At A Glance

Who We Are

The Caine College of the Arts provides a collaborative culture in which a unified "community of the arts" can thrive. This collaboration supports opportunities in discovery, teaching, and learning, connections across artistic disciplines, and expanded outreach partnerships and possibilities. Collaboration and outreach position Utah State University as a national model for the "new land-grant university" where personal, professional, academic, and community enrichment through the arts is a major institutional goal. The Caine College of the Arts brings together students and faculty for artistic study and a liberal arts education at a research university.

The Caine College of the Arts offers a visiting artist program that brings to campus nationally renowned artists and designers, award-winning faculty members, a world-class performance hall, internship assignments with prominent artists and designers, and international study opportunities. The Caine College of the Arts includes the Departments of Art & Design, Music, and Theatre Arts, and is closely affiliated with the Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art on the USU campus.

The Caine College of the Arts seeks to make the arts more visible, more innovative, and more fully integrated into the intellectual life of Utah State University and the communities it serves. The Caine College of the Arts is a collaborative community, representing the collective strengths and voices of the arts and offers a means for connecting people and programs.

CCA represents the broadest interpretation of "the arts" - art as personal expression, art for art's sake, art as communication, art as an important social and cultural force, art for personal enjoyment, and art as a contribution to what it means to be an individual and a part of the larger cultures that connect us.

A Brief History of the CCA

The college began as the Caine School of the Arts in 2005. The plan for the Caine School of the Arts to become the Caine College of the Arts became effective July 1, 2010. Former Theatre and Music Department Head Craig Jessop was named the Dean, and served from 2010-2019. Rachel Lee Nardo succeeded Dr. Jessop from 2019-2022, and Nicholas Morrison is serving as the current Dean.

The Caine College of the Arts was named in recognition of the Marie Eccles Caine Foundation's long-standing support of the arts at Utah State University. The idea for a school of the arts was initiated by then-Dean of the College of Humanities, Arts, & Social Sciences, Stan Albrecht, then president of Utah State University. Albrecht worked closely with sisters Kathryn Caine Wanlass and Manon Caine Russell, founding members of the Marie Eccles Caine Foundation, to translate the vision of a school of the arts into reality. The activities of the Caine College of the Arts are consonant with the goals of the Marie Eccles Caine Foundation to support visiting artists, provide scholarship support to students, and enhance community outreach and partnerships in the arts. Today the Caine College of the Arts continues to raise the visibility and notoriety of the arts at Utah State University, the community, and beyond.

Organizational Structure

The Caine College of the Arts is the most recently announced college at Utah State University. A steering committee comprised of the department heads of Art & Design, Music, and Theatre Arts coordinate collaborative and interdisciplinary initiatives and govern and direct programs and events. Departmental faculty and staff, as well as staff in CCA Production Services, assist with the execution of the steering committee's plans. The Caine College of the Arts Development Officer works with the dean and steering committee members to advance the college's development goals.

Our Mission: Excellence with Integrity

The Caine College of the Arts serves the people of the State of Utah and supports the mission of Utah State University by cultivating artistic and academic excellence, by preparing our students to realize their full creative potential as artists and citizens, by increasing the visibility of the college and university, and by fostering professionalism and collegial relationships in all aspects of our operations. As a community of artists and scholars, we will:

1. Identify, attract, and retain exceptional students as majors and strive to keep financial considerations from limiting their success.
2. Create, explore, and develop opportunities to expand the funding base of the college.
3. Nurture an artistic and intellectual environment that embraces students of all backgrounds.
4. Attract and retain an outstanding faculty of artists and scholars through competitive compensation, enhanced support for professional endeavors, and recognition for excellence.
5. Provide high quality arts experiences for all USU students.
6. Serve, enrich, and engage the community by presenting highly visible arts programming.
7. Engage in dynamic partnerships to secure the future of arts education.
8. Enhance the visibility of students and faculty through media exposure, performance tours, and traveling exhibitions.
9. Adopt innovative financial models and practice responsible stewardship of resources.
10. Foster a culture of inclusive decision-making, transparency, and productive relationships across departmental and university boundaries.

Visit Us

We have no physical address, but we are located across the street from the Fine Arts Visual (FAV) building on the north side, between Human Resources and Bullen Hall on 700 North (Aggie Bull-evard). If you are using a GPS to locate us, an approximate physical address (1150 E 700 N), will guide you to our location. Our main entry is upstairs through the south door. USU's interactive map can be used to find our offices and venues, including nearest parking areas.

Prospective students wishing to speak with an advisor should make an appointment or call the CCA Advising Center at 435-797-8096.

USU Campus Visit

Parking

CCA Building Hours

College Departments