Generations - February 2022
Letter from the Editor
Dear UArts families,
I hope your students are adjusting well and settled back into their classes after winter break. As another semester starts, I think of how my daughter is already in the second half of her junior year. She has learned so much, and her college experience at UArts has been nothing short of awesome! Jess chose UArts because the MBET (Music Business, Entrepreneurship and Technology) program is so unique. Other schools she applied to make students choose between a music business and a music technology major. UArts lets her have both at once. Not only is there fluidity within her major, but she can take classes completely unrelated to it. In doing so, she found a love for screenwriting and photography and has been able to expand on those skills, too.
In addition, the new studios and high-quality sound equipment give Jess hands-on experience in working with systems similar to those in professional settings, and the new circuitry lab allows her to build custom equipment safely. Ultimately, UArts has made Jess a well-rounded artist which will increase her opportunities in the workforce after graduation. I am so grateful that she is a UArts student and the more I learn of UArt’s plans to further enrich its students and enhance its campus, I am proud to be a UArt’s parent!
What makes me a proud UArt’s parent is two-fold: first and foremost is the devotion of the faculty and staff to the university’s mission to advance human creativity. Second is the generosity of the collective UArt’s family. This family includes the students, faculty and staff, donors, the Board of Trustees, parents and other individuals who give because they want to continuously support and improve the education of UArt’s artists.
On Tuesday, March 1, 2022, UArts will hold its third-annual UArtist Day of Giving. On this day you too will have the opportunity to help enrich the education of current and future UArtists. Last year, as part of this initiative, 638 members of the UArts family came together to support its community. As a result, 101 UArts students benefited directly from scholarship support, and so much more.
Donations from individuals like you can be made to a student’s school of study, Graduate Studies, or other important initiatives funded by the university. One of these initiatives is the UArts Cares Fund which was established to ensure that the most vulnerable members of our student community have access to scholarships, nutrition, housing, transportation, and the supplies necessary to succeed at UArts. The President’s Fund for Excellence is another initiative that supports extraordinary faculty and student project opportunities that would otherwise not be financially possible. It can support travel, research, publication, and other creative projects that foster excellence and innovation.
This year, as a token of appreciation for donations of $25 and more, donors may request a pair of UArts socks. These socks are specially designed by UArts illustration student, Julia Buckley ’23 (Illustration), who is also the daughter of Parent Council member, Jerry Buckley!
I hope that you will be able to join UArts this year in Advancing Human Creativity. More information on this important event will be sent to you from the University.
Other items of note this month include the availability of COVID-19 testing on campus for all students; the application is now open for the university’s Honors Program; and details about student housing for the 2022–2023 school year.
Respectfully,
Marian Maier
COVID-19 Testing on Campus
COVID-19 testing is available to all UArts students at no cost. If your student has concerns about possible exposure, is feeling under the weather, or just wants to ease some anxieties about COVID-19, please encourage them to sign up for testing.
Testing is open Monday–Friday, 9:20 a.m.–4 p.m., when classes are in session. Testing is not available on University holidays or when we close for inclement weather. We use rapid tests, administered by our Health Services staff, and your student will get results in 10–15 minutes.
Students with questions about our on-campus testing, or those looking for a referral to an off-campus PCR testing site, can contact covidtest@uarts.edu. Our staff is ready to assist them with any COVID-related questions they might have.
More information about our COVID policies and testing can be found on our website.
Honors Program
Is your student looking for deeper engagement in their academic experience at UArts? They may be interested in applying to the Honors Program. UArts students who achieve a GPA of 3.75 or higher in their first semester are invited to apply. The university's Honors Program is intended to provide academically exceptional and creatively gifted students with a rigorous and enriching intellectual and artistic experience while they pursue their undergraduate degrees.
The Honors Program comprises a total of 15 credits throughout a student's tenure at UArts. Scholars complete one honors-enriched course in each of the following: one course in their major field of study or discipline; one course from Critical Studies; and, one course in a major or discipline outside of their field. Scholars also complete the Honors Thesis Tutorial and Colloquia in which scholars complete an Honors Thesis related to the capstone work in their major.
Honors Scholars are invited to special events, networking opportunities, and seminars to enhance their academic experience. You can read more about the Honors Program on our website.
If your student is interested in applying for the Honors Program, please encourage them to complete the online interest form by May 15, 2022. Applicants will be notified if they are accepted to the Honors Program by July 15, 2022.
If your student has any questions, please have them contact Sara Pyle, Associate Vice President for Student Affairs and Director of the Honors Program.
Housing for 2022-2023
Is your student interested in living in on-campus housing for the 2022–2023 academic year? Housing applications will open on Feb. 28 and will be available until March 31. Returning students who apply during this time will be guaranteed housing for next semester. If students apply after March 31, they will be added to our housing waitlist.
Students may request roommates through our housing portal (up to four) and then will be randomly placed in a housing lottery and given the chance to select a room based on their lottery number. We will be sharing more details with students along with instructions on how to complete the process as we get closer to our application and room selection periods.
Off-Campus Housing
If your student plans to live off-campus for the 2022-2023 academic year, they can search for available housing and/or UArts roommates by using this website: https://offcampushousing.uarts.edu/. They can also use this website for a Philadelphia neighborhood guide and information about what neighborhoods our UArts students often live in.
UArts Cares
We are committed to providing an environment that fosters compassion and respect, as well as basic needs justice for all. We refuse to accept hunger, homelessness, and all other basic needs injustices as part of our university. The UArts Cares Fund was established to address these issues by providing equitable access to basic needs and essential resources that impact our student’s health, belonging, persistence, and overall well-being.
As a vital part of our community providing ease of access to those seeking food and housing security, sustainable income, access to online learning tools (technology/wi-fi), art supplies, healthcare and transportation, UArts Cares helps students navigate and obtain these resources and more throughout the academic year.
Eligibility and What to Expect
University resources, through UArts Cares, are available to currently enrolled students. If you are not currently enrolled please see the National and Community Basic Needs Resources link provided.
In order for us to assess your need, students seeking services must fill out our UArts Cares Intake Form. Because we understand the urgency of your issue, we will reply to your inquiry as quickly as possible, typically within 24 hours. Some students may only need help once or twice during a semester; for others, it might be a regular weekly need. Our staff will continue to check in with students throughout the semester to provide support, as needed.
*Students with campus meal plans are not eligible to receive services from our grocery gift card program.
Contact UArts Cares
UArts Cares is managed by Student Affairs
Gershman Hall, suite 311
9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Monday through Friday.
studentaffairs@uarts.edu