Intermedia Program Learning Outcomes

MFA Program Goals and Outcomes

The following program goals and outcomes reflect the evolving nature of the University of Maine’s Intermedia Programs. They set the stage for critical reflection on its educational and research programming, and on its future development.

Program Specific Goals

  1. To provide interdisciplinary-based resident MFA and MA programs which exist at the forefront of contemporary creative practice.

Program Outcomes – The MFA and MA Programs will:

  1. Integrate and make available cutting-edge processes and technologies to all students;
  2. Retain, hire and support faculty who are deeply committed to teaching, are engaged with their own creative practice and who embrace intermedial processes;
  3. Engage in an ongoing process of critical reflection concerning the nature of  contemporary practice, and its place in the evolution and development of the programs;
  4. Maintain and further develop public programming that brings actively engaged intermedial artists and researchers to campus through the visiting artist and residency programs;
  5. Seek support for innovative initiatives and educational programming from both campus-based and off-campus sources;
  6. Maintain and increase program funding through advocacy and development initiatives;
  7. Increase visibility on a state, national and international scale through publicity around program, faculty and student initiatives, outreach initiatives, and collaborations with public and private organizations;
  8. Develop a directed initiative to target, attract and retain quality students; and
  9. Maintain and develop facilities and equipment supporting the investigation of new and emerging forms of technology and process.

 

  1. To raise awareness of creative research and production as well as the impact these initiatives have on local, national and international economic and cultural dynamics.

Program Outcomes – The MFA and MA Programs:

  1.    Develop and offer diverse forms of public programming that  highlights and  makes broadly assessable the initiatives and accomplishments of faculty and students;
  2. Partner with the Innovative Media Research and Commercialization Center  (IMRC) supporting and enhancing its economic and cultural focus;
  3. Collaborate with professional groups, organizations and businesses from  around Maine and the region, as well as on national and international levels;
  4. Collaborate with individuals and educational institutions, on national and  international levels, engaged in critical   research in an effort to expand  possibilities for the Intermedia Programs and to contribute to emerging  research related to Intermedia;
  5. Contribute to community, statewide and globally-based intermedial initiatives through faculty engagement;
  6. Maintain an active public and media-based presence that promotes the  educational, research and artistic opportunities and contributions of the Intermedia Programs, faculty and students; and
  7. Support student opportunities and engagements with intermedia  through active participation in national and international residencies.

 

  1. To create a national and international reputation as a leader in intermedial education, practice and research.

Program Outcomes – The MFA and MA Programs will:

  1. Support students and faculty engagement with real world opportunities as  educators, artists and researchers;
  2. Exemplify innovative approaches for developing and offering graduate level  educational opportunities that reflect contemporary intermedial practices;
  3. Contribute – regionally, nationally and internationally – to the development of  creative and critical research within the context of Intermedia;
  4. Support student and faculty opportunities to exhibit, perform and present  artistic and scholarly work within regional, national and international venues;
  5. Enhance visibility of the program and the accomplishments of its faculty and students through directed publicity and a focused marketing plan; and
  6. Support opportunities for emerging intermedial artists and researchers to  engage with students.

 

Student Specific Goals

  1. To prepare students to bring critical and innovative practice into diverse professional domains.

Student Learning Outcomes – The student will:

  1. a. Acquire the leadership skills necessary for developing and directing a wide  variety of creative endeavors, from partaking in the creative economy, to small business development, teaching at the college and university level, and working as professional artists;
  2. Engage in all manner of design applications and ongoing work as artists,  designers and creative producers in a wide variety of interdisciplinary areas and mediums.
  3. Learn a variety of professional and applied practices crucial for work within established and emerging creative domains;
  4. Explore ways of developing and utilizing their many talents to contribute effective leadership in a variety of professional fields through the application of  creative conceptualization and production skills;
  5. Be held to and encouraged to set and maintain the highest standards for research and creative production;
  6. Demonstrate openness, adaptability and motivation in the process of acquiring professional facility appropriate for intermedial praxis;
  7. Participate in unique opportunities for professional development and/or collaboration through involvement in state, national and international educational or creative projects;
  8. Understand and integrate into their practice, diverse methodologies and processes associated with research and creative praxis;
  9. Develop an ability to integrate interdisciplinary content and skills associated with intermedial processes into their professional practice; and
  10. Demonstrate an understanding of intermedial research and professional practice as situated within, or informed by historical and cultural contexts.

 

  1. To encourage the development of new hybrid forms of research praxis that engage interdisciplinary issues.

Student Learning Outcomes – The student will:

  1. Master technical skills and knowledge of a variety of production processes, design applications, uses of hardware and software, and research, writing, presentation and display tools;
  2. Acquire an understanding of research processes drawn from multiple disciplines, strategic production planning, and related development approaches, resource and time management, and effective presentation approaches and strategies;
  3. Develop and test their own models of creative praxis that will support the creation of a methodology and related methods crucial for intermedial research and production;
  4. Acquire knowledge of diverse research and creative methodologies, and develop an ability to apply varied research methods within their practice;
  5. Develop, articulate and demonstrate an individualized or distinctive approach to creative research and practice;
  6. Recognize and embrace the value of interdisciplinary research and creative practice that comes from the development of new forms of engagement;
  7. Engage in interdisciplinary initiatives that rely on the development of new and diverse paths for research and practice;
  8. Engage in emerging interdisciplinary forms of research and creative collaboration; and
  9. Demonstrate an understanding of intermedial research and professional practice as situated within, or informed by historical and cultural contexts.

 

  1. To emphasize the broad central role of creativity as a conceptual and critical process for artists.

Student Learning Outcomes – The student will:

  1. Understand and apply creative praxis as an interdisciplinary and collaborative process grounded in research;
  2.    Understand and apply approaches and concepts related to creative thinking, problem-solving, collaborative production/design processes, and concept development to within their artistic practice;
  3. Acquire the leadership skills necessary for developing and directing a wide variety of creative endeavors;
  4. Demonstrate openness, adaptability, innovation and motivation in their research and creative practice;
  5. Develop a theoretical and historical awareness of creative process as foundational to contemporary professional practice;
  6. Demonstrate an understanding of creativity and creative practice as situated within or informed by historical and evolving cultural contexts; and
  7. Develop a strong foundation, as well as advanced knowledge of creative processes, including: the discovery of new and better ways to solve problems and productive means of incorporating creativity into their lives.