Students and faculty of the newly christened MSU College of Music hope the change will create a greater chorus for the program on campus with expanded programs and facilities.

But, college officials say, students most likely won't notice many differences in the way the college operates.

The College of Music became MSU's 16th degree-granting college Friday, after being approved unanimously by the MSU Board of Trustees.

"In the School of Music, of course, if we had a downturn in the past, we were always under the umbrella of the College of Arts and Letters," music education Professor John Kratus said. "At this point, now in terms of finances and everything else, we are independent of that.

"The upside of it, of course, is that everything from decision-making to budgeting all happens at a local level right within the College of Music."

One reason fundraising may be needed is for one-on-one instruction, which is common in a performing arts school, Kratus said. To compensate for this, he expects the college to offer additional classes for nonmusic majors. In the fall, for instance, Kratus will teach a songwriting course, which will be one of the courses open to those not majoring in music.

"The (College) of Music is going to become much more interactive with the rest of the university, if for no other reason than because financially we will be forced to," Kratus said. "There needs to be additional classes and opportunities for the (College) of Music to reach out to other students on campus."

Jim Forger, the newly named dean of the college, said when he talked with students about the change, they said it would have a positive impact on their learning experiences and résumés.

"The highest-ranked schools in the nation have this administrative structure," Forger said. "And so I think (students) thought there would be an added value to the reputation of this institution, for it signals a significant nationally competitive program, which I believe we are."

As part of an ongoing process, Forger said some curriculum changes will follow the change in title, including the addition of two master's programs — jazz studies and collaborative piano.

These programs may begin going through the university's academic governance process later this semester, as will minor changes to the curriculum.

The curriculum changes are being made to ensure standards of the National Association of Schools of Music are met. The College of Music is accredited by the association.

Students wishing to be admitted to the college don't need to worry because the admissions process will not change, Forger said.

John Martin, director of admissions and student services for the College of Music, said student auditions and portfolios will be reviewed in the same way as always.

"One of our goals is to increase the richness of our applicant pool, and over the last few years, it has become a bit more competitive," he said. "And I imagine that trajectory will remain the same."

Students audition and apply to the college as incoming freshmen or as incoming graduate students, Martin said.

The College of Music has a dual admissions process, which means students have to be admitted to the university first, then to the college. Admission usually requires some form of audition or interview, depending on the program, Forger said.

"Students will not be disadvantaged in any way," he said. "They will experience no change whatsoever in terms of their programs."

Thomas-Aaron Price, a music education junior, said one thing he hopes will come from the freedom of the new college is a chance for a smaller graduation ceremony, specifically for the College of Music.

"There have been a lot of people that were hoping that we will be able to walk the stage at graduation," said Price, who plans to graduate in 2010.

"You couldn't do that in the College of Arts and Letters — it was too big."

The next big step for the new college will be fundraising and developing new facilities, Forger said.

"We are working very hard with the broad spectrum of donors and alumni and friends of the School of Music to move forward with planning for enhanced facilities," he said.

A new building is the next thing the college needs, said music Professor Leon Gregorian, who also is director of all orchestral activities and the head of the orchestra conducting program.

"It's imperative that the school has become a College of Music," Gregorian said. "Our next most important milestone would be to have a brand new building (and) a new auditorium of our own because of the growing population of the students and the number of concerts that we provide for the community."