Students will demonstrate knowledge of the field through a Capstone project, bringing evidence of increasing skills and applying scholarly theory directly into practice. Students must obtain project approval from the Arts Administration Director and work under the supervision of the AA Graduation Committee.

As the 'capstone' of two years of Arts Administration theory and practice, the Learning Outcomes for the MA Capstone (AA6940) are the same as those for the Arts Administration Program as a whole. Through successful completion of this course, students will:

1. Become empowered advocates for the arts
2. Apply scholarly theory directly into professional practice
3. Develop adaptability and critical thinking skills necessary to work in the arts
4. Cultivate both practical and creative approaches to problem solving
5. Communicate in an effective and persuasive way.

Grading for this course is broken down into four (4) areas: Project Criteria, The Design Statement, Journal Entries & Check-Ins, and the Final Presentation.

Project Criteria

The Capstone Project should be a substantial, arts-related project in line with AA curriculum, totaling approximately 7 weeks (or 140 hours) of work. This time commitment can include hours relating to the fulfillment course requirements, ie. writing the Project Proposal and the Design Statement, posting the Journal Entries, Checking-In, and the creation and execution of the Final Presentation. It is suggested that the student also involve a Field Mentor with at least 5 years of arts administration experience with which they can seek help as needed. If the Project is an official organizational internship, the completion of the SUU Internship Agreement Form is also required to meet the full Project Criteria.

Design Statement

The Capstone should be the culmination of a well thought-out sequence of academic experiences. The project is an arrangement between the student, the AA program, and an outside organization. To ensure all participants are on the same page, a plan (or Design Statement) must be put in writing and agreed upon by all involved. The Design Statement should be at least 3 pages long and must contain the following elements:

• Project information (location, organization, dates, title)
• Project description (information on the project and expected responsibilities)
• Project outcomes (information on expected specific and measurable project goals)
• Student outcomes (what the student wants to get out of the experience)
• A reflection on student preparation and qualifications
• Student career goals
• Signatures of the Student (upon submission) and the Capstone Instructor (after submission).

Students are encouraged to use the Capstone Project Proposal (as approved by the AA Graduation Committee) as the foundation of the Design Statement document.

Journal Entries & Check-Ins

Students will make 5 Journal Entries on the blog Arts Administration Capstone: Master of ArtsLinks to an external site.. Please remember that this blog is public. Use the 5 weekly private Check-Ins to vent, if needs be. Students must also make at least 5 Check-In posts to discuss Capstone Project progress. These check-ins are done via the weekly discussion forums here in Canvas, unless there is a sensitive topic or issue which the student wants only the instructor to know, then the student can email the instructor their Check-In directly. There are 7 opportunities to both post Journal Entries and do the Check-Ins. As such, both assignments have 7 occurrences. The lowest 2 scores will be dropped because students will only be graded 5 times on each assignment.

Final Presentation

Students will give a presentation focusing on the experiences of the capstone project, relating those experiences back to time spent in the AA program, and must be 10 to 15 minutes long. Students have two mode options for this final presentation: Remote or In-Person. (1) Remote presentations are done using video conferencing, take place within the two weeks after the end of term, and are scheduled by the course instructor. (2) In-Person presentations can be done in conjunction with the annual Arts Administration Conference at the end of August annually. If a student chooses the In-Person option, they will not be officially graduated until September of that chosen year.

Remember: If a student fails this course, the student will not be granted the degree and will be dismissed from the AA Program. The Capstone course may not be repeated (AA Handbook.)

Course Assessment Table

Weekly Schedule

Class is conducted weekly in Canvas discussion forums focused on assigned Readings. These are available to view at any time, but do not post in the discussion forum until the first day of the corresponding week (which usually falls on a Monday, unless otherwise noted). Doing so will result in a loss of points. All discussions will close at 11:59 pm on the fourth day of the week (usually the Thursday, unless otherwise noted). Students should use the 'break' Fridays through Sundays to do any written assignments (due Sundays at 11:59 pm), and to do the readings for the coming week. Please be aware that all times listed in this course are Mountain Standard.

Each Module will normally consist of a journal entry and a check in.

Late Work

All assignments and readings are expected to be completed by the due date/time listed on Canvas (again, please note that all times are Mountain Standard). Students earn credit by completing the assignments in the same time frame given every other student in the class.

• Discussions: Since they are based on conversing with your fellow students, all graded class discussions close immediately after the due date/time listed, with no late posts accepted.
• Assignments: For written assignments turned in to the instructor, ten percent (10%) will be deducted for each 24-hour period past the deadline. This means that no assignment will be eligible for points if it is more than ten (10) days beyond the due date.

