New discoveries are changing the face of individual science and engineering programs with increasing frequency. That is part of the opportunity. In fact, few areas touch more students, including non-majors. Each semester, the courses in music, art, and drama attract more than 4,600 enrollees. Despite the programs' influence on students and the local community, the University lacks a comprehensive plan for the arts.
Facilities are uneven and, in some cases, severely inadequate.
The dean and department chairs in arts and sciences have begun work to identify strengths and weaknesses in these disciplines. Examples of excellence include the Bayly Art Museum's collection of Old Master prints, the Heritage Repertory Theatre's summer productions, the music department's computer composition laboratory, archaeological investigations of an ancient city in Sicily, and an interdisciplinary study of ancient Pompeii using computer models. Departments lack sufficient scholarships and fellowships to compete for the most talented students. Although more than 400 endowed professorships have been established at the University, only two faculty members hold endowed chairs in all the arts programs. As a first step toward correcting these deficiencies, a team of architects and faculty members is developing a conceptual physical plan for an Arts Precinct that incorporates the programmatic as well as physical needs for the arts.