Faculty Scholarship Program

Adult tap class

COCA faculty are the heart of our organization. Their ability to engage COCA students, to innovate in their artistic practice and to develop their teaching craft is at the core of what we do. The COCA faculty support scholarship is an opportunity for COCA to support the needs of faculty who seek to develop teaching skills and explore new methods/interests.

Faculty may apply for funds to participate in outside training opportunities. They need to be actively teaching in the semester they apply and have had at least one full year of previous teaching at COCA. Two–three teaching artists will be awarded scholarships each Spring. As part of the evaluation of responses, COCA Artistic Directors will ensure that the teaching artists equitably represent artistic disciplines (art and design, theatre, dance, voice, COCAedu) over the course of two cycles, fostering the continued development of the entire scope of work at COCA.

The goal of the Faculty Scholarship Program is for teaching artists to identify professional development opportunities they believe will bring about a beneficial transformative change in their artistic practice and create persuasive applications outlining the anticipated changes and the impact on students and/or colleagues at COCA.

Applications will be accepted March 5–24, 2025.

For more information, contact:

Shawna Flanigan

Application

  • Program Description: Describe the program/experience you hope to be partially/fully funded through this application. Include dates, location, anticipated outcomes and full cost of the program.
  • Application Essay: Write a 500 word or less essay outlining the change(s) anticipated through participating in the program. Describe the anticipated change using one or more of the following categories: skills, pride, confidence, perspective and/or identity.
  • Application Essay Supporting Materials: Candidates can choose to include materials to enhance their application (e.g., photos, artwork, school projects, creative writing pieces, vision boards, or video clips).

Faculty Scholarship Program Application

Applicant Name(Required)
Applicant Address(Required)
A brief description of the intended program. The program description should be typed and can include marketing materials produced by the program.
Accepted file types: pdf, Max. file size: 5 MB.
The application essay should be typed and no longer than 500 words.
Accepted file types: pdf, Max. file size: 5 MB.
Applicants can choose to include materials to enhance their application (e.g., photos, artwork, school projects, creative writing pieces, vision boards, or video clips)
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Max. file size: 2 MB, Max. files: 3.
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    Application FAQs

    When does the application period begin and end in 2025?

    Applications will be accepted March 5–24, 2025.

    What is the amount of the scholarship?

    The amount of the Faculty Scholarship Program scholarship in 2025 is $2,000.

    What happens after submission of an application?

    Applications are judged by a panel of COCA Artistic and Program Directors using a transformation rubric. Funds will be awarded to two–three applicants.

    What happens when an application is chosen to be funded?

    Funds are paid directly to the program, not the applicant. Funded faculty will submit a 250–500 word written recap of the experience outlining the change that occurred and ways that the greater COCA community (students and/or colleagues) can benefit from the experience.