Planning groups and reports
AY 21/22 implementation task forces
Oversight Committee
The Oversight Committee makes decisions that advance the work of the implementation process and provides high-level control for risk assessment, consistency with mission, and institutional sustainability. Meets twice per week on Tuesday and Thursday.
Members:
Renee Byas, Kent Kleinman, Kerci Marcello Stroud, Jamie O’Hara, David Proulx*, Taylor Scott
Leadership Group
The Task Force Leadership Group coordinates all implementation plans and efforts and makes decisions regarding implementation projects. Meets every Monday, Wednesday and Friday as a working group.
Members:
Jennifer Howley, Kent Kleinman, Jamie O’Hara, Dave Proulx, Taylor Scott, Jack Silva
Public Health and Testing
The Public Health and Testing Task Force will evaluate, implement, and monitor the standards and procedures needed to realize the recommendations in the RISD Planning Report AY 2021/22. Its work must be based on the latest science on COVID-19 prevention, vaccinations, as well as up-to-date guidelines from state and federal health agencies. The group will serve as a hub for other implementation groups on questions of public health and related matters, including:
- RISD public health mandates
- Screening, testing, contact tracing
- Student-specific health issues
- Employee-specific health issues
- Vaccination requirements and disclosure
- Off-site populations & visitors
- Pivot triggers
- Identification of equipment, supplies, facilities, and staffing needs to maintain protocols
Members:
Dan Cavicchi, Josh Grubman, Jen Howley, Nancy Severance, Anu Meschisen, Justeane Odams, Jamie O’Hara*, Liz Rainone, Bob Samuels, Taylor Scott, Keeling Associates and Deanna Casanovas
Academics
The Academics Task Force will focus on the delivery of academic programs as identified in the study RISD Planning Report AY 2021–22. The group will meet once weekly to ensure continued compliance with public health, accreditation, and federal aid requirements. The group will propose any necessary amendments to academic policies, in order to address significant challenges and bottlenecks, as identified by the AY 21–22 Academic Planning Workgroup. The scope includes:
- Remote curricula
- A+D curricula
- FA curricula
- EFS curricula
- LA curricula
- Accreditation issues
- Registerial issues
- Experiments in teaching and learning
- Careers
- Continuing Education
- Coordination with Brown
- Academic policy amendments
Members:
Patricia Barbeito*, Charlie Cannon, Dan Cavicchi, Sarah Cunningham, Scheri Fultineer, Brooks Hagan, Richard Gann, Kent Kleinman*, Rick Mickool, Alison Sherman, Joanne Stryker, Damian White, Ni Yi and Rilla Bieberbach
Student and Residential Life
The Student and Residential Life Task Force will organize the logistics, policies, and programming needed to address the continued realities of student life in a COVID-19 context, as identified in the study RISD Planning Report AY 2021–22. Critical work will focus on ensuring public health protocols are maintained throughout student housing and dining, updating guidelines for compliance and conduct, and continued support services, especially around issues of health and wellness. The tasks include:
- Residence Hall program
- Off-campus students
- Dining program
- Move-in
- Orientation
- Quarantine and isolation
- Student support services
- Student code of conduct revisions
- Vaccination requirements
Members:
Anne Colasanto, Kevin Forti, Barbara LoMonaco*, Erika Paradis, Kate Sacco, Caroline Vasquez, Keeling Associates and Josh Chodorow
Facilities and Academic Spaces
The Facilities and Academic Spaces Task Force work will tackle the space and facilities adjustments identified in the RISD Planning Report AY 2021–22. The charge encompasses working directly with each dean and their department heads, as well as each department’s academic coordinator, on an individual basis to prepare academic areas for the Near Normal scenario. The tasks include:
- Shops configuration
- Studio layouts
- Respiratory clinic
- Museum and public-facing facilities including RISD Stores and Library
- Building access
- Building signage
Members:
Dylan Costa, Ginnie Dunleavy, Kent Kleinman, Annie Newman, Joe Realejo, Jack Silva* and Lynne Jordan
AY 21–22 Planning Reports
RISD Planning Report AY 2021–22 (PDF)
Report and Recommendations of the Massachusetts Higher Education Testing Group
AY 21–22 Planning Timeline
Decision-Making Principles
RISD will succeed in overcoming this crisis only if we work together. We will need to make difficult decisions, some we never expected to be faced with. But guided by our values and a set of decision-making principles, we will do so with integrity, transparency and humanity.
