Session organizers: Kimberley McLeod and Jenn Stephenson
Location: Room 1140 – Pavilion André Aidenstadt – 2920 chemin de la tour – Université de Montréal
(Building 19 on the UdM Map)
In-Person Session
Two-Day Session, 2:30pm-5:45pm on June 19 & 20
In the face of financial constraint, arising from government underfunding of the postsecondary sector, it is essential that we continue to deliver high-quality student academic experiences. Purposeful, values-driven attention to curriculum structures is central to achieving this goal.
This seminar centers on the questions: Why study and teach theatre now? How do we decide what is most important in the wake of decreasing resources? The session will provide a forum not only for sharing local contexts and challenges, but more importantly, will offer practical strategies and frameworks for curriculum decision-makers.
Topics will include:
• Preparing for, participating in, and responding to cyclical quality assurance processes
• Establishing alignment between program learning outcomes and curriculum architecture
• Using data to produce metrics of curriculum efficiency
• Creating short-term and long-term staffing/hiring plans that are aligned with curriculum
• Integrating and differentiating programs in the disciplinary landscape
• Communicating academic program visions to internal stakeholders like Deans, Provosts, Admissions and Recruitment to ensure necessary resourcing
This session is intended for faculty members who have (or expect to have in the future) roles concerned with curriculum development and revision, including Undergraduate Advisors, Undergraduate Chairs, Chairs of departmental academic planning or curriculum committees, Department Heads/Chairs, and Deans. Note that this session is specifically focused on undergraduate Bachelor of Arts (Honours) programs in theatre/theatre studies and drama, deliberately setting aside graduate programs as well as ‘conservatory’ Bachelor of Fine Arts programs.
Session structure:
We would like to hold this seminar over 2 3-hour sessions at the in person portion of the conference. We anticipate this being mostly work sessions with the seminar participants only. We plan on having a mix of presentations by curricular chairs, deans and participants with experience working in quality assurance alongside breakout sessions in which participants can dig into specific issues of curricular planning. One hour of the seminar would be open to all conference participants. This hour will feature a discussion of how different programs across the country care for and update their curriculum.
Preparation for the session:
Participants will respond to a series of self-reflexive questions and also participate in a shared document that breaks down different aspects of BA Theatre curricula across the country. Participants will also prepare short remarks on specific topics (dependent on what areas of curricula they have experience with).
Kimberley McLeod, University of Guelph
Kimberley McLeod is associate professor of Theatre Studies at the University of Guelph.
Jenn Stephenson, Queen’s University
Jenn Stephenson is professor in the Dan School of Drama and Music at Queen’s University and Associate Dean (Academic) Faculty of Arts and Science.