University of Wyoming Visual Arts Department

Purpose of Student Studios:
 To provide the space for advanced students enrolled in at least one credit hour of upper level courses (3000 – 4000 level) in the Department of Art to work on their creative research safely and independently.
Application Procedure:
 Students will submit a completed application by November 1 for the following spring semester and April 1 for the summer or following fall semesters. Studio spaces do not carry over from one semester to the next. Students must plan ahead accordingly and submit an application for faculty consideration each semester in order to retain their studio spaces. IMPORTANT: Even if students, especially Post Undergraduate Assistants are awarded a space for an entire year, they must still submit an application each semester.
 Eligibility / Preference:

Students must be enrolled in at least one credit hour of upper level courses (3000 – 4000 level) in the Department of Art to be eligible for a studio space in the semester they are using the studio space. Specific area faculty may additionally require students be enrolled in one of their area classes to be eligible to work in that area's studio space.
 As a general rule, preference will be given to students in the following order: Post Undergraduate Assistants (PUAs), BFA students with senior standing preparing to graduate, BFA students with 1 year or more before graduation, BA students with senior standing preparing to graduate, followed by all other proposals based on student need. All students who desire a studio space should have strong proposals for how they plan to use the space preferably including exhibition plans and must have passed ART 2000: Portfolio Review.
Building and Studio Access:
 Depending on the location of a studio, students may be provided a key so that they may access their spaces. Students that do not return provided keys upon vacating a studio may also have a HOLD put on their records. The Department of Art is in no way responsible for items of personal property that are lost, damaged or stolen from the student studios. Students should not keep expensive or valuable items in the spaces that they do not wish to lose. Furthermore, students should consider safety when working on campus late at night and use the buddy system whenever possible.
Studio Fee:
 There is currently no fee to have a studio space in the VA Building.
Regulations Concerning Use of the Studio Spaces:
 Using a studio space in the Visual Arts Building is a privilege, not a right, and students must follow certain guidelines to ensure the quality of the spaces and the safety of themselves and their fellow students while occupying a studio. Students are expected to conduct themselves in an appropriate and responsible way at all times when using the studio spaces.
 If a student witnesses or experiences any inappropriate behavior, especially as it concerns the following regulations, that student should first contact a faculty member who has oversight of that area’s studios (not a faculty member that has oversight of other studio areas - ie. students should discuss issues in the Metalsmithing studios with Metalsmithing faculty, not Ceramics faculty). Individual studios couched within equipment specific areas (printmaking, sculpture, metalsmithing, ceramics, etc) may require additional regulations and / or contracts as defined by the designated faculty of the program.
 Area faculty and the Department Head have the right and the duty to rearrange studio assignments based on stituational circumstances. Area faculty and the Department Head may be expell students from their studio space at any time during the semester for not following protocols including, but not limited to, the following:
 

• Student studio spaces are defined as laboratories. Therefore, there can be no food or drinks present or consumed inside the studios. Students should eat or drink in designated areas of the building only.
• The use of alcohol and tobacco are expressly forbidden in the studio spaces.
• Studio spaces are for creating artwork according to a student’s independent proposal. Students may not store items in the studios unrelated to this goal, nor may students keep a studio as a primary place of residence, nor may students host parties or similar gatherings in the studios. 
• If a student does not move into their studio in a timely manner and/or is found to be using the space rarely, if ever, that student will be asked to vacate their space to make room for a student who has a greater need for the studio. 
• The studios in the Visual Arts Building are communal. Students must respect the space, property and safety of others sharing the studio with them. This means making sure the doors are locked upon leaving applicable areas, and maintaining a reasonably clean and organized work area. 
• Students must treat others in the communal spaces with respect. Harassment of any kind will not be tolerated. Students who experience harassment should immediately contact the appropriate faculty member and/or department head. Harassment or other inappropriate behavior will result in immediate expulsion. 
• Communal space is finite. Students should not take up more space than necessary or creep into others’ designated spaces. Students may not store materials inapplicable to their current project in their studio. Paintings that are not being worked on must be stored in the ventilated painting storage area. Your studio space is not an art gallery. 
• Students may not use processes or materials that fundamentally damage the building or that pose a safety threat to themselves or their fellow students in the studio spaces. If a student is in doubt, they should contact an appropriate faculty member before proceeding.

For any Questions or Concerns Please Contact:
 Professor Shelby Shadwell / sshadwel@uwyo.edu 

APPLYING FOR PUA IS NOT APPLYING FOR STUDIO SPACE IN THE VA BUILDING. STUDENTS MUST ALSO COMPLETE A SEPARATE APPLICATION FOR STUDIO SPACE IF THEY REQUIRE ONE. PUAS MUST REAPPLY FOR STUDIO SPACE EACH SEMESTER APPLICATIONS ARE DUE - NOV 1 AND APR 1. 

