2024-25 Community Announcements

Dear Students, Staff, and Faculty,

I write to share additional information and resources regarding federal policies.

International Student Visas

You may have seen the widely reported news that the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has restored the legal status of many international students whose visas were revoked in April. As of today, RISD has no student visa records with a status marked as terminated. RISD will, however, continue to remain vigilant, and the International Students and Scholar Affairs (ISSA) will monitor students’ status in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) for any disruptions. In addition, ISSA will contact international students and scholars directly with any relevant updates.

Information Session

RISD will host Through the Legal Lens: Making Sense of Immigration Law Today, an information session with expert immigration lawyers, Leon Rodriguez and Dawn M. Lurie. The session will provide clarity on topics including enforcement actions, visa scrutiny, travel restrictions, and access to resources. It will be offered on Thursday, May 8, 2025 at two times: 12 –1:30 pm and 2 – 3:30 pm in the 20 Washington Place Auditorium.

The event is open to all RISD students, staff, and faculty. Food and beverages will be provided.

Registration is not required. For accommodations or to submit questions for the live Q&A, please email risdlegal@risd.edu.

Guidance and Resources

In addition to the risd.edu/guidance website, which is updated regularly, the Office of General Counsel has prepared a printable FAQ with answers to common questions in response to immigration enforcement actions on campus.

A wallet-sized “Know Your Rights” card with important RISD contacts and information will be distributed to attendees to the May 8 information session. It is also available to download and print.

Sincerely,

Crystal Williams, she/her 
President

Dear RISD Community,

I write to inform you that vice president of Strategy and Planning Bethany Jankunis is leaving her position at RISD to pursue other opportunities closer to family and loved ones in the New York City metro area. Bethany’s last day will be May 2, 2025.

Since joining RISD in 2023, Bethany’s core charge has been to advance our strategic priorities, drive new and cross-cutting initiatives, and advance operational effectiveness and efficiency. Her work has been broad ranging and impactful throughout her tenure, including providing leadership for key presidential initiatives in addition to overseeing the Center for Community Partnerships, Continuing Education, and Institutional Research.

The College's strategy and planning efforts seek to foster alignment between RISD and its impact on a changing world and to drive organizational, programmatic and operational transformation across the institution. Bethany provided leadership over two of the institution’s strategic initiatives and was highly involved in a third. In her role as co-chair of the Holistic Student Wellness Committee, Bethany led a school-wide committee, comprised of faculty, staff and students, that examined student wellness at RISD and made recommendations aimed to enhance the wellness environment at RISD. As co-chair of the Financial Optimization Initiative, Bethany and faculty and staff colleagues identified ways RISD can use space more efficiently and in greater alignment with the school’s aspirations. As a member of the Preparedness for Life After RISD working group, Bethany helped reimagine how RISD prepares students for success after graduation. I am grateful to Bethany, the committee co-chairs, and to all who contributed to these initiatives, reports and recommendations. The Cabinet members and I have been reviewing the three strategic initiative reports, and we will soon announce next steps.

Please join me in thanking Bethany for her leadership and contributions to our community and wishing her the very best in her next endeavors. 

Sincerely,

Crystal Williams (she/her)
President 

Dear RISD Community,

Yesterday, we learned that some members of our international student community are experiencing pressure from their peers to participate in activities that might heighten their vulnerability.

Ours is a dynamic and global community that has consistently asserted the right of individuals to gather and protest peacefully. And we continue to affirm that right. Simultaneously, we also seek to be a community of care.

I call on all of us to respect and honor our differences and be mindful of the potential consequences and very real sensitivities with which each of us lives. Gathering and protesting peacefully is everyone’s right. Pressuring others to do so—in any way—is unacceptable.

I ask us all to respect our differing vulnerabilities and extend grace to each other in ways that align with our collective values.

Thank you.

Crystal Williams (she/her)
President

Dear RISD Community,

Amid the current landscape of rapidly changing immigration policies, RISD’s Office of International Students and Scholar Affairs (ISSA) routinely reviews the internal and government records of our international students. Unfortunately, today we learned of one student whose international status was marked “terminated,” a formal designation that reflects the revocation of a student’s visa status in the U.S.

