Wyden, Smith Announce Funds For Southern
Oregon University
$496,750 Will Help Create Theater Arts
and Technology Program
August 4, 2003
Washington, DC – U.S. Senators Ron Wyden
(D-Ore.) and Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) today announced that Southern
Oregon University (SOU) in Ashland will receive $496,750 to
create a theater arts training program and to develop a theater
technology curriculum. The technology curriculum will be aided
by a digital/audio computer and a classroom/lab to improve instruction
in sound, lighting design, digital art, music, and video production.
With these enhancements, SOU can prepare its students for careers
in stagecraft, scenic, costume, lighting, set and sound design,
as well as increase the number of teacher certifications in
Oregon. The grant will allow SOU to create a masters degree
program for high school theater teachers through the theater
arts program.
“Southern Oregon University now has an opportunity
to build upon an excellent theater arts program,” said
Wyden. “The benefits of this investment will extend to
Oregonians beyond SOU’s campus into arts and education
communities statewide.”
“Southern Oregon University benefits from
its location in the heart of Oregon’s performing arts
culture,” said Smith. “This grant strengthens the
precious ties between higher learning and cultural enrichment
in southern Oregon.”
Southern Oregon University is receiving the grant
through the U.S. Department of Education. SOU has an enrollment
of just under 5,000 undergraduate and about 550 graduate students.
The school is located in Ashland, home of the Oregon Shakespeare
Festival.
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