The Missouri Fine Arts Academy provides a unique program of artistic, extracurricular, and social opportunities to Missouri's talented high school students, and has done so since 1996. Click here to learn more about MFAA...
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MFAA Home > FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are the purposes of the Missouri Fine Arts Academy?2. When and where does the Academy operate?
3. How are students selected?
4. How does the Academy differ from regular high schools?
5. What is the curriculum for the Academy?
6. What is the extracurricular and recreational program?
7. Who teaches at the Academy?
8. Are grades, credit, or scholarships given?
9. What is the cost to students?
10. What can students expect from residence hall life?
11. Are participants allowed leaves of absence or visitors?
12. Are participants allowed to bring vehicles?
13. What recreational facilities are available?
14. What entertainment and cultural activities are provided?
15. What health services are available?
16. Do students have an opportunity to participate in religious services?
17. Do students have unscheduled time?
18. What personal items should students bring?
19. What is appropriate dress for the Academy?
20. What behaviors are totally unacceptable and result in immediate expulsion?
21. What is a typical daily schedule?
22. What is the schedule for the first day of the Academy?
23. What is the schedule for the last day?
24. Affirmative Action
1. What are the purposes of the Missouri Fine Arts Academy?
The Missouri Fine Arts Academy is a three-week residential program for 150 of Missouri's artistically talented students who are ready to begin their junior or senior year in high school. The Academy has three primary purposes:
- To help artistically gifted students achieve their full potential and motivate them to use their abilities in attaining higher goals.
- To encourage local schools to establish and/or improve programs for artistically gifted youth.
- To provide leadership in curriculum development, teacher training and the development of special materials and teaching strategies that employ interdisciplinary arts instruction to improve education within artistic disciplines and the wider curriculum.
2. When and where does the Academy operate?
The dates for the 2010 Academy are Sunday, June 6 through Saturday, June 26, including weekends, on the campus of Missouri State University in Springfield, Missouri.
3. How are students selected?
All public school districts and private high schools in Missouri may nominate as many qualified sophomores and junior students as they'd like in any of the artistic disciplines offered at MFAA: dance, instrumental music, theatre, visual arts, and vocal music.
Schools nominating students for the Academy are required to complete a comprehensive application that includes an example of the student's particular area of talent. A selection committee composed of artists and arts educators screens and evaluates all nominations before selecting qualified participants.
4. How does the Academy differ from regular high schools?
The Academy is a residential school that operates seven days a week, enrolls only artistically talented students, and provides a curriculum different from that found in a public or private school. It offers unique opportunities for students to enhance their artistic abilities and creative energies, to explore the various roles the arts play in society, and to encounter the arts in an interdisciplinary forum.
5. What is the curriculum for the Academy?
The Academy's curriculum is designed to give participants an opportunity to pursue studies that differ from traditional approaches to arts education. Guest lectures, forums, films, and other events during the Academy reinforce and extend the curriculum. The formal curriculum is divided into two areas of study:
- Interdisciplinary Artistic Studies: Students spend each morning five days a week studying the arts in interdisciplinary formats.
- Traditional Artistic Studies: Students spend each afternoon five days a week in intensive pursuit of their primary area of artistic ability.
6. What is the extracurricular and recreational program?
A full schedule of diverse activities is offered during afternoons, evenings, and weekends to enhance the Academy curriculum. In the evenings, the students attend the special Fine Arts Academy series of concerts, theatre productions, and lectures, featuring outstanding artists and speakers from throughout the state and nation. Social and recreational activities are planned.
7. Who teaches at the Academy?
Faculty and staff for the Academy are selected from among highly qualified applicants, representing public and private high schools, colleges, universities, and professional arts businesses. The staff is chosen on the basis of students' needs and interests and an applicant's abilities, interests, and willingness to participate with students in rigorous and challenging work.
8. Are grades, credit, or scholarships given?
Students who successfully complete MFAA may receive three hours college credit (IDS 101-Interdisciplinary Seminar) from Missouri State University at no additional cost. MFAA alumni who complete IDS 101 and who subsequently enroll as full time students at Missouri State University will receive scholarships of three hours credit during their first semester of full-time enrollment.