Earlier today, ISSA wrote to the student directly with an offer to:

• help identify possible legal resources, and
• to the extent possible, support the student throughout this difficult moment.

Further, we have asked the student’s academic department leadership to extend care as they are able; and we have involved the student success office in Student Life.

To protect the student’s privacy, we will not disclose their name. And although we have not been told the reason for the terminated status, we know that other international students and scholars in the United States are experiencing similar changes to their statuses with no clear specific reason(s) given for the terminations. In fact, more than 300 international students nationwide have had their international student statuses revoked in recent days. You can find articles on this nationwide action here and here.

As an educational institution, our goal and mission are to support the success of our students and amplify their dreams and ambitions. Such a revocation of one’s student status is rare, personally and professionally impactful, and especially heartbreaking.

Like so many communities of higher education that are affected by changing guidance and policies, we are deeply concerned by these developments and are closely monitoring the situation. As a global art and design school, our international students are vital to RISD, and we remain committed to preserving our mission and RISD’s dynamic and necessary global community of artists and designers.

International Students and Scholars (those with F-1 and J-1 visas) may contact ISSA for more information and to schedule an appointment by calling 401-277-4957 or emailing ISSA@risd.edu.

Sincerely,

Crystal Williams, she/her 
President

Dear Students,

I appreciate the many of you who attended tonight’s State of the College and asked such smart, caring questions about the significant issues and opportunities facing RISD, including student wellness, new initiatives, the curriculum, and financial aid. Thank you. Your participation in our beloved collective endeavor—being powerful artists and designers in the wide world—is critical to our shared future. And your engagement in the service of RISD is a vital part of shaping our institution’s future. Your thoughtful questions bolstered my spirits: in a community where such care for each other exists, so much is surmountable.

While we know these are challenging times—nationally and globally—the passion of artists and designers, especially when focused on the world’s most daunting problems, can be a beacon of light, hope, and meaningful solutions.

Again, I thank those of you who attended tonight’s presentation so thoughtfully.

Warm regards,

Crystal Williams (she/her)
President 

Dear RISD Community,

I write briefly to inform you that former RISD President Thomas F. Schutte passed away on Wednesday, March 26. Schutte served as president of RISD from 1983–92.

At RISD, Schutte was instrumental in creating many of our current institutional structures, including the reorganization of RISD’s divisions and the creation of departments, such as Jewelry and Metalsmithing, Ceramics, Printmaking and Glass. He oversaw major projects including the expansion of the Waterman Street Dormitories and Metcalf Refectory; the renovation of the What Cheer Garage, Benson Hall and the Design Center; the construction of the RISD Museum’s Daphne Farago Wing; and the purchase of the Washington-Providence Building, now known as 20 Washington Place.

Schutte’s more than 60 years in higher education and, specifically, in art and design education, was transformational, not only at RISD, but at Philadelphia College of Art, where he served as president from 1975–83 and Pratt Institute, where he served as  president from 1993–2017.

We extend our condolences to the Schutte family, including wife Tess and their sons, David and Douglas. A brief obituary is available in the Post-Journal.

Sincerely,

Crystal Williams (she/her)
President

Dear RISD Community,

An art exhibition co-organized by two student groups, RISD Students for Justice in Palestine and Carr Haus, which opened on March 17 in Carr House, has been the focus of negative public attention, including calls for its removal. RISD continues to condemn antisemitism and all forms of hate, and we seek to foster an environment where artistic expression, freedom of speech, and cultures of care co-exist.

As an academic institution and a community of artists and designers, RISD has also long been a space where students can connect, express themselves, and share ideas. This sometimes includes showcasing events or perspectives that may not align with everyone’s views, opinions, or beliefs. Given this, I, RISD’s Provost, and VP of Student Life and Engagement have been in conversation with faculty leaders, the student organizers of the exhibition, and concerned members of RISD’s community about prioritizing our community’s safety, honoring our commitments to artistic expression and freedom of speech, and upholding our commitment to a culture of care, particularly in these fraught times. 