- We will work to safeguard the health and wellbeing of the RISD community and our surrounding communities
All decisions we make will seek to mitigate the chance of students, faculty and employees acquiring the virus and spreading it to others in our extended communities. - We will honor the educational model for which RISD is renowned
In deciding what areas or activities to protect—and even expand—teaching and learning and our museum will take precedence over activities that are less central to RISD’s core mission. - We will not be afraid to adapt—sometimes dramatically—to survive and thrive in the future
While we will work to protect our academic core, we will not be afraid to alter the structures, methods and processes surrounding how we deliver a RISD education. We will make decisions that both honor our legacy and promote innovative and productive change adapting that legacy to our new times. We will prioritize change that positions us for success beyond the pandemic. - We will continue our commitment to our strategic priorities
All decisions will be made in alignment with our core values, institutional mission and strategic priorities, as outlined in our strategic plan. We remain committed to our strategic plan, RISD Next: 2020-2027, and its three strategic pillars—social equity and inclusion, sustainability and development of new knowledge. - We will work to mitigate the financial impact on students to the greatest extent possible
We are committed to ensuring students are able to start or continue their RISD education. We will continue to increase financial aid for both undergraduate and graduate students. This crisis has amplified the challenge that our tuition dependency creates. We will prioritize activities that generate revenue and increase accessibility. - We will make decisions that are equitable, fair and respectful of all members of our community
Responding to the challenges we face will require shared commitment across the institution, regardless of department, division, tenure or position. We will communicate regularly to keep all constituencies informed and able to work toward collective solutions in a fair and respectful manner. - We will protect the long-term sustainability of the Institution
We will make decisions to protect RISD in the short term while not risking the long-term viability and vitality of the Institution. We will review assumptions about current use of resources and redirect resources to gain efficiency. We will protect our endowment, continue to prioritize fundraising and seek new, innovative ways to generate revenue. - We will make decisions with honesty and transparency
Students, faculty, alumni, parents, museum patrons, donors and staff will be kept informed about challenges as they arise and will be given opportunities to provide input as decisions are made.
AY 20–21 Task Force Archive
Spring Semester, 2021
Oversight Committee
Provides high-level oversight, and decision-making authority, for risk assessment, consistency with the mission, and institutional sustainability.
Members:
Rosanne Somerson, Kent Kleinman, Steve McDonald, Jamie O’Hara, O’Neil Outar, Dave Proulx, Taylor Scott, Kerci Marcello Stroud
Testing and Vaccination Team
Oversees RISD’s testing strategy and logistics to ensure that the institution meets both diagnostic and surveillance testing goals and that testing is leveraged for maximal beneficial impact in protecting the health safety of the campus.
Members:
Jamie O’Hara, Taylor Scott, Justeane Odams, Liz Rainone, Robert Samuels, Jennifer Howley, Siobhan Boehm, Anne Colasanto, Barbara LoMonaco, Anu Meschisen
Risk Monitoring Team
Monitors available risk indexes and internal dashboards, including public health trends, changes in medical reporting as it relates to COVID-19, surveillance testing analytics, supply chain disruptions, facilities challenges, etc., to assess evolving risk exposures.
Members:
Jennifer Howley, Daniel Cavicchi, Taylor Scott, Barbara LoMonaco, Robert Samuels, Keeling Associates medical representative
COVID Rapid Response Team
Responsible for overseeing any required transformation of campus activity to preserve RISD’s commitment to health safety, academic integrity, and fiscal sustainability.
Members:
Kent Kleinman, Dave Proulx, Jennifer Howley, Jack Silva, Taylor Scott, Jamie O’Hara, Barbara LoMonaco
COVID Data Team
Will work to better coordinate, organize, and streamline data points needed to inform the planning process for Spring21. The Group will meet weekly or as required.
Members:
Rick Mickool, Taylor Scott, Ni Yi, Justeane Odams, Nancy Severance, Kimberly Lima
Fall Semester, 2020
Elections Monitoring Group
Tracks and responds to any increased risks to the health safety of the RISD community during the elections.
Members:
Barbara LoMonaco, Jennifer Howley, James O’Hara, Jack Silva, Kent Kleinman, Kerci Marcello Stroud, Normand Gamache, David Proulx, Ginnie Dunleavy, Taylor Scott
June–September, 2020
Oversight Committee
Made decisions that advanced the work of the implementation process and provided high-level control for risk assessment, consistency with mission and institutional sustainability.Members:
David Proulx, Kent Kleinman, Steve McDonald, Jamie O’Hara, Taylor Scott, O’Neil OutarImplementation Leadership
Coordinated all implementation plans and efforts, made decisions regarding implementation projects and met three times a week as a working group.Members:
Dan Cavicchi, Kristin Gianelis, Kent Kleinman, Dave Proulx, Patricia Barbeito, Barbara LoMonaco, Jack Silva, Rick Mickool, Matthew Shenoda, Candace Baer, Taylor Scott, Margot Nishimura, O’Neil Outar
Domain 1: Public Health
Set the standards and procedures needed to implement the recommendations identified in Reopening the Campus, AY 20–21. Based on the latest science on COVID-19 prevention, as well as up-to-date guidelines from state and federal health agencies, the group served as a hub for other implementation groups regarding questions about public health issues and addressed outstanding issues.
