USITT > Activities > Special Interest Groups

Special Interest Groups

USITT provides many ways for members to interact with each other. It also has three specific components in which members participate: Commissions, Regional Sections, and Student Chapters.

Commissions

Commissions are the sub-groups of USITT members that have shared interests. There are 10 commissions: Architecture, Costume Design & Technology, Education, Engineering, Health & Safety, Lighting, Management, Scene Design, Sound, and Technical Production. Leadership is provided by Commissioners who are appointed by the USITT President in collaboration with the Vice-President for Commissions. Commissioners in turn appoint vice-commissioners who generally have specific responsibilities within the commission, advisory groups, and project groups, as well as liaisons within and outside USITT.

Commissions are the major source of programming for the Annual Conference and support individual research projects through the Commissioner's Fund. They also provide other activities such as the annual Costume Symposium and publish information including Recommended Practice for DMX, Lighting Portfolio Guidelines, and Tenure and Promotion Guidelines. USITT members can belong to as many as two commissions and participate in the programming provided by them all.

Regional Sections

Regional Sections are based on geographical proximity, even though boundary designations are not strictly observed. Activities within sections include master classes, tours, exhibitions, and workshops that are generally of interest to members within the area. Individuals often join Regional Sections because of interest in the activities sponsored by the Section and/or other regional affiliations such as ACTF and SETC. Members of Regional Sections are not required to be members of the national USITT organization, so information about joining and programming should be obtained through Section Chairs. There are guidelines available for forming a new Regional Section.

Student Chapters

Student Chapters: Groups of students at an institution (secondary school, college, or university) or in a limited geographical area can form a USITT Student Chapter. Chapters are supervised by at least one sponsor, a USITT member in good standing, who provides guidance and counsel. Members of Student Chapters elect chairs and sponsor programs and events for their local communities. They also travel together to attend exhibitions, events, and to the Annual Conference & Stage Expo. Charters are granted and renewed for one-year terms by the Vice-President for Sections and Chapters following guidelines in the By-Laws of the Institute. There are guidelines available for forming a new Student Chapter.