9. What is the cost to students?
Cost per student at MFAA is $1,500. MFAA is partially supported by nomination fees and tuition fees. Students are encouraged to explore various sources of funding for fees, inclduing schools and districts, booster clubs, nominees' families, service and social organizations, arts organizations, and other public and private donors. Nominees qualifying under federal government eligibility guidelines for free or reduced price school meals, even if they have not applied for free or reduced price school meals at their sending schools, may apply for MFAA scholarships. Certification of eligibility will be required when nominees are selected.
Nomination fees: A $50 non-refundable nomination fee is required for each nominee. Nomination fees subsidize student scholarships. It is suggested that schools and districts provide nomination fees.
Tuition fees: Selected nominees pay tuition fees on a sliding scale.
- All selected nominees receive $300 scholarships. Payment schedule for the remaining $1,200 tuition fee is on the Student Nomination Form.
- Selected nominees who qualify for reduced price school meals may receive $1,200 scholarships. Payment schedule for the remaining $300 tuition fee is on the Student Nomination Form
- Selected nominees who qualify for free school meals may receive $1,500 scholarships.
10. What can students expect from residence hall life?
Students live in Wells House, located relatively near all facilities utilized by the Fine Arts Academy. Academy participants are assigned by gender to separate halls. Each Academy student shares a room with another participant. Room assignments are made by Academy officials. Each student is issued a key to his/her residence hall room. Supervision of the residence hall is provided by the resident assistants (RAs), each of whom works closely with about 15-20 students. In addition, regular university security procedures ensure a safe environment for participants.
11. Are participants allowed leaves of absence or visitors?
The Fine Arts Academy program is concentrated and intensive. Departures from and visitors to the Academy are disruptive and compromise the safety and security of the students at the Academy, and are not allowed. It is impossible to accommodate requests for departures and to track visitors for each individual student without jeopardizing both the quality of the curricular and extra-curricular programs and the security of the students.
Classes and enrichment activities are scheduled throughout the three weeks, including weekends. Participating students are expected to register at the beginning of the program, remain in residence for the duration, and will be dismissed by noon on Saturday, June 27 after the closing convocation. Participants are not excused to attend conventions, conferences, camps, workshops, competitions, pageants, family vacations, etc, including events on the Missouri State University campus, such as the ACT test. Leaves of absence permitted only in emergency situations with the prior permission of the director.
12. Are participants allowed to bring vehicles?
Automobiles, bicycles, motorcycles and other kinds of vehicles are prohibited.
13. What recreational facilities are available?
Several recreational facilities are available to students. All of these are fully described in the official Student Handbook distributed before the Academy.
14. What entertainment and cultural activities are provided?
Academy participants are able to take advantage of a full range of cultural activities, including concerts, exhibits, and theatre productions. Daily, all students receive a full explanation of the calendar of events, including those for which they must sign up in advance.
15. What health services are available?
The Academy contracts for the part-time services of a Licensed Practical Nurse, when appropriate and available, to handle routine medical issues free of charge to Academy students. University health services also are available to Academy students, if needed. Taylor Health and Wellness Center, located on the Missouri State University campus, bills the students' families for such services. All charges from physicians, hospitals, or pharmacies are the families' responsibility. Contact information for University health providers is detailed in family information. If a student has special health or dietary needs and/or medication requirements, Academy officials must be notified prior to the start of the Academy. Students are responsible for self-administering medication.
16. Do students have an opportunity to participate in religious services?
Arrangements for optional attendance at religious services at several churches located in town are made during registration.
17. Do students have unscheduled time?
Students have limited unscheduled time. Non-academic days include both mandatory and optional activities.
18. What personal items should students bring?
- Students should bring personal clothing to include dress clothes for dressy activities; appropriate casual dress (jeans or shorts are acceptable) for daily classes; a jacket, sweatshirt, or sweater; athletic shoes; rain gear; bathrobe; slippers; and personal items. Each student will receive an Academy t-shirt.
- Personal items to be included at the discretion of the student are laundry bag, laundry detergent, postage stamps, radio, alarm clock, clothes hangers, hair dryer, extension cord, personal sports equipment, camera, games, etc. Fine Arts Academy students are not allowed to bring television sets, roller blades, pagers, pets of any kind, or personal computers.
