President Ward emails students about changes to residencies
On June 15, 2022, President Ward sent students an email titled “VCFA Announces 2023 Summer Residencies at Colorado College”. This was the first time students heard anything about residency changes.
Colorado College is located in Colorado Springs, Colorado – approximately 2,000 miles from Montpelier, Vermont and VCFA’s existing campus.
The following includes the substantive portion of President Ward’s email.
Dear VCFA Students,
I’m writing to share with you a significant step forward the college will be taking to enhance our ability to provide exceptional residency experiences.
Beginning in summer of 2023, all VCFA programs will conduct summer residencies on the beautiful campus of Colorado College, located in Colorado Springs.
Over the years, as our program offerings have evolved and grown, our campus facilities in Montpelier have not kept up with the caliber of our curriculum and the experience we wish to offer our students. This new home for our residences will allow us to provide full campus amenities and outstanding facilities that match the standards of excellence our students, faculty, and staff bring to VCFA’s rich educational experience, enabling us to fully actualize the potential of each program residency.
In exploring campus options, we knew we needed a like-minded institution that shared VCFA’s values, commitment to the arts, and sense of innovation. Colorado College has the facilities, culture, and creative spirit we seek for our community, and we’re excited to bring our summer residencies to their campus.
What does this change mean for you?
For the first time, VCFA will begin holding concurrent residencies on a single academic calendar, providing students and faculty in all six academic programs an opportunity to explore interdisciplinary study and collaborate across disciplines.
Summer residencies will benefit from full campus amenities to support film screenings, music performances, exhibitions, and readings, alongside an outstanding art museum and Fine Arts Center – all on an accessible campus in a beautiful location.
Winter residencies for the 2022-2023 year will take place on VCFA’s Montpelier campus as previously scheduled. Moving forward, winter residencies will be held remotely. We will work with faculty to build on what we have learned about remote residencies to meet the unique needs of each program. We will also be exploring with faculty alternative winter residency offerings including travel residencies and other in-person opportunities.
What will not change is our commitment to our student-centered learning model, our phenomenal faculty, the rhythm of individual work punctuated every six months by content-packed residencies, our high standards, and our deep commitment to our VCFA community.
I understand that you will have many questions, some common to all students, some specific to you and to your program. We are committed to answering your questions and supporting you through this change.
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We are excited about the myriad opportunities this new home for our residencies affords, and can’t wait to welcome our students, faculty, and staff to Colorado Springs next year. I look forward to engaging with you on this journey as we continue to build the future of VCFA together.
Sincerely,
Leslie Ward
President