Information for Presidential Scholars in the Arts

Click the PDF icon to download

PSA Acting Requirements
PSA Dance Requirements
PSA Tech class sequence
PSA Point System
PSA Petition Form

GUIDELINES FOR THE THEATRE AND DANCE PRESIDENTIAL SCHOLARSHIP IN THE ARTS

The following guidelines, developed by the Scholarship Awards Committee of the Department of Theatre and Dance, address expectations and issues of concern rising from the responsibilities and activities of the Presidential Scholars in the Arts (PSA).  It is the responsibility of the TRDA Scholarship Awards Committee to notify all new recipients of the following guidelines.

In developing these guidelines, the TRDA Scholarship Awards Committee gave serious consideration to the quality of experiences the Department of Theatre and Dance provides the recipients of the PSA scholarship.  It is the intent of the committee to insure that each PSA student receives a full education in both performance and technical theatre.

1. Curricular

All Presidential Scholars in the Arts are required to be at least a minor in the Department of Theatre and Dance (TRDA) and to officially declare the minor by the end of the freshman year.  The goals of declaring one’s minor in Theatre and Dance and in taking classes in the Department are to nurture the talent for which the student was awarded the scholarship over the four years of his/her college education and to receive guidance from the TRDA faculty in the development of that talent.

Students must meet with a departmental advisor in TRDA to make sure that they are registering for the appropriate TRDA courses each semester.   PSAs are expected to enroll in at least one TRDA course each semester over the four years of matriculation at GW.  Please see the attached course of study for your discipline. 

1.1  A PSA student must maintain a grade point average of 3.0 per semester in courses taken in the Department of Theatre and Dance.

1.2  A PSA student must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.0.

1.3  In the event a PSA’s grade point average (GPA) falls below 3.0, the Chair of the Department notifies, in writing, both the student and the Office of Student Financial Aid and the student is placed on scholarship probation.  The student is given one semester to raise the GPA in that semester to 2.7.  The student is given a second semester to meet the GPA requirement of 3.0 or the scholarship is forfeited.

2.1  First semester freshmen take TRDA 130 and are given a technical assignment for fall Mainstage productions.

2.2  First semester freshmen will be assigned to support one fall Mainstage production as an assistant stage manager.   Students will work with faculty and guest artists to support the rehearsal process and performance presentation.

2.3  All Dance and Acting Presidential Scholars in the Arts must audition for and accept any roles they are cast in for all Mainstage productions.  They will not be cast in the first semester of their freshman year.  The PSAs will not participate in student directed performances during their first semester.  Otherwise, it is hoped that their talents will be used in performance on Mainstage many times over their University careers.

2.4  All PSAs must complete 8 points of production work during their four years.  Points are assigned to each technical duty based upon time and responsibility required to execute the assignment.  A copy of the point system is attached.    An explanation of the point system and production positions will be reviewed with all incoming students during the first general PSA meeting of the fall semester.  It is the responsibility of the PSA student to contact the Technical Director early in the year to receive a technical assignment for the Subscription Season (watch for the scheduled meeting announcement). 

2.5  PSA students in design/tech will assume a production responsibility for the Subscription Season every semester.  They should arrange with the Technical Director within the first week of each semester to receive their PSA assignment.

2.6  A PSA student who is unable to fulfill his/her production responsibility will fulfill their scholarship requirement with an alternative position.   The TRDA Scholarship Awards Committee will assign this position. 

2.7  PSA recipients who do not fulfill their production responsibilities as outlined above are placed on probation for one semester.  A subsequent failure to fulfill PSA responsibilities will result in termination of the scholarship.  The TRDA Department Chair will notify, in writing, the student and the Office of Student Financial Aid of the probation.

2.8  A PSA student may request an exemption to the requirements through a written petition to the TRDA Scholarship Committee.  The petition must include full explanation of the reasons for the exemption. Exemptions are limited to one semester.

2.9  Junior and senior PSA students may petition, in writing, to the TRDA Scholarship Committee for the opportunity to fulfill their performance/technical requirements (i.e. PSA points, course requirements, etc.) through significant, artistic, off-campus opportunities. 

2.10A PSA student may fulfill the performance obligation through a “cross-over” of talent in an alternative discipline within the department through audition and by petition, in writing, to the TRDA Scholarship Awards Committee.

3. Service Responsibilities and Duties

3.1  The PSA students may assist the TRDA faculty as needed in conducting auditions for the Mainstage Season.

3.2  The PSA students assist the TRDA faculty in conducting the auditions for the PSA Scholarships.

3.3  PSA students in acting, design, and dance will have responsibilities specific to each discipline.  These responsibilities may differ across the three TRDA scholarship disciplines. 

3.4  Failure to meet these service obligations may result in probation.

4.  Meetings and Evaluations Procedures

4.1  The director, choreographer or technical director under whose direction the student fulfilled her/his performance/technical requirements evaluates the PSA student each semester.

4.2  The PSA student attends two general meetings each academic year and one individual meeting with the PSA committee.

4.2.1  The fall and spring general group meetings focus upon the upcoming semester and provide an opportunity for clarification of responsibilities, for questions, and for student input.

4.2.2  The individual spring evaluation meeting with the TRDA Scholarship Awards Committee focuses upon the fulfillment of the student’s PSA requirements during the academic year and provides the committee with an opportunity to make suggestions for change. 

5. Leave of Absence and/or Study Abroad

5.1  A PSA student may petition the TRDA Scholarship Committee for a leave of absence for one semester from some of their obligations to the department without the loss of the scholarship.  The leave of absence must provide a continuing educational experience related to the student’s area of talent and expertise and the student must be registered for courses during that time at the university.

5.2  A PSA student may participate in a study abroad program and retain their scholarship providing they have met all the department requirements for maintaining the scholarship.