WHUS offers training three times each year; during the Fall and Spring semesters and during the Summer.
There are three phases to training.
- Lectures begin with a no-obligation informational meeting and continue with hour-and-a-half meetings for each of the subsequent eight weeks. During this time we cover legal, technical, and aesthetic issues. The lectures culminate in a written exam, for which a passing grade is 80%. Trainees who fail this exam are permitted to re-take the exam once (for which 90% is passing).
- After the second week of lectures we add labs, during which groups of trainees (usually three or fewer) meet weekly with a lab instructor to learn to use the equipment in our Production Studio. There are six meetings (including an evaluation by another lab instructor) and they run concurrently with the lectures, and finish on or about the same date. Labs culminate in being cleared to use our Production Studio. Any time after being cleared to use the Production Studio, you may produce your demo; the format and scope of which are discussed during the class and are stipulated by the Program Director, to whom demos are submitted. Second and third copies of your demo are submitted to the Training Director and to the Chief Announcer, as well.
- After completing training in the Production Studio, trainees are paired with on-air DJ mentors. During this phase of training, you will be instructed in the use of our on-air studio and you will acquire behind-the-mic experience. This phase culminates in being cleared by your mentor.
If all has gone well, you are then qualified to be on the air. Your first opportunities will come as fill-ins for current on-air DJs who, for whatever reason, need coverage. Shortly thereafter you will have the opportunity to apply for the coming schedule, which changes three times each year.
Be forewarned that recent trainees receive what are widely regarded as un-appealing (overnight) show times for their first semester or so.
The cost of the class is $20 for full-time UCONN Undergrads and $40 for all others.
To find out when the next class will be offered, or if you have other questions, email the Training Director.
