The Master f Arts in Arts Leadership Student Practicum Prgram Overview (Revised 4/14) 1
THE MA IN ARTS LEADERSHIP STUDENT PRACTICUM PROGRAM Practicum Prgram Missin Statement: T prepare graduate students frm the MA in Arts Leadership Prgram, thrugh prfessinal management and leadership experiences, t be the preferred surce f management- level arts prfessinals in the arts and cultural sectr, at the lcal and natinal level. The MA in Arts Leadership Prgram: The newly established Master f Arts in Arts Leadership Prgram, in the Cllege f Liberal Arts and Scial Sciences at the University f Hustn, takes an entrepreneurial apprach t preparing creative prfessinals t launch, administer and maintain arts rganizatins f all sizes. The degree prgram prvides advanced study in the management and prmtins f arts rganizatins acrss artistic disciplines. Students enrlled full- time can cmplete the degree requirements in tw years. Thse wh wish t cntinue full- time r part- time emplyment during the day may cmplete this prgram as curses will be ffered during evening hurs. The degree requires 36 semester credit hurs f cursewrk and a final Practicum placement. It cnsists f 15 hurs f required specialty curses, and 15 hurs f free electives, largely selected frm a variety f curses regularly taught in the Schls f Art, Music, Theatre and Dance, The Valenti Schl f Cmmunicatins, The Bauer Schl f Business and the Schl f Public Administratin. The final requirement is 6- credit hurs f a Practicum prject. All students will be required t cmplete a Practicum within an established, prfessinal, arts rganizatin in in the greater Hustn area. They will have access thrugh guest lecturers, wrkshp and panels, bth in class and thrugh the UH Center fr Arts Leadership t interact with lcal and natinal leaders f distinctin in the fields f arts, entertainment and culture. The Master f Arts in Arts Leadership Prgram strives t develp and cultivate the next generatin f influential leaders in the fields f arts and entertainment. Purpse: The MA in Arts Leadership Student Practicum Prgram at the University f Hustn, prvides the student with a meaningful and intensive n- the- jb training experience in preparatin fr a leadership psitin while maintaining a student rle, and prvides the hst rganizatin with the pprtunity t train and utilize future prfessinals in the nn- prfit and fr- prfit arts sectr. A Practicum Prject is designed t give hands- n managerial and administrative experience thrugh a 6- credit hur prject with a prfessinal arts rganizatin n campus r in the cmmunity. During the Practicum, the student is expected wrk 300 hurs n the prject in ttal. Time spent n the prject shuld be divided hwever it wrks best fr the student and the rganizatin. Practicum prjects can be cmpleted at any time during the academic semesters f the MA Prgram r during the summer/winter breaks. A minimum f 15 cre 2
credit hurs (see p. 11) must be cmpleted within the MA in Arts Leadership Prgram befre the student undertakes the actual fieldwrk, althugh the planning phase may begin earlier. The prgram will maintain a frmal relatinship with a cre grup f ptential hst rganizatins that have been selected fr their willingness t wrk with graduate students. Students are prepared t wrk in areas f management, educatin, research and evaluatin, prgram develpment, and exhibitin/prject/prductin design, amng thers. Students, with the guidance f prgram staff and instructrs, select their practicum sites carefully, after extensive cnsideratin f the state f the field, and hw they view their strengths and interests relative t the develpment f the arts. Students, with faculty guidance, seek their practicum placement with the gal f cntributing significantly t the rganizatin's missin as well as t their wn learning and research bjectives. These Practicum placements are unpaid psitins unless the hst rganizatin chses t prvide cmpensatin, a stipend r reimbursements fr expenses, travel etc. A successful Practicum includes substantial input and mentring frm the departmental academic advisr, the UH Prgram Directr, and the rganizatin (agency) supervisr. Participants will take the cntent learned frm the curses and apply it in a practical way t cmplete a leadership prject in