The various academic and administrative tasks required for running the Music Department are the responsibility primarily of the full-time faculty and staff, and, in a few instances, part-time faculty. Full-time members of the Music Department each have special departmental duties assigned to them as part of their workload.

Information about the special assignments of the current faculty is available from the Chair. These duties are in addition to non-teaching duties (such as committee service, academic advising, and so forth) expected of all full-time faculty by the College. Part-time faculty who have certain duties assigned to them are compensated for those particular tasks, as is specified in their teaching contract.

Department Committees

Comps

The Comps Committee is responsible for the administration and oversight of the Integrative Exercise (“comps”) for the senior music majors. This includes handling comps proposals, faculty advising assignments, and scheduling of special comps presentations, such as recitals, lecture-recitals, and readings of compositions.

Concerts

The Concert Committee organizes the concert series, establishes and oversees policies for all concerts and recitals, and plans special events. Applied faculty interested in giving recitals, organizing special student recitals, and so forth should contact the Concert Committee.

Department Staff

Chair (or Co-Chairs) of the Department

The Department Chair serves as the steward and ombudsperson for the Department as a whole. The Chair is a rotating position held by a full-time, tenured faculty member, or shared by two, usually for a term of three years.

The principal duties of the Chair include:

  • General oversight for all personnel matters, including evaluation and supervision of staff, tenure reviews, third-year reviews, applied faculty reviews, and hiring of both academic and non-academic personnel
  • Department budget oversight, planning and authorization
  • Facility management and operation, including building improvements and repair
  • Oversight for academic scheduling with the Registrar, updating of the annual College Catalog and general curricular information
  • Liaison with all College offices (academic and administrative), unless otherwise designated to another full-time faculty member within the Department, and serves as Department representative at College meetings
  • Chair of Music Department meetings
  • Work with the Office of the Provost regarding preparation and issuing of yearly contracts
  • Supervise student billing and payments to applied faculty during the academic year

The Chair’s role is to assist their colleagues in fulfilling the teaching mission of the Depart­ment; please feel free to contact the Chair at any time should you have complaints, concerns, suggestions, or other information you feel the Department “ought to know.”

Department Assistant

The Department Assistant provides administrative support services required for all faculty and students in the Department of Music. In addition, the Department Assistant:

  • Prepares classroom materials and correspondence for academic faculty
  • Distributes keys and lockers
  • Maintains departmental files
  • Maintains the minutes and agenda for weekly department meetings
  • Schedules studio teaching times for faculty teaching applied music lessons, and may help coordinate scheduling of makeup lessons
  • Verifies class lists each term and coordinates billing of lessons
  • Provides administrative assistance to all applied faculty

The Department Assistant’s supervisor is the Department Chair. The Department Assistant’s office hours during the term are nor­mally 7:30 am-4:30 pm (with a meal break) Monday – Friday. The Department Assistant should not be given assignments that fall outside the categories listed above. Questions regarding budgets, studio space, services, contracts, mileage payments, etc. should be directed to the appropriate faculty member in the Department (see above).

Performance Activities Coordinator (PAC)

The PAC provides administrative support for all Department ensembles, Department-sponsored student recitals, and Department-supported visiting artists. In addition, the PAC:

  • Schedules all activities Kracum Performance Hall and Shackel Rehearsal Hall when classes are in session
  • Schedules, provides production management, coordinates stage and technical needs, and supervises support for all Music Department and Office of the Director of the Arts concerts
  • Arranges contracts, event support, accommodations, receptions, dinners, transportation, etc. for visiting artists and guest performers
  • Hires and oversees student employees in the PAC Office
  • Schedules and supervises support for ensemble rehearsals
  • Supervises the production and distribution of posters and programs
  • Submits events to Carleton Today and the Weitz Weekly for promotion
  • Maintains department events calendar and website
  • Assists with maintenance of event and rehearsal spaces
  • Maintains inventory and makes purchases of Music Department stage equipment
  • Maintains and makes purchases for ensemble support, PPE, reception and stage supplies

The PAC Office is located in the Weitz Center, M115 next to Shackel Hall. Hours vary. Please contact the Performance Activities Coordinator for support with any items listed above.

Department Meetings

Department meetings are held each week when classes are in session. Meetings are attended by full-time faculty members and the Department Assistant. Others may be invited to attend for specific presentations and discussions. Agenda items may be submitted to the Chair and will be scheduled for the earliest possible meeting.