School Has Gone to the Dogs

UNC School of the Arts

I spent this week working at UNCSA. I was last there in 2007. Doesn't seem like it's been 8 years. Time flies.

The school is very small. Enrollment is about 1,200. Starts with high school - 9th grade and goes up to a Master Degree. I'm told it has earned a great reputation over time and that it is extremely difficult to get into. They say, almost on par with The Julliard.

For my work, it's pretty much a typical college campus with typical buildings. Smaller buildings than on large Universities, and a lot less of them.

The facilities are excellent. There have been some major upgrades over the past 10 to 15 years. Beautiful concert halls and studios. The Film School complex is as nice a group of buildings, sound stages, and workshops as I've ever seen. The new library (to open in June) is a real architectural statement.

If you get around to different Universities and compare - You can tell that UNCSA is a really big time step up from a typical college Drama, Music or Art Department. Kind of like - you can get a top notch Math or Physics degree from NC State. Or - you can go to MIT.

I have a little bit of field work left to do there. Will be heading back late next week or the following week for a couple of days.

Puppy Play Time

I took these photos at the Student Commons building. I had just finished lunch and was having coffee on the balcony when the Animal Shelter van drove up and two women brought out two puppies.

Turns out, a few times a year the shelter brings over dogs for "Puppy Play Time". Probably a lot of kids have pets at home and they get lonely for them. You could tell the kids really enjoyed playing with the dogs.