04/16/2025 – VVN has shared an update regarding this story. The update can be found here.

The University of Montevallo’s College of Fine Arts will go from four departments to three this fall, as the current theatre and music departments will merge into a single academic unit, according to an email from Dean Sean Atkinson sent to current majors Tuesday morning.

The dean’s email included a list of questions and answers to help music and theatre majors prepare for the merge, which he described as “primarily administrative.” Atkinson added that this change “will not affect your day-to-day activities as a student.”

The name of the new combined department has not been finalized.

Current Department of Theater Chair Michael Walker will serve as chair of the new department, according to the email. Dr. Lori Ardovino, the current chair of the Department of Music, will serve as music’s program coordinator.

“Combining the departments makes the administrative management of the theatre and music programs more efficient,” Dean Atkinson wrote.

For current music and theatre majors, the merge won’t impact existing degree plans, coursework or scholarships, according to the email.

Dean Atkinson also assured students that the two programs and their respective classes, learning opportunities, facilities, and performances will not be changing for now.

“For the immediate future, theatre and music will still function independently in terms of events and programs,” he wrote. “It is possible that joint ventures between music and theatre will be explored, but those opportunities are likely several years away.”

Dean Atkinson is asking students to reach out with questions.

“We are still very early in this process, so there might be some questions for which we don’t yet have answers,” he wrote. “I encourage you to let us know so we can get back to you all with updates as the process continues.”

The University of Montevallo College of Fine Arts is also home to the Department of Communication and the Department of Art.