Assessment

The Department of Theatre and Dance at the University of Wyoming is dedicated to the advancement, practice and understanding of theatre and dance arts. We prepare students for graduate studies or professional careers in the creation and interpretation of the visual and performing arts. Related to this focus is the commitment to share a wide range of human experiences with the UW student body and Laramie community through a vibrant and varied production season.

 

Each of our degree tracks is varied according to discipline, but the underlying unifying force behind the training is the commitment to artistic excellence, which are informed by a thorough study of history and literature across a wide range of diverse cultures, as well as a continuous engagement in the practices of theatre and dance production. It is the philosophy of the department that all areas of study are complimentary and majors are encouraged to have experiences in all areas.

 

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Learning Outcomes for All Students

All undergraduates should demonstrate the ability to:

  • Understand the basic production process in all areas of theatre or dance
  • Become familiar with historical and cultural dimensions of theatre or dance
  • Develop and have an appreciation for collaborative skills
  • Make an informed assessment of quality in all theatrical activities
  • Communicate effectively relative to their specific concentration
  • Understand the demands and expectations of the profession
  • Think on their feet and problem solve
  • Do research and write at an acceptable beginning graduate level
  • Synthesize and utilize knowledge from courses in the breadth of the discipline
  • Function in a variety of contexts with self-knowledge, resilience and resourcefulness
  • Develop communication and technological skills that will serve them in their professions as well as their community
  • Develop global awareness and diversity

Additional Outcomes for Areas of Specialization

  • Perform or design with an expressive range, stylistic versatility and high level of technical achievement (for Performers and Designers)
  • Create and produce substantive, innovative and original work and to direct students in the performance of that work (for Choreographers, Directors, and Playwrights)
  • Understand the basics of research in the field of dance medicine and science and application of this information to the dance classroom  (for Dance Science)

Specific Goals

  • Help students get accepted to the MFA program of their choice
  • Help students prepare for careers in their profession
  • Help students to apply problem-solving and creative skills that they have developed to other careers from a wide range of interests.

Measurement Instruments/Techniques

Throughout a student's career in the Department of Theatre and Dance at the University of Wyoming, there are both formal and informal assessments in place for all majors. Performance majors must audition in order to be in all productions in our program.  Design/tech majors must be selected to design a show through class evaluations and assignments. Playwrights, directors, and choreographers wanting to direct, choreograph and write for a main-stage or studio show, must be sponsored by a faculty member and present a proposal.

These auditions and proposals serve as an informal assessment of the student's abilities and a way for students to be given informal feedback. Those students that are cast in the productions or who are selected to design, choreograph, or write an original piece for performance receive further assessment as they go through the production process.

In addition we have four formal assessment tools that provide feedback about our curriculum and production work: l) end of the year evaluations; 2) outside reviews of production work from regional and national respondents; 3) KCACTF (Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival), ACDFA(American College Dance Festival Association) and USITT (United States Institute for Theatre Technology) assessment through regular competition and juried presentations; and 4) senior exit interviews.

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These evaluations are a valuable tool for recognizing areas in need of improvement both for students and our department and consequently change often. The current process divides the evaluations into the areas of study, using tools and documentation specific to each discipline. 

 

 

These evaluations are done for each of main stage production as well as student work by a wide variety of response voices from across our entire region. A respondent evaluates all aspects of a production to provide feedback on the quality and success of the work. Feedback is recorded and kept on file for future reference. The best student performers, designers, directpors, choreograpehrs, and technicians, as well as pieces, are nominated by these regionally-trained adjudicators to go on to compete at regional and national festivals,  where they are given the opportunity to be evaluated by national professionals and compete against other schools from our region. Faculty members are nominated for achievement awards for exceptional work. Faculty members up for tenure or promotion are evlauated by an outside respondent with a national reputation.

KCACTF and ACDFA Festivals and USITT Conference have become an important tool in assessing the development and training of our students. At the festivals students perform, direct, and design, and have their work evaluated by national professionals. Our successes at these festivals are a clear indication of our successes in the classroom and a clear indication of the level of training in our program.

Courses such as Theatre History and 20th Century Dance prepare students for graduate level research and academics, while courses such as Directing, Dance Composition, Design /Tech seminars, and Auditioning prepare students to present portfolios, audition, and apply for graduate schools.

Students at the University of Wyoming are given exceptional opportunities to do independent projects.  This culmination of practice can be through upper division classes, as part of their scholarship requirements, or a special Senior Project. Advanced Directors and Choreographers direct one acts or choreograph mounted productions for the public. Like our faculty production season, student productions are entered in KC/ACTF, ACDFA, and are adjudicated by outside regional respondents. Advanced designers have the opportunity to design fully mounted main-stage productions, and other projects such as the original student one acts. Student playwrights have their best scripts produced both the in the one-act and full-length form. Students in Dance Science conduct a pilot research study. Students also have the opportunity to showcase their projects at regional festivals and to have their work responded to by national respondents.

Exit interviews are an annual part of our evaluation process. This year we will continue with implementing online evaluations.  Seniors will be sent a series of questions, which they can respond to anonymously through an online server.  Seniors will also have the option to meet with a faculty member to discuss these questions if they prefer. This evaluation process provides a truthful picture of how our graduating students perceive our program. These responses are anonymously documented and shared with all faculty members.  Important issues are then highlighted and discussed at the following faculty retreat. 


All of these formal tools (exit interviews, festival participation, outside regional evaluations and end of the year evaluations) have become an important part of student preparation for entering prestigious graduate programs or the job market. With every end of the year evaluation, every outside response, every KCACTF and ACDF competition, students develop stronger skills in presenting themselves to the outside professional world.