misses more than half of their performative assessments, they may still be able to pass the course with alternative credit recovery assignments, but will also be asked to repeat that level’s training in the following year.

Written Final Products

Journal entries are in the moment assessments and can not be made up.

In theory courses, Article Response can be submitted within the quarter they are assigned.

In theory courses, Discussion Questions on readings must be submitted before the discussion to receive credit. They will not be accepted after the discussion date.

In theory courses, Essays and Play Analysis must be submitted by the due date for credit unless the artist-scholars send an advanced request for an extension at least 24 hours before the deadline. They will then receive up to two weeks of an extension according to the length of the project.

In Acting, Voice, and Movement Courses, all article responses, essays, and text/movement/ song analyses are considered a performative final product and will not be accepted past their deadlines. 

*Above policies are listed for students within general education populations and will be adjusted for students with IEPs, 504s, or agreed upon plans decided within the structure of an SST conference.*