In the event of circumstances preventing a student from completing a discussion or assignment on time, the student should let the instructor know and request a deadline extension. Such extensions are up to the discretion of the instructor.

Instructor Feedback

Keeping a 9-5, M-F schedule, the instructor commits to grading and giving feedback on assignments within five business days of the due date, and responding to emails within two business days.

Classroom Climate

Students are expected to model good Expedition Behavior (as defined by the National Outdoor Leadership School) in all course activities in any class in the Arts Administration Program. Expedition Behavior "encompasses actions that serve the health and function of a group or community when working together toward common goals." Principles of Expedition Behavior include:

• Mission: Serve the mission (Course Description) and goals (Course Outcomes) of the group.
• Concern: Be as concerned for others as you are for yourself.
• Dignity & Respect: Treat everyone as you would be treated.
• Support: Support leadership and growth in everyone.
• Kindness: Be kind and open-hearted.
• Organization: Do your share and stay organized.
• Help: Help others but don’t routinely do their work.
• Integrity: Model integrity by being honest and accountable.
• Concise: Say yes and deliver, or say no clearly if you cannot or will not do something.
• Constructive Resolution: Resolve conflict in a productive manner.

This class is intended to test higher-level cognitive abilities. You are expected to be active in your learning and think, question, problem-solve, and debate information presented in class. The instructor will do their best to create an environment in which expressions of uncertainty, conjecture, and alternative or competing views can be freely shared. The same is expected of students. Remember, there is a big difference between debating and attacking. The latter will not be tolerated and the instructor reserves the right to excuse from discussions any student who compromises this preferred class climate. As we navigate unscripted challenges, please be flexible and extend grace and kindness to the instructor, to classmates, and to yourself. We are in this together and we are all doing our best.

Artificial Intelligence Policy

AA Artificial Intelligence Policy: Use of AI (artificial intelligence) programs is allowed in Arts Administration courses within the parameters outlined below.

• AI may NOT be used in online discussion forums. These forums are conversations between you, your classmates, and the instructor. As such, we expect you to come to these discussion forums as your authentic self.
• AI may be used in other written assignments. Remember, AI cannot do all your writing for you. It can, however, be a tool for you to use if you can harness and proficiently utilize this technology ethically and responsibly. For example, using AI to help organize your thoughts, create outlines, or to help proofread your papers is a perfectly acceptable application.
  • GRADING: The same minimum standards will be in place for each written assignment, no matter if you are using AI in your writing process or not. Assignments that fail to meet the minimum rubric requirements specified will be graded as such. Please note that many assignments in this program will ask for your personal analysis, opinion, experience, and may also ask you to incorporate in-class discussion elements. AI cannot do any of those things effectively. As a result, choosing to use AI may ultimately not be the most efficient use of your time, so you should always carefully consider whether or not you want to use it.
  • ACCURACY: AI is prone to writing factually incorrect statements, inventing fake quotes from real sources, and inventing entirely fake sources. It is your responsibility to double-check that any AI-assisted work you submit is free from these errors, verifying information before submitting it. Work containing factual errors or fictitious quotes/sources will be graded accordingly.
  • CITATIONS: If you use AI in your writing, it must be cited. As there is no penalty for using AI appropriately, so there is no benefit to lying about or trying to conceal your use of AI in this class. Concealing or lying about your use of AI is akin to plagiarism and will result in your assignment receiving a zero.

As this course is an asynchronous online course, there are no specific meeting dates, times, or locations, and no traditional attendance policy. Students are simply expected to come to Canvas each week prepared and to actively contribute, getting grades for such. Beyond those points, participation in this class adds value to the entire group. Active and regular contribution furthers learning and enhances the experience of all within the course.

AA Grade Policy

In compliance with the SUU Graduate Policy regarding grades (Policy 6.62), students enrolled in an Arts Administration Graduate Program (MFA or MA) are required to maintain a minimum of a 3.0 (B) cumulative grade point average on a 4.0 scale. Additionally, AA graduate students will not receive credit for a course where they achieved less than a 2.0 (C). Please see the current Arts Administration Program Graduate Student Handbook and Policy 6.62 for further information. Students in Arts Administration courses, but not part of one of the two AA degree tracks (MA or MFA), are still beholden to Policy 6.62, but should also be aware of any grade policies within their own graduate programs.

Grade Range

AA Mission Statement

The Arts Administration Program develops graduates who advocate for the arts while balancing administrative systems with the creative process in an effort to ensure the artistic integrity and economic sustainability of arts and culture organizations.