the identified arts r cultural rganizatin. This capstne curse requires participants t cmplete a cmprehensive strategic- level prject fr the rganizatin (see examples p.10). The practicum will culminate with a written paper and ral presentatin t the UH Arts Leadership instructrs and leaders frm the hst arts rganizatin. Participants will have apprximately 2 semesters (300 wrking hurs) t cmplete the prject. Students must enrll in bth ARLD 6391 and ARLD 6691 resulting in 6- credit hurs tward the students Master f Arts (MA) degree in Arts Leadership. With apprximately 10-15 students participating in the prgram annually, internship and practicum placements will prvide between 3,000 and 4,500 hurs f service t arts rganizatins in the greater Hustn area every year. Detailed infrmatin n prcess requirements, benchmarks and assessments will be prvided t thse students enrlled in ARLD 6391 and ARLD 6691 as well as t their hst rganizatins. Practicum Criteria: 1. Student Eligibility Criteria t Qualify fr Practicum: A cumulative UH GPA f 3.0 r better Successful cmpletin f 15 credit hurs f academic cursewrk in the MA in Arts Leadership Prgram (final degree requirements may be taken cncurrently with practicum) Recmmendatin frm the Arts Leadership Prgram Directr 2. Agency Criteria t Qualify as Practicum Site: Prgrams, pprtunities fr learning and quality and quantity f supervisin shall be adequate t meet students' educatinal bjectives, including access t staff/bard meetings. Plicies and prcedures f the agency shall supprt thse f the Arts Leadership prgram and f the University f Hustn, including equal pprtunity and equal treatment withut regard t race, clr, religin, natinal rigin, sex, age, disability, veteran status, r sexual rientatin except where such distinctin is required by law. 3
Agencies shall agree t a written Agreement f Affiliatin between the University f Hustn/MA in Arts Leadership Prgram and the agency. The agency may prvide remuneratin t the student fr seminars, wrkshps and ther learning experiences, as well as travel reimbursements, and ther agency- related expenses as affrded by the agency t regular emplyees f the agency. The agency shall have qualified Practicum prject supervisrs. The staff shall be large enugh t ensure that the basic agency prgrams are develped and maintained sufficiently withut reliance n students. The agency shall have 501(c) 3 tax- exempt status if cnsidered a nn- prfit arts rganizatin r registered LLC if a fr- prfit business. 3. Practicum Supervisr Criteria: The Supervisr shall have a Bachelr's degree and at least three years f art administratin experience. Supervisrs shall have a thrugh knwledge f the agency where students are placed and shall demnstrate interest in staff develpment and instructin. Agency Affiliatin Prcess and Agreement: 1. The agency shall submit the UH Affiliatin Applicatin and include a brief summary f the agency's prgrams and internship pprtunities. The MA in Arts Leadership Prgram Directr will review the applicatin and will cntact the agency. 2. Upn apprval f the agency as a Practicum site by the Prgram, the Affiliatin Agreement is signed by authrized representatives f the agency and f the Arts Leadership Prgram. Placement Prcedure: 1. Student placement shuld be a frmal prcess that facilitates a prfessinal relatinship between the agency and the student. This prcess shuld include a jb applicatin and/r submissin f a resume by the student and a frmal jb interview. The agency and the student shuld have enugh infrmatin t make a decisin that will be satisfying t bth. Students will be cming frm a variety f artistic disciplines and interest areas, and the fcus f the Practicum may be dependent upn the student interest and agency s missin. The Practicum, hwever, shuld include a required base f experiences t prvide the student with a full range f skills based n the MA in Arts Leadership areas f cmpetencies (see p. 5). 2. The Agency must prvide an adequate descriptin f the agency and its prgrams, as well as an updated Practicum descriptin fr the student t make infrmed chices fr Practicum interviews and placement. 3. The agency and the student shall each make their determinatin f acceptability and reprt t the Prgram Directr. 4. The Prgram Directr shall match students with agencies, making every effrt t hnr the student's and agency s specific requests fr preference. The Prgram Directr shall ntify the student and the agency by e- mail r phne t infrm them f Practicum matches. The student will then cntact the agency t cnfirm placement. 4