Members:
Dan Cavicchi, Kristin Gianelis, Jen Howley, Steve McDonald, Keeling Associates and Deanna Casanovas
Domain 2: Academics
Addressed the issues involved in the delivery of academic programs and worked with each division to determine specific models and needs while ensuring compliance with public health, accreditation, and federal aid requirements. Proposed amendments to the academic calendar and academic policies, in order to address significant challenges and bottlenecks.
Members:
Patricia Barbeito, Kent Kleinman, Scheri Fultineer, Joanne Stryker, Damian White, Brooks Hagan, Alison Sherman, Ni Yi, Richard Gann, Sarah Cunningham, Lili Hermann, Charlie Cannon, James O’Hara, Daniel Cavicchi and Rilla Bieberbach
Domain 3: Student Affairs
Organized the logistics, policies, and programming needed to address the new realities of student life in a COVID-19 context. Focused on reconfigurations of student housing and dining, guidelines for compliance and conduct, and the development of new co-curricular programming, as well as continued support services, especially around issues of health and wellness.
Members:
Barbara LoMonaco, Sydney Lake, Kate Sacco, Kevin Forti, Ginnie Dunleavy, Caroline Vasquez, Julie Talbutt, Amy Huang, Daniel Murphy, Jennifer Dressen, Marisa Iovino, Ulli Ryder, Keeling Associates and Josh Chodorow
Domain 4: Physical Plant
Tackled space and facilities changes needed for a de-densified campus, encompassing core design work to prepare all areas of the campus for a COVID-19 environment, as well as facilities work, from supply management to custodial logistics, to realize public health protocols and provisions.
Members:
Jack Silva, Annie Newman, Fred Flori, James Dean, Phil Lessard, Al Cantara and Lynne Jordan
Domain 5: Technology and Training
Organized all technology, access, and connectivity needs for faculty, staff, and students engaged in remote work and online instruction. Supported and integrated appropriate apps/software for screening and testing, as determined by the Public Health group, and implemented and provided training for RISD’s new learning management system (LMS) and other systems, as identified by the Academics group.
Members:
Rick Mickool, Monique Hauser, Stephen Cooke, Justin Bazar, Paul Bento, Joe Bernier, Ana Bressette, Anne Bulin, Jess Meers, Eliot Clapp, David Chandler and Beth Papagolos
Domain 6: Workplace Policies and Procedures
Studied, developed, and instituted necessary new guidelines or policy amendments for all RISD employees, including faculty and staff. Crafted policies addressing compliance with public health protocols, special accommodations for high-risk individuals, remote work allowances, and technology and privacy, as well as faculty-specific policies around evaluations, workload, and research support.
Members:
Candace Baer, Matthew Shenoda, Sarah Caggiano, Liz Rainone, Peggy Lewis, Cassie Goryl, Josh Grubman, Tricia Hoffman and Nicole Lemery
Domain 7: Education and Communications
Organized and delivered communications and educational materials needed to prepare the RISD community for the upcoming academic year, which entailed creating and implementing a sustained, comprehensive, education campaign for AY20–21 to ensure that all public health parameters were available, shared, and understood.
Members:
Taylor Scott, Margot McIlwain Nishimura, Kerci Marcello-Stroud, Erika Paradis, Anna Brookes, Deb Clemons, Brian Clark, Jaime Marland, Huy Vu, Cassie Goryl, Spencer Dhupa and Katryn Livingston
Domain 8: External Relations
Worked to maintain, manage, and leverage relationships with external institutions and groups. Special attention was given to communicating the impact and aspirations of the de-densified campus model to key external constituents connected to RISD and sustained meaningful dialogue about RISD’s reopening with government offices and local institutions.
Members:
O’Neil Outar, Babette Allina, Kerci Marcello-Stroud, Amee Spondike, Bethany Costello, Evan Gallivan, Jaime Marland and Liz Camara
May, 2020
On May 18, 2020 five working groups assembled by the Office of the Provost delivered to Cabinet the report Reopening the Campus AY20–21. This report provides background research and recommendations regarding how RISD should operate from an academic perspective for the 2020–21 academic year. It is shaped by three goals for our institution’s response to the current pandemic: public health and safety, academic integrity and financial viability. The report provides two visions for how we might deliver our education in the next academic year given the continuing presence of COVID-19, with the first being a de-densified campus model, the second an entirely online fall scenario:
It is the conclusion of President Somerson and the Cabinet that the de-densified campus option best meets the three goals referenced above. Below is the implementation framework consisting of eight domains with corresponding task forces to prepare the campus and address a network of complications to ensure a fall opening under the de-densified model.