Out of an abundance of caution and to uphold the safety of RISD students, faculty, and staff, we will move the exhibition out of the Carr Haus Cafe, which reopens to the public at the conclusion of Spring Recess. Relocating the exhibition to a more secure location will enable us to prioritize the safety of staff and student employees of Carr Haus and our student artists and their work. Because Carr Haus is a public gathering space, the move also enables community members to engage with this exhibition of their own volition, as is the case with most exhibitions at RISD.

The exhibition will reopen to the RISD community on April 7, 2025 at ProvWash 344, and it will be open Monday through Friday from 9 am to 4 pm through its original date of May 2, 2025.

Sincerely,

Crystal Williams (she/her)
President

Dear RISD Community,

In the past three weeks, members of the President’s Cabinet have met with groups of RISD faculty, staff, and students to discuss recent events resulting from changing federal guidelines and actions that have many in our community feeling anxious and uncertain about a range of issues, including travel. We have consistently affirmed our commitment to RISD’s foundational values. And we will continue to do so. We have also affirmed our commitment to keep RISD community members informed as much as possible to any significant changes to daily operations.

Given that commitment and in light of recent reports about a potential travel ban and other changes to travel and visa policies, we encourage you to seriously consider, revise, or postpone your travel plans that will require re-entry into the U.S. In particular, international students, staff, and faculty, including U.S. visa holders and permanent residents (“green card holders”), are encouraged to reconsider or postpone travel outside the U.S. during these challenging times.

I understand that this may be a difficult decision given the Spring Break plans that many of us have made. However, considering the potential changeability of international travel restrictions, an abundance of caution may be warranted.

At a minimum, we strongly encourage all RISD community members to become acquainted with recent guidelines and actions regarding international travel—via vetted and trustworthy news sources—so that their decisions are as informed as possible. RISD holds campus-wide subscriptions to several news sources, and community members have free access to these news sources online.

To help community members navigate these changes and make informed decisions, we will continue to actively monitor executive orders and actions concerning issues that may impact our students, staff, and faculty. RISD maintains a website page with resources, which will be updated as appropriate. Each community member should make their own choices and consult the U.S. State Department and their respective Embassies for further clarification regarding the parameters of their visa status and travel abilities.

These are unsettling times for many members of our community, but I know that we will continue to meet these challenges with resilience, courage, and support for each other. 

Sincerely,

Crystal Williams (she/her)
President

Dear RISD Community,

The Board of Trustees met for its winter meeting in February, where they engaged with RISD cabinet leaders, students, alums, academic leaders, and faculty in addition to approving the tuition, fees, room and board rates for the next academic year (see below for details). Trustees also learned about important and notable endeavors the college is moving forward to uphold its educational excellence and its place in the world of art and design, including the creation of the new Computation, Technology, and Culture major, set to fully launch in the next academic year. Trustees heard updates on enrollment trends, the launch of the RISD Museum’s new strategic plan, had lunch with students, heard from a graduate student, an alum who founded Artolution, and Faculty Steering Committee leaders.  

For the 2025–26 academic year, the board approved an increase for tuition, room and board and student fees of 3.9% (see rates below), which is a smaller increase than the previous academic year. We continue to work to keep tuition and fees as low as feasible and simultaneously offer students the strongest educational experience possible. This rate increase helps meet some of the rising costs of goods and services that contribute to providing a high-quality student experience.

We remain committed to making a RISD education as accessible to as many students as possible; therefore, we will also increase the financial aid budget by 8% for the 2025–26 academic year. This allows us to

(a) continue to increase the number of students on financial aid, and 

(b) ensure current students receiving financial aid are not impacted by increasing their aid awards 3.9%, covering the additional tuition expense. 

