• Partnership between the School of Dance and the Dance Theatre of Harlem
  • Dance Theatre of Harlem and UNCSA forge multi-year educational and performance partnership:
    • “The collaboration between the School of Dance at UNCSA, a highly ranked conservatory training students in ballet and contemporary dance, and Dance Theatre of Harlem, known for its commitment to educating the next generation of diverse dancers, signifies a new chapter in the evolution of both organizations. Through the partnership, student dancers from UNCSA will have the extraordinary opportunity to train with the renowned artists of DTH in New York while dancers from DTH will visit the UNCSA campus in Winston-Salem to conduct educational activities and performances on campus and throughout North Carolina. The DTH-UNCSA partnership is made possible with funding and programmatic support by the Thomas S. Kenan Institute for the Arts in Winston-Salem and is part of a larger effort to expand and evolve industry partnerships for UNCSA.”
• VR Nursing Education Program Partnership with School of Filmmaking and the WSSU School of Health Sciences
  • The VR Nurse Education Program thrives at the dynamic intersection of health, art, and technology. Developed in response to the national nursing shortage, this program offers a suite of virtual reality (VR) based interactive and realistic simulations. These simulations allow nursing students to develop critical skills and enhance problem-solving abilities in areas such as adult medicine, pediatrics, pharmacology, maternity, and more.
  • Recent articles on the partnership:
    • Virtual Reality revolutionizes nursing education with Patient Ready's innovative approach
    • Winston-Salem State University, UNCSA, and the North Carolina Collaboratory partner to launch virtual reality training for nursing students

• Hired new Director of Alumni Engagement in the Office of Advancement.
• Advanced UNCSA Connects more broadly, to connect students, alumni and incomming students with our robust network of alumni.

• Partnered with the Winston-Salem Symphony to establish a new fellowship program. Beginning in 2024, five graduate string players (receiving full scholarships) will perform with the WSS, and participate in internship and outreach activity, while earning Masters of Music degrees. 

• BOV Alumni Relations Committee redesign.
• Agreed on a shared concern for the limited capacity of a one-person Alumni Engagement Office. Exploring funding for a second alumni-focused position, alumni liaisons in major cities, etc.
• Piloted UNCSA Connects portal connecting current students with alums to answer questions.

Coming in Fall 2024. 

• The Office of Career Development lead four career faculty convenings to begin conversations about how career readiness is addressed on campus, and ways to better prepare UNCSA graduates for the world of work. Agreement coalesced around the need for continuing intentional dialogue about career readiness skills, recognizing what is already happening in every class, and helping faculty and students understand the general career skills that are being built throughout the conservatory education.

• Approved minors within existing degree programs that respond to current global career and market opportunities for graduates.
  • Liberal Arts: Arts Entrepreneurship, German Studies, Creative Writing
  • Music: Multiple Woodwinds
• Progress towards a new degree completion initiative for former students, leveraging in-person and remote learning resources, and connecting past training with current opportunities and career directions.

• SECU Fellowships
  • In the third year of this partnership between UNCSA and the State Employees Credit Union, we have expanded from engagement for three students in the first year to this year’s cohort of nine fellows.
  • Recent press release on this year’s expanded SECU Fellows cohort:
    • "We are delighted to announce the 2024 SECU Public Fellows Internship recipients," said Rebecca Nussbaum, director of theOffice of Career Readiness and Community Engagement. "These nine talented students are participating in enriching internships with esteemed arts and educational organizations across the state. The support from the SECU Foundation makes these opportunities possible, allowing our students to gain real-world experience that will enhance their artistic and professional growth while contributing directly to North Carolina nonprofits. We are proud of their achievements and look forward to witnessing the impact of their work this summer."

• Working to launch a new media label this fall that will publish, promote and distribute the artistic work of UNCSA students, faculty and alumni.
• Completed a full-length album of School of Music faculty performing works by living female composers.

• Established plans to create career readiness modules that are useful toall conservatories.
• Planning towards incorporation of UNCSA alumni into career classes.