Internship Structure: 1. Students are required t cmplete n less than a ttal f 300 cntact hurs verified by the agency. Depending upn the student's and the agency's needs, the 300 hurs may be cmpleted as fllws: Tw semesters, 10 hurs per week fr 15 weeks each semester, r 150 hurs per semester fr a ttal f 300 hurs Twelve weeks at 25 hurs per week, usually during the summer mnths A cmbinatin f the abve as agreed upn between the student, the agency and the MA in Arts Leadership Prgram 2. Student hurs and schedules shall be determined by the student and agency. Definitin f cntact hurs and specific arrangements fr such things as lunch, trainings and seminars, sick time and take- hme wrk will be delineated within the final agreement. 3. Cmpensatin in the frm f stipends r hurly wages shall be determined n a case by case basis, depending upn the ability f the agency t pay. Respnsibilities and Prcedures: Educatinal bjectives - Students shall be affrded: Opprtunities t test theries, cncepts and philsphies Opprtunities t test skills in management, supervisin and leadership Opprtunities fr self- evaluatin, and assessment f the Practicum agency and the arts, culture and entertainment service field Opprtunities t establish psitive interpersnal and prfessinal relatinships Opprtunities t bserve and develp the values and ethics f the arts/cultural /entertainment prfessin. Opprtunities t develp, plan and carry thrugh with prjects Areas f Cmpetency: The agency shall prvide students pprtunities t gain knwledge and/r practice skills in the MA in Arts Leadership cmpetency areas f: Cmmunicatins, Marketing & Public Relatins Cultural Cmpetency and Diversity Financial Resurces, Develpment & Management Fundatins & Management f the Nnprfit Sectr Gvernance, Leadership & Advcacy Legal & Ethical Decisin Making Persnal & Prfessinal Develpment Prgramming and Artistic Develpment Cmmunity Outreach and Educatin Develpment Vlunteer and Human Resurce Management Future f the Nn- prfit Arts Sectr 5
Student Respnsibilities: T the agency: t accept and t adhere t the rules and regulatins gverning the agency t accept the agency's philsphy, methds, leadership and prgrams t becme an integral and participating member f the agency staff t prepare fr weekly agency supervisr/student supervisin cnferences t ntify the agency supervisr well in advance in cases f absence frm wrk r anticipated absences frm wrk t cnsult with the agency supervisr when cnfrnted with prblems which cannt be satisfactrily slved independently t plan thrughly and well in advance fr all assignments t cnduct neself prfessinally at all times in cntacts with staff and clients t evaluate each meeting r activity that is planned and/r cnducted by the student T the MA in Arts Leadership Prgram: t arrange cnference time and site visits with the agency supervisr and the Arts Leadership Prgram Directr/Crdinatr t ccur at the end f the first 150 hur time perid r at the end f the first semester t cntact the Arts Leadership Prgram Directr/Crdinatr whenever cncerns r prblems are nt slved at the agency t submit t the Prgram Directr/Crdinatr bi- weekly time sheets reprts in the first semester and secnd semester as a prcess f cmmunicatin regarding prblems, questins and prgress t meet all ther deadlines and assignments Agency's Respnsibilities: T the student: t prvide agency- based educatinal/learning pprtunities t prvide ne supervisr with time cmmitted fr weekly meetings fr instructin, updates and supervisin t prvide a supprtive atmsphere fr maximum grwth t aid the student in determining jb/prject respnsibilities thrugh a cmprehensive, specific jb/prject descriptin t allw the student reasnable freedm f peratin where the student is qualified and cmpetent, assuring that the agency's first respnsibility is t the agency's cnstituents t include the student in all relevant staff in- service training t aid the student in defining their rle thrugh an rientatin prgram which includes agency plicies, regulatins, gals and bjectives t prvide the student the pprtunity t attend prfessinal wrkshps, meetings, cnferences and seminars as part f the placement whenever pssible and/r apprpriate t assist the student when necessary in cmpletin f assignments and reprts prepared fr MA in Arts Leadership Prgram t prepare and prvide student evaluatins remuneratin fr travel and ther agency business expenses incurred by the student accrding t agency plicy T the MA in Arts Leadership Prgram: a descriptin f agency facilities, prgrams and management plicies 6
