The following is the SSDC Policy regarding members working in a college
or university setting:
• Full-time teachers who direct student productions as part of their
teaching assignments are not required to file SSDC contracts.
• Director/choreographers jobbed into a college or university for the
specific purpose of directing or choreographing any production are
required to file a contract.
• Guest or part-time teachers must determine if more than 50% of their
time is spent directing and/or choreographing. If so, an SSDC contract
must be filed.
Some colleges and universities have difficulty signing contracts with
outside unions due to state regulations or other reasons. In such cases,
members can file the University/Resident Theatre Association (U/RTA)
contract. U/RTA is an organization that acts as a business agent through
which these schools can contract union members. By signing SSDC-U/RTA
contracts, members can work at these schools and receive compensation,
property rights protection and pension and health benefits. The SSDC
Executive Board has approved the agreement with U/RTA that allows SSDC
members to use the contract (schools need not be a member of U/RTA to
use the U/RTA agreement). SSDC secures Special and U/RTA contracts with
approximately 100 colleges, universities and professional
conservatories.
