Welcome to the new school year!
Dear UNCSA Students,
Welcome Fighting Pickles! I hope your summer left each of you inspired — whether you were relaxing and recharging or honing your craft at music, dance, theater or other arts festivals around the world. We’re excited to meet all of our new students and see returning students again!
This year, we will have nearly 1,400 students on campus, the highest attendance in our history. This includes 525 incoming students, and we hope that returning students will take some time to meet our newest artists and help get them oriented. We are particularly excited to welcome 12 new full-time faculty members and 13 adjunct and visiting faculty this year — the cornerstone of your artistic experience at UNCSA. It’s a great crop of industry professionals with impressive credits joining our talented team; check out your new faculty in your arts school and academic program.
This summer at the famed Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland, I had the joy of seeing UNCSA alumni and D&P students at the famed Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland, some of them producing bold, original works that captivated international audiences, thanks to support by our Thomas S. Kenan Institute for the Arts and the Semans Art Fund. It was a vivid reminder that new work is not just exciting — it is essential. Fresh ideas and daring creativity keep the arts alive, relevant and thriving. As we start a new and vibrant academic year, I wanted to shine a spotlight on the importance of not just sharpening your craft but advancing it through new and creative ideas.
At UNCSA, students like you are already shaping that future. From daily film shoots in the School of Filmmaking to new choreography in the School of Dance, and from world premieres performed by our UNCSA Symphony Orchestra to original plays in Drama’s “Keys to the Kingdom” series — innovation is woven into everything we do. And we have even started our own media publishing arm to showcase the creative projects of our alumni, faculty and staff: UNCSA Media. Championing new voices is one of many “big ideas” we’re going to pursue that will be a part of our upcoming major fundraising campaign. Because as the next generation of artists you won’t just perform the classics — you will also create the works that define the future of the arts.
You will have a chance to see new and classic works performed by your peers all season long with UNCSA Presents, our 2025-26 performance season; stay tuned for details to be announced tomorrow! These performances and screenings can expand your horizons and fuel your creativity, and the deans and I encourage you to attend as many as possible. As students you are entitled to complimentary tickets to all performances; please familiarize yourself with our comp ticket policy to learn more. It’s going to be an exhilarating season!
As you start this academic year, whether you are in your first year or your fourth, we understand that the work at UNCSA is rigorous. Please know that here, we care about your well-being and encourage you to Take 5ive when you need to. We have built in several “Collaborative Days” into the year to help with balance and offer opportunities for you to explore outside of your arts discipline, as well as “Intermission” which takes place from 12:30-2:30 p.m. every Wednesday to help give you a moment to breathe, catch up on homework, chat with a friend, or whatever else you need. And know that help is always available — from faculty, deans, Student Affairs, Police & Public Safety, or your Student Government Association.
Finally, enjoy your first day of classes (our high school students are already a week in!). I look forward to connecting in person with many of you at the annual Party on the Plaza that begins at 5 p.m. today as well as our new tradition: UNCSA Night at the Dash (minor league baseball) on Aug. 23. It’s not too late to get your ticket, which is free, and you’re all invited! Please join us.
Here’s to a creative and successful year ahead.
Sincerely,
Brian Cole
Chancellor
August 18, 2025