PAs in Art at the University of Wyoming may be awarded in the following areas:

• Printmaking
• Ceramics
• Foundations
• Sculpture
• Drawing
• Painting
• Visual Communication Design
• Metalsmithing
• Art History
• Photography
• Art Education

Purposes:

• To provide a time for a recently graduated student to continue their creative and/or academic research in preparation for their next professional step. 
• To allow the student to develop their knowledge and practice of teaching while assisting in lower level classes. 
• To gain knowledge and practice in managing facilities and equipment in their specific PUA area. 
• To allow the student to gain experience in a leadership role and begin the transition from student to artist and/or scholar. 
• To assist the area professor(s) in their day to day teaching needs.

Duration:

• Students may apply for (and be awarded) PUA periods of one semester or two semesters. 
• It is preferred that students do not exceed one year in their status as PUAs. (any exceptions are considered on a case by case basis). After two semesters or one academic year, a student will need to reapply for a PUA.
• A PUA award is honorary and can be revoked at any time if there are egregious infractions to the Code of Conduct. 

Requirements:

• PUAs must maintain their student status at the University of Wyoming by registering for a minimum of one credit hour of an ART prefix course during each semester of the PUA period. Students who wish to enroll in other prefixed courses must get the approval of their area faculty member. Often PUAs enroll in Independent Study with their area faculty. 
• PUAs must have graduated from the Department of Art at the University of Wyoming.
• PUAs are requested to not take more than four credits of study during each of their PUA semesters.

Expectations/Duties: 

• PUA candidates should speak with the faculty member(s) in the area(s) they wish to apply for before applying for the PUA.
• PUAs will make agreements and sign contracts (when required) with supporting faculty regarding specific studio and classroom activities.
• PUAs will serve as ambassadors with visiting prospective students and during the annual High School Art Intensive.
• PUAs may be asked to assist with the Portfolio Review class each semester.

Benefits of Position:

• PUAs are given priority for studio space in each area to pursue their creative and/or academic research – a separate studio application must be completed and approved to be eligible for studio space.
• PUAs are provided access to studio equipment and spaces (as applicable to their area of study).
• PUAs have access to the faculty in their area for individual critiques and assistance in preparing their portfolios and professional materials.

Funding Assistance

• PUAs will be provided funding assistance when available. The Department will try to cover up to one credit hour of tuition and fees per semester that a student has a PUA. Students will be responsible for tuition and fees they enroll in beyond one credit hour of study. Students should contact Alex Soto (asoto@uwyo.edu) and/or other relevant staff in the VA Office to inquire about funding opportunities. 

PUA Codes of Conduct:

• The following are a few general guidelines students must follow to maintain a PUA. Each faculty member may have additional rules and guidelines for specific areas of the department. 
• Be professional in the classroom. It is fine to have conversations with other students, but the PUA's responsibility is to help the professor first.
• Be on time, be prepared. PUAs may be asked to help out in a variety of ways. The professor will inform PUAs of the tasks or help they will need.
• Do not engage in improper behavior. This includes speaking inappropriately about other students or other faculty.
• PUAs are setting an example to other students. A PUA is something many younger students may aspire to.

Link to Degree Info

Link to Degree Requirements

Questions, email the Design Faculty: Brandon Gellis and Peter Fine

All students pursuing the Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Visual Communication Design (VCD) degree program in the UW Department of Visual Arts at the University of Wyoming must complete this application. All applications must be submitted at least three semesters before an applicant plans to graduate. For example, many students apply in the fall of their Junior year.

Acceptance in this degree program is competitive. To officially enroll in the BFA in the VCD degree program, students must be approved by the BFA in the VCD Admissions Committee in the UW Visual Arts Department. Accepted candidates must have met the following standards at the time of application:

• A grade of C or better in all major classes
• 3.25 GPA or higher in major classes
• 3.00 or higher overall UW GPA
• Complete the Foundations Core Sequence and Portfolio Review.
• Meet this application deadline.

Students transferring to the UW Visual Arts Department who meet the above qualifications are welcome to apply for the BFA in VCD after at least one semester in the UW Visual Arts Department. Students enrolled in the BFA in VCD may also earn a minor in another Visual Arts media area or Art History, and many minors outside of the Visual Arts Department.
 

Note: Candidates not accepted into the BFA in VCD degree program are encouraged to consider completing another major and minor offered in the UW Department of Visual Arts: BA in Studio Art, BA in Art History, BA in Art Education, BFA in Studio Art, and a minor in Art History, Digital Media, or other studio areas.