a resume r statement f qualificatins f emplyees wh may be designated as agency supervisrs signed Affiliatin Agreement frm prvided by UH t demnstrate a sincere desire t participate in an educatinal prgram with the bjective f cntributing t the preparatin f quality persnnel fr the prfessin t maintain a high standard with staff qualified, thrugh bth educatin and experience, t supervise Practicum placement students t maintain sund administrative prcedures including adequate persnnel plicies, and staff develpment prgram t be an equal pprtunity emplyer t interview students prir t making the decisin t accept r reject fr Practicum t arrange a meeting with the agency supervisr, the student and the Prgram Directr prir t any terminatin f a student MA in Arts Leadership Prgram's Respnsibilities: T the student: t ensure that the student has met all requirements befre participating in the Practicum t represent the Prgram in all fficial arrangements with the agency t cnsult with and place the student at an apprved agency t maintain pen cmmunicatin with the student and the agency in all matters pertaining t the Practicum t supervise the student: Ø with at least ne n- site visit per semester Ø with peridic phne calls/emails t the student and the agency supervisr Ø by evaluating each bi- weekly reprts and written gals and bjectives Ø by reviewing each evaluatin agreement Ø by apprving the prject prpsal Ø by evaluating the submitting final grade fr final prject submissin T the agency: t review and apprve applicatins fr affiliatin t interpret the Practicum prgram plicies t maintain pen cmmunicatin with agency staff t frmulate a mutually acceptable agreement with the agency fr placement f students t make final decisins n placement f the student with input frm the agency t make at least ne n- site visit with the student and the agency supervisr at mid- pint f the Practicum hurs t prvide the pprtunity fr all supervisrs, students and faculty t discuss Practicum and prfessinal infrmatin Plicies and Prcedures: Students currently enrlled at the University f Hustn shall be cvered under the University s D&O plicy fr liability insurance. Occasinally a change f placement is necessary and may be granted fr any f the fllwing reasns: change in student s persnal circumstances (finances, transprtatin, health) agency is unable t prvide accessibility t students with physical challenges change in schl plicy internal matters f the agency irrecncilable differences between student and Practicum supervisr 7
Prcedure fr Change: The student must ntify and discuss the desire fr change f placement with the Practicum supervisr with a factual delineatin f factrs invlved. If the issues are nt reslved, the student must discuss the cncerns with the Prgram Directr. The Prgram Directr will review the cncerns with bth the student and the Practicum supervisr befre making a frmal recmmendatin. If it appears that change is necessary, the student must submit a written request fr change f placement. Upn receipt f the request, the Prgram Directr will cntact the Practicum supervisr t advise him/her f the placement change request. If the Practicum supervisr initiates the change, the Prgram Directr will discuss the cncerns with the student prir t prceeding with terminatin. A cnference will be held with all parties invlved and a final decisin will be made after a cnsensus between all parties is reached. The agency executive cntact will be infrmed in writing f the decisin and ratinale fr actin taken by the Prgram Directr. The Prject Prpsal: The Agency Practicum Supervisr with input frm the Student will cmplete a Prject Prpsal t be submitted t the Arts