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CLEAR Temp: 90 °F Wind: NW at 10 mph Friday, August 29, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine Joy Magazine Tempo A & E RogueValleyAutoFinder RogueValleyHomeFinder Real Estate Showcase Wellness Connection Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Employment Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend August 8, 2003 %%$$cutline$$%% Grant will boost SOU theater arts By AMBER FOSSEN for the Mail Tribune ASHLAND — Southern Oregon University’s theater department is upgrading and expanding. A $496,750 U.S. Department of Education grant will aid SOU in developing a summer theater arts training program for high school teachers and will help create a theater technology curriculum. The grant will allow SOU to enhance current curriculum as the department continues growing. According to Ed Battistella, dean of the School of Arts and Letters, the theater arts building had 30 students in 1980. By 1989, that number jumped to 103, and last fall 208 students registered as theater majors. "It’s one of the fastest growing programs in the country," Battistella said, noting more than 1,200 patrons come each year to attend SOU’s six theater arts productions. Advertisement The grant will provide students with more opportunities, Battistella said. Students will have more access to specialized computers and software for computer-assisted design and digital cueing of light and sound for productions. "This grant will let them do more ambitious projects that will make them even more competitive than they are now," he said. Between 25 and 30 computers will be purchased with the grant. Battistella said a technology curriculum will need to be developed, and for the time being, the technology will be used to enhance existing courses. "We’ll be offering new opportunities, not necessarily new courses, right away," he said. In addition to offering SOU theater majors improved technology, the grant will create a new master’s degree program for high school theater teachers. The program, which will operate during summer term, is designed for high school teachers to improve upon skills and to focus on areas outside their specialty. Battistella said teachers would be assessed before and after the program. University officials applied for the grant in November and hope to have computers and software in place this fall. The master’s program for high school teachers is set to begin next summer. Battistella said the university hopes to get application materials for that program out this fall. A curriculum and technology specialist will be hired for the duration of the grant. School officials and outside consultants will review the program after 16 months. University officials are looking to expand the theater arts building, but they’ll have to find money elsewhere — the grant can’t be used for construction. A $3.5 million renovation project would add more classroom space, improve current lab facilities, add rehearsal and costume shop space, and improve the stage. "Our plan is to both renovate the facility and expand it," Battistella said. "We’re hoping to do it as soon as possible but we can’t put a particular timeline on it yet." The university is in the early stages of planning a fund-raising campaign for the project. Amber Fossen is a reporter for the Ashland Daily Tidings. Reach her at 482-3456. Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Rogue Valley Auto Finder Rogue Valley Job Finder --> Rogue Valley Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Real Estate Showcase Food for Thought Hike of the Week Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Openings Prime Times