SCHOLARSHIP GUIDELINES

I.   PHILOSOPHY

The scholarship program is designed to reward the outstanding student of theatre and to attract him/her to Louisiana Tech University. Students should look upon themselves as departmental aids who contribute to the theatre program as needed.

II. REQUIREMENTS

A. Theatre Major/Minor
B. Maintenance of an overall 3.0 GPA
C. Maintenance of a 3.5 GPA in the major
D. Suitable progress toward the degree goal; student must complete a minimum of 27 credit hours per year.
E. Satisfactory fulfillment of assigned responsibilities for departmental productions.
F. Attendance of all school meetings
G. An audition or portfolio interview will be required of all applicants.  The audition/interview will be scheduled throughout the year.
H. You must adhere to all of the return dates and end of quarter dates that are specified on your list of “Highlight of Important Dates”.  [If you have a conflict with any of the dates, such as not being able to get plane reservations, etc., please notify the Coordinator of Theatre ASAP.

FIRST FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH ANY OF THESE REQUIREMENTS WILL RESULT IN YOUR SCHOLARSHIP BEING REVOKED FOR ONE QUARTER.

SECOND FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH ANY OF THESE REQUIREMENTS WILL RESULT IN YOUR SCHOLARSHIP BEING REVOKED FOR THE ACADEMIC YEAR.

THIRD FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH ANY OF THESE REQUIREMENTS WILL RESULT IN YOUR SCHOLARSHIP BEING REVOKED PERMANENTLY.

 

III.            SCHOLARSHIP ASSIGNMENTS

Scholarship assignments will be made for each production at the earliest possible time and, whenever possible, before actual work begins on that production.  The student will be given his/her preference of job assignment whenever possible; however, the student will be shifted in responsibilities so that he/she receives a variety of experiences.  Every effort will be made by the department to keep demands on the time of scholarship students reasonable. 

Scholarship students should expect to serve on a minimum of three production running crews during each academic year.  The scholarship student will complete a total of 75 scholarship hours per quarter.  Performance in a production will count as 30 scholarship hours toward the completion of this requirement.  Crewing a production will count as 30 hours toward completion of the requirement.  If either of these options is impossible to complete, the student may be granted permission to complete all hours in the shops or offices as assigned.  NOTE: If the student is enrolled in SPTH 260/460, the student will complete a total of 80 hours (30 hours for SPTH 260/460 + 50 hours for scholarship)

IV. ASSESSMENT OF SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS

The Coordinator of Theatre will assess both the academic and production work of the scholarship recipients at the end of each quarter.  Assessment will be based on the student's fulfillment of scholarship requirements and the subjective analysis of the student's continuing progress.

A theatre scholarship is intended to be a reward for the student whose work is outstanding both in academia and in production; assessment will be based on a balance of these two parts of a student's work. Outstanding work in production is usually based more strongly on the attitude of the student doing the work than on the skill that the student may exhibit in any particular task.  Production work must be done on time if the production is to be successful and if all working on the production are to gain maximum educational benefit.  Therefore, a student who seeks to contribute more positively and consistently to the completion of a job will be assessed more favorably than a student who works the minimum time required or who seeks to do only certain kinds of work.

The faculty may, at the end of each quarter, withdraw aid from any student who, in the opinion of the faculty, has not satisfactorily fulfilled all the requirements for the scholarship.  Should the faculty recommend such a revocation, the student in question will be notified in writing and given seven days to request a hearing and review.  A panel consisting of faculty members and a student scholarship representative will seek to determine the merits of both the recommendation for revocation and the appeal by the student involved.  The panel will make a recommendation to the Coordinator of Theatre.

GUIDELINES FOR GRADUATE ASSISTANTS

Graduate assistants will serve as the primary support staff of the theatre and the SPA and will be given major production and/or administrative duties.

I. Selection:  graduate assistants are selected on the basis of GRE, GPA, and letters of recommendation, audition or interview.

II. Graduate assistantships are $2000 to $5000 for nine months.  The individual is paid on the last working day of each month.

III. Arrival and departure dates for graduate assistants will be determined by faculty.  State holidays and any additional holidays may be granted by the Director of the School of the Performing Arts.  Students who anticipate needing early dismissal in May should alert his or her advisor at the earliest possible date so the arrangements can be made.

IV. The graduate assistant is the role model for the undergraduate.  He/she will be given certain privileges.  The view undergraduates have of the assistant and how he/she handles these privileges will color the success in managing the assistant's area assignment.

V. Graduate assistants with at least 18 graduate credit hours are eligible for teaching duties.  Students should petition the Coordinator of Theatre for teaching assignments.

VI. Graduate assistants are eligible for Theatre Scholarships. Applicants must maintain a 3.8 GPA.  Recipients will sign an agreement containing responsibilities of the scholarship.  Failure to comply will result in the retraction of the award, and it will be the student's responsibility to refund the accepted monies.

VII. This is a professional assignment.  The graduate assistant is expected to treat the position as an internship preparing for a major role in a non-academic setting.

IX. The faculty strives to assist the student in beginning a professional network. Components of this process are attending appropriate sessions with guest artists, serving on hospitality crews for theatre events, and attending professional meetings as promoted by the faculty.  The student can expect to have certain expenses for travel to meetings and therefore, should include these costs into the student's budget.