Leadership Prgram Directr fr final apprval. The prpsal will include: Gals and bjectives: Details n the Practicum prject based n the needs f the agency and the areas f interest f the students (see p.10 fr prject examples) Tasks: specific implementatin steps, activities, functins t be engaged in and/r perfrmed t reach bjectives Learning bjectives: cmpatible with student career gals, assessments f strengths and limitatins, and Practicum learning bjectives Persnnel Details: hurs and days fr Practicum wrk including filed wrk, research and ffice hurs, any hliday /sick leave arrangements and cmpensatin if applicable Structure f final prject submissin based n the prpsed prject (grading and evaluatin methds will be determined by Arts Leadership Prgram Directr and Student) Evaluatin Prcess: Evaluatin is the n- ging prcess f determining, assessing and mutually clarifying the extent t which the student is attaining desired prfessinal grwth as defined in the Prject Prpsal, including where the student is in relatin t defined gals and in identifying factrs that facilitated r interfered with perfrmance, as well as where the student needs t g within a specified perid f time in the future. Participatin by the student in all steps f the evaluatin prcess is essential if the evaluatin is t achieve its purpse. A Frmal Evaluatin will be submitted by student at end f each semester t Prgram Directr 8
Student Practicum Bi- weekly Time Sheets/Reprts will be cmpleted by student and submitted t Prgram Directr Final respnsibility fr the evaluatin prcess must be placed with the student and the Prgram Directr. Students are required t sign the evaluatins and may attach cmments if desired. There shuld be n "surprises" in the final evaluatin since prgress shuld be mutually evaluated n an n- ging basis within supervisry cnferences. Emtins invlved in the evaluatin prcess shuld nt be ignred, but handled and understd apprpriately. Students will be required t present the Final Practicum Prject, including research findings and persnal reflectins t selected members f the Arts Leadership faculty and selected members f the agency t cmplete final grade. Frms and Reprts: Practicum Partner Prfile (cmpleted by agency) UH Affiliatin Agreement (cmpleted by agency) Prject Prpsal (cmpleted by agency and student) Student Practicum Bi- weekly Timesheets/Reprts (cmpleted by student and submitted t Prgram Directr) Evaluatins (submitted by student at end f each semester t Prgram Directr) Final Practicum Prject (submitted by student t Arts Leadership Directr and Agency supervisr at the time f final presentatin) Fr further infrmatin n the MA in Arts Leadership and the Student Practicum Prgram please cntact Prgram Directr, Fleurette S. Fernand fsfernand@uh.edu 713-743- 4817 9
Examples fr Practicum Prjects (can include but are nt limited t): Develpment f a Strategic Plan Develpment f an Annual Giving Plan Develpment f a Business Plan Vlunteer Prgram Evaluatin Operatins Plan Develpment f a Bard Manual Implementatin Strategy fr Prject/Prgram Internship/Career Implementatin Plan Fund Develpment Plan Marketing Strategy Cmmunity Needs Assessment Turism Assessment Implementatin Plan Prgram Evaluatin Internal Operatins Evaluatin Develping an Organizatinal Culture, a "Sense f Cmmunity" fr rganizatin An Assessment f Develpment Needs / Develpment Plan Develp a Plan fr the Recruitment, Training and Supervisin f Vlunteers Feasibility Study Assessment f Vlunteer Prgrams, Gathering and Analyzing Data Assessment, Evaluatin and Benchmarking f Prgrams/Prjects Bard Develpment Plan with Plicies and Prcedures fr a New Bard f Directrs Develpment f a Human Resurces Department/Prcedures fr all Areas f Human Resurces Develping a Plan and Making Preparatins fr a Merger with Anther Organizatin/Cmpany/Agency Develping a Cmmunicatins Plan Creating a Wrkplace Giving Prgram and All Necessary Cllateral Materials Develping a Website/Scial Media Plan Develpment Plan, Including Case Study, fr a Capital Campaign fr a Prpsed Building Cmplex/Facility Assessment, Develpment and Recmmendatins fr Best Legal Practices Strategic Plan fr the Grwth in Digital Media Training, Prductin and Distributin fr Cmmunity Develpment Assessment t Discern Membership Demgraphics