- Students may bring cellular phones to the Academy but their use is firmly restricted to specific times and places. Cellular phones are not permitted in assembly, class, meetings, rehearsal, studio, evening events, or in any situation where their use could disturb others. Details about the specific expectations regarding cellular phone use will be provided in the Student Handbook and in house meetings.
- Basic classroom needs such as pencils, paper, notebooks, etc., are the student's responsibility. If needed, these items may be purchased at the campus book store.
- Bed linens, blanket and pillow are furnished for every bed. The residence hall is air conditioned, so every student is advised to bring an extra blanket. Students are to bring their own towels and washcloths.
Because of the sense of community established at the Missouri Fine Arts Academy, theft and disappearance of personal items has not traditionally been a problem at this program. Although the Missouri Fine Arts Academy staff takes reasonable precautions to protect students' personal items, when feasible, the Academy does not take responsibility for personal items, including musical instruments. Academy classes, events, and business take place in public spaces that cannot be totally secured. It is recommended that students lock personal items in their dorm rooms when they're not being used and that families be certain that their personal property insurance cover items of value.
19. What is appropriate dress for the Academy?
The Missouri Fine Arts Academy maintains a quality learning environment for students. Student appearance is an important aspect of the environment. Students are expected to dress tastefully and may wear jeans, slacks, shorts, dresses, and skirts and blouses while attending classes. Students wearing inappropriate clothing will be asked to change. Both the opening and closing convocations are dressy, as are several evening events.
20. What behaviors are totally unacceptable and result in immediate expulsion?
- Possession or use of illegal drugs, alcoholic beverages, and tobacco products
- Possession or use of firearms, other weapons, or fireworks
- Destruction of property
- Breaking of any state or federal law
- Breaking of Academy rules and regulations
- Refusal to comply with directions from Academy officials
- Sports or activities that might place students at risk
A complete list of rules and expectations is provided in the Student Handbook.
21. What is a typical daily schedule?
7:00-8:15 a.m. Breakfast
8:30-9:30 a.m. Breakfast/Self-directed work and activities
9:45-11:45 a.m. Interdisciplinary coursework
11:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m. Lunch
1:00-1:30 p.m. Academy Assembly
1:45-5:00 p.m. Instruction and practice in area of primary discipline
5:30-6:30 p.m. Dinner
7:30-9:30 p.m. Special entertainment, concerts, seminars, study time, recreation, performances
10:00 p.m. Curfew and house meeting
11:00 p.m. Lights out
22. What is the schedule for the first day of the Academy?
Students arrive at the university campus between 9-11:30 a.m. on Sunday, June 6. This allows time for registration and moving into the residence hall before attending the opening convocation at 1:30 p.m. Lunch on opening day is not provided. A detailed schedule of opening day activities and suggested arrival times is provided to participants in early June.
Parents leave campus after the opening convocation.
The first meal served at the Academy is dinner on June 6. Following the opening convocation and dinner, a social activity is held to introduce students to one another and the faculty and staff.
23. What is the schedule for the last day?
A closing ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, June 26, at 10:30 a.m. The last meal served at the Academy is breakfast on June 26. Students may pack and check out of the residence hall before the closing convocation or immediately after the convocation, and may leave the Academy immediately after the ceremony. The residence hall must be vacated by 12:00 noon.
24. Affirmative Action
Missouri State University is a community of people with respect for diversity. The university emphasizes the dignity and equality common to all persons and adheres to a strict nondiscrimination policy regarding the treatment of individual faculty, staff and students. In addition, in accord with federal law and applicable Missouri statutes, the university does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, or veteran status in employment or any program or activity offered or sponsored by the university. In addition, the University does not discriminate on any basis (including, but not limited to, political affiliation and sexual orientation) not related to the applicable educational requirements for students or the applicable job requirements for employees.
This policy shall not be interpreted in a manner as to violate the legal rights of religious organizations or military organizations associated with the Armed Forces of the United States of America.
The university maintains a grievance procedure incorporating due process available to any person who believes he or she has been discriminated against. Missouri State University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. Inquiries concerning the grievance procedure, Affirmative Action program, or compliance with federal and state laws and guidelines should be addressed to:
Jana Estergard
Equal Opportunity Officer
Office of Human Resources, 128 Carrington Hall
901 S. National
Springfield, MO 65897
417.836-4252
For more information contact administrators.