University of Southern California 2015 Financial Report the art of success EDUCATING creative entrepreneurs usc financial report_2015 01 _ the art of success 20 _ university highlights 26 _ academic highlights 33_ financial statements 39_ notes to financial statements 58 _ B u d g e t 2015 - 2016 69 _ usc role and mission 70_ university leadership On the front and back covers: This year has been one of innovation and accomplishment for USC’s six world class arts schools – USC School of Architecture, USC Roski School of Art and Design, USC School of Cinematic Arts, USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance, USC School of Dramatic Arts, USC Thornton School of Music. the art of success e d u c at i n g creative entrepreneurs THE ART OF SUCCESS Educating Creative Entrepreneurs e University of Southern Students at USC’s six world class arts schools are inventing jobs that didn’t exist a decade California’s efforts to mix ago. They’re branding, marketing and networking their way into entrepreneurial skill with artistic successful careers. expression are intentional. Creativity is increasingly recognized as a valuable asset — and so is the ability to The university’s efforts to mix entrepreneurial skill with market that creativity. artistic expression are inten- tional. Creativity is increasingly recognized as a valuable asset — and so is the ability to market that creativity. New academic partnerships have formed excit- ing programs that support budding student entrepreneurs. Through USC’s Visions and Voices initiative, now celebrating its 10th year, students have the opportunity to meet and learn from artists at the top of their fields. USC’s Fisher Museum of Art, Pacific Asia Museum and classical stations KUSC and KDFC add to the richness of programs and events USC offers students interested in the arts. This year has been an exciting time for the arts at USC. Here’s a snapshot of the programs that are transforming the Trojan experience. The USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance welcomed its inaugural class of students in fall 2015. University of Southern California 2015 FINANCIAL REPORT / 3 expanding the definition of contemporary art 4 / 2015 FINANCIAL REPORT University of Southern California USC Roski design students prepare for careers in fields as disparate as gaming and fashion. Designing the Future The USC Roski School of Art the school introduced its first to document the devastation of and Design’s programs mix course in graphic design for fash- the 2011 Tohuko earthquake and artistic expression with technol- ion marketing and announced subsequent tsunami in photogra- ogy skills. An innovative new a new 3-D design minor, comple- phy and video. The experience, online master’s degree partners menting its minors for students he says, helped his art break the school with mass media be- interested in animation and through in new ways. hemoth Condé Nast and WIRED gaming. USC Roski’s program in Alumnus Andrew Huang ’07, magazine. The degree in inte- multimedia and visual communi- who directs visually stunning grated design, business and cation currently ranks eighth music videos for Björk, Sigur technology will attract people in the nation according to U.S. Rós and Atoms for Peace, has who want to be leaders in both News & World Report. this advice for students: “Try business and culture, says Adding a global dimension new mediums because that’s USC Roski Dean Erica Muhl. to its curriculum, the school the way you’ll learn and grown, When USC Roski added awards Macomber Travel Grants and that’s the way you’ll create “Design” to its name in 2013, to students to support research- a job for yourself that might it reflected the expanding based travel, production of new not even exist at the moment.” definition of contemporary art artwork and public presentation practice. Already known for its of the new work. BFA student intra-disciplinary curriculum, Brian Dario traveled to Japan University of Southern California 2015 FINANCIAL REPORT / 5 e x p l o r i n g new mediums t o learn a n d grow Creating the New and Conserving the Old The USC School of Architecture USC is also a leader in pre- was the first accredited school serving the architectural heritage of architecture in Southern Cali- of Southern California. The USC fornia, and, in 2014, became one Architectural Guild gave its 2015 of the first schools to receive Distinguished Alumni Award to the National Architectural Kelly Sutherlin McLeod ’82, ’83, Accrediting Board’s new eight- the project architect who over- year accreditation — for both saw renovations of The Gamble its bachelor’s and master’s House, USC, in Pasadena. Since degree programs. “The accredi- 1966, when USC took over re- tation,” said Dean Qingyun Ma, sponsibility for the 1908 Greene “recognizes the commitment and Greene masterpiece, two and confidence in the school’s USC Architecture students have emerging experiments and lived in the National Historic innovation for the future of archi- Landmark