RISD Faculty Vote No Confidence

Faculty members at the Rhode Island School of Design voted no confidence last week in President John Maeda and Provost Jessie Shefrin, The Providence Journal reported. Of 194 faculty members who attended the meeting to discuss the proposed vote, 147 voted in favor it. Faculty members argue that the administration's new strategic plan places so much emphasis on interdisciplinary work that key disciplines -- especially in the fine arts -- are losing their essential role. The president and provost issued a statement after the vote saying that they have "heard the point of view of the faculty and take it very seriously."