Bienen Student Advisory Board

Dean’s Forum Agenda Minutes

Thursday, January 31, 2019 at 4:30 PM
McClintock Choral and Recital Room

I. Opening Introductions (5 mins) (Liana Welteroth)

A. Introduction of SAB and the Dean’s Forum Committee
1. Introduction of attendees
B. Introduction of the Administration

II. Commentary and Discussion (45-50 mins)

A. General Comments about the Bienen School of Music (Dean Montgomery)
1. Faculty Updates
a) Good search in Faculty Education
b) Professor Danuta Mirka to replace Professor Gjerdingen in Music Theory
and Cognition
c) Check Website for replacement in professors
d) Donna Su has moved on
2. Auditions
a) High number entering through Early Decision
b) 1000 applications, 405 Freshmen spots
c) 1000 applications, 95 Master’s and Doctoral spots
3. Main Priority: Merit Scholarships
a) Merit scholarships for students - to receive top talent
b) Many middle to upper class students are not eligible for financial aid -
merit scholarships give them financial aid
c) Bienen set a goal for $55 million, now new target is $70 million
(1) University has raised $3.75 billion dollars, now increased to $5
billion
d) This is to be competitive with other schools to gain top talent
e) Merit aid is not just for international students, but domestic as well
4. Financial Situation of University
a) Any students from the Daily should contact the President about finances
b) Do not feel there is anything the school is hiding
(1) We are in good financial shape
(2) There are many things that are anticipated and not anticipated
c) 90% of finances distributed from the President to the undergraduate
schools are personnel
d) Many other schools lost their staff, but Bienen has a small staff (only 30)
(1) Bienen Staff works continually, give big contribution
5. Does the Bienen School receive donations?
 a) Larger donations (e.g. $100,000) earns 4.5% interest
b) Larger spaces are named after their donors
(1) McClintock for $3 million
(2) Galvin for $6 million
c) Spaces in Bienen are mostly named after non-music alumni
d) Building costed $117 million
e) Gifts less than 10000 are discretionary funds - at the Dean’s discretion
f) Some prizes for competitions come from endowments
g) Main thing: scholarships
6. Funding for summer programs?
a) Bienen does not have any plans to help students with summer programs
b) Main priority is tuition
c) Summer Internship Grant Program through NCA helps many students
with summer programs
d) Flat rate of $3000
B. Commentary on Curriculum and Program Requirements (Deans Jacobs & Montgomery)
1. Pool Auditions
a) A winds and percussion issue
(1) How to juggle with class registration before knowing pool
audition results?
b) Process
(1) Email is sent out: After registering for classes, communicate
potential conflicts to studio teacher. Studio teacher then brings
potential conflicts to Pool Meeting. Dean Jacobs attends the
meeting and confirms if the students have conflicts.
c) Potential fix: have pool auditions before registration
2. Undergraduate Core
a) Keyboard Skills revised for this year
(1) More likely to test out if meet certain levels of proficiency
b) Musicology
(1) Streamline core classes
(2) 200 years in one quarter?
(3) Bach and Beethoven are only studied for a short time
3. Diversity
a) Is the curriculum incorporating composers from diverse backgrounds?
(1) Faculty is very aware
(2) It is challenging to study everything in just one to two years
b) Solution: talk to lesson teacher to study diverse works
(1) Faculty is not resistant to learning about new composers
(2) Take advantage of talking to lesson teacher
c) Students do have a voice that must be taken advantage of
C. Commentary on Potential Contention with Faculty, Staff, and Studio Instructors (Dean
Jacobs)
 1. Reminders - whom to speak to in the event a disagreement arises (Dean Jacobs
for undergraduate students, Patrick Zylka for graduate students)
a) Do not hesitate to come to Dean Jacobs for undergraduate students,
Patrick Zylka as a temporary replacement for Donna Su
2. SAB Google Form - available for students to report issues whenever needed
a) Google Form for people who want to put in a general concern
b) Generate formal newsletter to address facilities and others concerns
c) Facebook Group will contain link to SAB Google Form
d) Information will be channeled to Deans
D. Updates on Accessibility, Facilities, and the coming Newsletter to Address Specific
Questions (Liana Welteroth)
1. Newsletter will come soon
2. Accessibility
a) No comments as of now
b) Practice room accessibility for those with disabilities
3. Music Stacks
a) In the process of finding a firm to form an agreement to take care of the
stacks
b) Why has the mold not been addressed?
(1) Insurance people are reluctant to pay the money to fix it

III. Updates on SAB and Call to Action (Zachary Kurzenberger)

A. Join SAB
B. Form SAB Sub-Committees
1. Dean’s Forum Committee
2. Bienen Event Committee
3. Sustainability and Accessibility Committee
C. Reiterate SAB Google Form
1. Facebook Group will contain the Google Form
2. Newsletter to address issues

IV. Open Discussion: Student Questions from the Floor (15 mins)
A. What is the process to propose a Music Therapy major?
1. Not many schools offer a Music Therapy major
2. Usually aligned with Music Education programs
3. First: Deficit must be eliminated
4. Music Education faculty would have to approve

V. Proposal for Another Dean’s Forum

A. Timing
1. End of Winter Quarter, ​Beginning of Spring Quarter​ (2nd week of April)
2. Try something earlier in the day
3. Schedule around rehearsals
B. Winter Edition Newsletter
1. Send out by the end of Winter Quarter
2. SAB to be mentioned in Bienen emails