each year. McLeod tecture and the environment.” was one of those students in Leading the way are profes- 1982, sparking her interest in sors such as Karen Kensek heritage conservation. The next and Douglas Noble, pioneers in project for her firm — leading building information modeling the renovation of the USC Pacific (BIM). Kensek thinks of buildings Asia Museum in Pasadena. as living organisms, self-adjust- Hiring at architecture firms ing and self-correcting as they is on the upswing, as indicated transmit a constant stream of by the record number of compa- data about themselves. The nies at the USC School of Archi- author of two books about BIM, tecture Firm Fair, and it’s clear Kensek brings her research that USC students are ready to the classroom, where her to take on innovative and excit- courses turn out students who, ing careers. she says, “are very technically hands-on competent in BIM at the end of the course, and are poised to be leaders in the field.” “e accreditation recognizes the commitment and confidence in the school’s emerging experi- ments and innovation for the future of architecture and the environment.” Qingyun Ma, Dean, USC School of Architecture MFA and final-year undergraduate animation majors have 24/7 access to their personal studios. University of Southern California 2015 FINANCIAL REPORT / 7 USC School of Architecture students are poised to advance modernism, sustain- ability and innovative urban design. inventing the future o f architecture Are they performers, techies, entrepreneurs? e answer for many USC School of Dramatic Arts graduates is — all of the above. Make Them Laugh Are they performers, techies, Students in the Voice-over entrepreneurs? The answer for Acting class, taught by voice- many USC School of Dramatic over professional Vicki Lewis and Arts graduates is — all of the sound engineer Phil Allen, not above. Consider Lilly Fuler, Joe only create characters, they also Sofranko and Adam North, all learn how to record and edit their 2009 graduates. They wrote, voices, assemble a professional directed and raised money for a demo reel and submit them- comedy Web series, Complete selves digitally for an audition. Works, a behind-the-scenes It’s an increasingly important drama of contestants in a market for actors, but few other fictional college Shakespeare universities offer the instruction. festival. It wouldn’t have been Another fast-growing field possible, the three acknowledge, is medical clowning. To educate without volunteer support from students about medical clown- School of Dramatic Arts stu- ing’s benefits, USC brought in dents, alumni, faculty and staff. three seminal practitioners from The series debuted on Hulu, Israel, Brazil and New York City and has been screened at the to conduct a workshop for MFA Oregon Shakespeare Festival acting students. Karen McCarty, and embraced online by Shake- creative director of community speare enthusiasts. programs at New York City’s Big Apple Circus, told them: “Consider getting on the ground floor of this new profession.” Costumes, sets, lighting — it’s all part of dramatic arts students’ repertoire of skills. 10 / 2015 FINANCIAL REPORT University of Southern California d e v e l o p i n g new markets f o r actors University of Southern California 2015 FINANCIAL REPORT / 11 Cinematic arts students move from the classroom to the studio to create projects like this stop-motion anima- tion film. Multiple Platforms, Multiple Possibilities For the third year in a row, The Innovative studio classes, students from Trojan Vision and Hollywood Reporter named the like the one created by visual actors from the USC School of USC School of Cinematic Arts effects artist Eric Hanson, use Dramatic Arts produced a sketch the top film school based on its the school’s new IMAX theater comedy show filmed before a commitment to technology, the to teach students to create studio audience and broadcast accomplishments of its alumni content for multiple platforms. live on television. In other words, and the strength of its faculty. Undergraduates shot short films, USC’s version of Saturday And for the fifth year in a row, each designed for a different Night Live. The project’s three The Princeton Review ranked immersive experience — an episodes featured professional USC the number one game de- IMAX theater, a fulldome theater guest hosts Jim Staahl (SCTV, sign school. (The USC Games and the virtual reality headset Curb Your Enthusiasm), Misty program is a collaboration be- Oculus Rift. Monroe (The Groundlings, How tween Cinematic Arts’ Interactive In what was arguably the I Met Your Mother) and Horatio Media & Games division and coolest course offering this past Sanz (Saturday Night Live). the USC Viterbi School of Engi- year, directors and writers from neering’s Department of Com- cinematic arts, production puter Science.) 12 / 2015 FINANCIAL REPORT University of Southern California USC arts students are branding, marketing and networking their way into successful careers.