Resources
Students and alumnx submit formal complaint to VT Attorney General
On November 19, 2022, Vermont College of Fine Arts student and donor constituents submitted a complaint to the Vermont Attorney General regarding potential illegal conduct and violations of Vermont Statutes committed by the college’s Board of Trustees.
VCFA trustees respond to faculty letter
From VermontBiz: In response to a group of faculty members issuing a letter of no confidence, the Board of Trustees of VCFA has reached out to provide additional information related to the piece that VermontBiz published Tuesday regarding the school. The trustees responded to the those faculty and also sent a letter from other faculty members offering their full support to the trustees and president.
Faculty letter of no-confidence and NECHE complaint
From Vermont Biz: Group of Faculty distribute Letter of No-Confidence in President Leslie Ward and submit formal Complaint to New England Commission of Higher Education
Faculty submit complaint to New England Commission for Higher Education (NECHE)
On October 3, 2022, VCFA Faculty formally submitted a complaint to New England Commission for Higher Education. The complaint details how the President and Board of Vermont College of Fine Arts (VCFA) violated its written governance and five NECHE Accreditation Standards with their decision, made in secret with no faculty or student input, to fundamentally change the pedagogy and location of the 41-year-old MFA program.
No Confidence letter & support
Twenty-two faculty members signed and sent to the VCFA Board of Trustees a letter expressing No Confidence in President Ward's leadership.
VCFA Students Protest Move to Colorado
From The Montpelier Bridge: The Vermont College of Fine Arts is moving its summer residency programs to Colorado College, and current students aren’t happy about it. In what they called a collective action, visual arts students peppered the campus with protest signs last week and met with college administrators about their concerns.
Open Letter from current VCFA students
On July 1st, 2022, currently enrolled students from multiple graduate fine arts programs at VCFA emailed President Ward and the Board of Trustees with a request to provide answers.
Alumni voice ‘profound disappointment’ in Vermont College of Fine Arts’ plan to end residencies, explore selling buildings
From VT Digger: Nearly 100 alumni of the Vermont College of Fine Arts said they strongly oppose the school’s plan to end on-campus programs and explore the sale of campus buildings.
Open letter from alumnx and students to Board of Trustees
An open letter from alumnx and students was sent to the Board of Trustees in response to President Ward’s email announcement.
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.