Determining Operatinal Needs fr New Facility Assessment f Mving frm a Funders Bard t a Gvernance Bard, and the Develpment f a Crrespnding Bard Manual Assessment and Evaluatin f Readiness fr a Majr Fundraising Campaign and Training f Key Cnstituents Assessment and Develpment f a Health, Safety r Greening Actin Plan Assessment, Evaluatin and Develpment f a Cmprehensive Organizatin Plicy and Prcedures Manual Leadership Successin Plan Strategic Plan fr Prgram Expansin Assessment and Evaluatin f Current Membership Prgram and the Develpment f a Prgram Facilities Redesign A 1st Strategic Plan Audience Develpment Plan Measuring Outcmes Prcess Summer Jbs/Internship Pilt Prgram Individual Giving Develpment Plan with an Emphasis n Develping a Majr Gifts Prgram An Educatin Plan A Cmmunity Outreach Plan Page 10
Required Curriculum fr the MA in Arts Leadership Prgram A minimum f 15 credit hurs frm the fllwing curses (3 credit hurs each) are required t fulfill majr learning bjectives in the MA in Arts Leadership Prgram: PUBL 6310 - Administrative Thery: The curse establishes the thery base fr the field f public administratin by intrducing students t a cmprehensive set f histrical and current theries, cncepts, and appraches in public administratin. The curse will fcus n thery in readings, and it will incrprate the applicatin f thery in class discussins abut current events and class papers. In the end, students shuld have a greater understanding f administrative thery and be able t apply it t the practice f public administratin. ARLD 6310 - Fundraising fr the Arts: The curse serves as an intrductin t fundraising strategies fr leaders f the arts and prvides a cmprehensive verview f the fundraising prcess fr nn- prfit rganizatins. Students are intrduced t basic terminlgy and cncepts in the field; relatinship building, the slicitatin prcess, the grants prcess, majr gifts prcess, the annual campaign, crprate giving and the rle f planned giving within an rganizatin s verall fundraising effrts. ARLD 6395- Selected Tpics in Arts Leadership- Leading the Turnarund: An intensive study f the current rles and expectatins f art and culture leaders, students use case studies t explre majr themes, challenges and trends in arts management. Students will acquire knwledge f basic rules and brad ideas fr "turning arund" distressed arts rganizatins, revitalizing dated cncepts in arts management, managing rganizatinal grwth, planning leadership successins and keeping arts rganizatins strng thrugh challenging ecnmic times. PUBL 6395 - Nn- Prfit Management: This curse is designed t facilitate an understanding f nn- gvernmental service/advcacy rganizatins, r nnprfit rganizatins, and the management and leadership skills required t effectively rganize, maintain, and grw them. The class will explre the day- t- day management practices required f nnprfit leaders, as well as the leadership qualities required t keep the rganizatin relevant and thriving. ARLD 6315- Public Relatins and Marketing in the Arts: Intrductin t public relatins and marketing fr leaders f arts rganizatins, this intrductry curse surveys a variety f techniques, frm audience research and campaign develpment t advertising and branding, and emerging nline tls. Basic strategies f public relatins will be explred alng with methds fr making the mst f scial media platfrms t develp and deepen custmer relatinships. The curse will cver marketing principles as they relate t building, maintaining and develping audiences fr perfrming and visual arts rganizatins ARLD 6300- Fundamentals and Strategic Planning fr the Arts: The curse will serve as an intrductin t strategic planning fr leaders f arts rganizatins encuraging students t determine the imprtance f planning and decisin making, creatin f missin, visin and value statements; and the develpment f a cmplete strategic plan. The curse will address the imprtance f strategic thinking, change management and leadership. ARLD 6320 - Financial Management fr the Arts: Curse investigates fundamental cncepts f financial thery and applies t the management f Arts Organizatins; cncepts include financial statement analysis, prfit planning, surces and frms f financing, budgeting and business valuatin. Page 11