RISD carefully considers its financial obligations and strives to keep tuition increases as minimal as possible while ensuring the resources and infrastructure required to operate a world class art and design school. Despite significant headwinds, our institution remains in an enviable position in higher education. We continue to attract large numbers of talented prospective students and have an exceptionally low admissions rate, which impacts and transforms the lives of emerging artists and designers positively as a result.

Thank you for your contributions to this extraordinary place. 

Sincerely,

Crystal Williams (she/her)
President 
 

Rhode Island School of Design Tuition and Fee Schedule 
2025–26 Academic Year
Effective Summer 2025

Dear RISD Community,

One of the many aspects that allows our institution to realize its mission is the diversity within our community.

Each year, I marvel at the number of countries, cities, towns and villages from which we hail, the multitude of languages we speak, our wide-ranging faith practices, gender expressions, sexual orientations and the variety of ways that we experience and view the world. Each of us brings characteristics, identities and perspectives that help make RISD the innovative, creative, welcoming, empathetic and caring place it is. Human heterogeneity—our diversity—is vital to educating our students in the creation of powerful art and design and helps ensure RISD graduates become influential interlocutors, artists and designers worldwide.

Many members of our community carry multiple and layered identities that are under direct attack, causing a range of emotions from fear and anxiety to anger and being overwhelmed. Please know that at RISD, we will continue to affirm our values, including our unwavering commitment to honoring the humanity, dignity, and well-being of everyone who lives, works and studies here.

Maintaining a Safe and Supportive Campus Community

• RISD’s campus is a place where everyone has the opportunity to thrive, no matter their backgrounds or viewpoints. Our policies and protocols are designed to ensure that community members experience safety and respect on campus and can navigate facilities with dignity. 

• As new executive orders and federal regulations emerge and evolve, we will continue to prioritize the safety of all students, staff and faculty in compliance with the law.

• We will continue to equip community members with training and information to address dynamic situations with collegiality, confidence and care, ensuring our campus community remains welcoming.

As we maneuver through this changing environment in the weeks and months ahead, let us remember to engage each other with gentleness and kindness. RISD is a global community—more than 32,000 strong—that holds unlimited potential to help address the world’s most complex challenges. Members of the leadership team will continue to monitor, assess and address developments related to new federal regulations and executive orders and share regular updates on our website. Thank you for your kindness and care as we navigate this challenging landscape together.

Take good care,

Crystal Williams (she/her)
President

Dear RISD Community,

I am devastated to inform you of the death of another student last night. RISD Public Safety is cooperating with Providence Police to investigate this second incident. While the investigation is active, and RISD officials are in contact with the student’s family, we are unable to release any details.  At this time we do not believe the two tragedies yesterday are related, and there is no imminent threat to our campus community.

Losing two students in one day is an incomprehensible loss for our community and to the families. The days ahead may be difficult for many of us as we grapple with the meaning and realities of such loss. I urge each of us to embrace generosity and kindness and to be patient with one another. Navigating grief, especially in complex times, is hard–and in a community as tightly knit as ours, the best balm is lovingness. So please exhibit as much of it as you can.

Students seeking support from Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) may request an appointment with a counselor by calling 401 454-6637. CAPS will be open today from 8:30am-4:30pm. Outside of CAPS hours, any student who calls that number will still reach a live person therapist who can assist. Students may also contact Student Life via email at StudentLife@risd.edu to be directed to available campus resources.

For any faculty or staff needing personal support, Coastline EAP, our Employee Assistance provider, offers confidential counseling and referral/resource services 24 hours a day at 800 445-1195.

Once again, we encourage anyone who needs support to take advantage of these resources. In addition, we ask anyone who is concerned about the wellbeing of a RISD community member to contact RISD Public Safety at 401 454-6666, our counseling office at 401 454-6637, or to submit a Concern Assessment Response Evaluation (CARE) referral.

Sincerely,

Crystal Williams (she/her)
President

Dear RISD Community,

I write to inform you of a terrible loss for our community today. One of our students has passed away. We cannot release any information, including their identity, until the student's family has had time to process and decide what they wish to share with the RISD community, but our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with them and with all those who are impacted by this news.

Student Life staff are in contact with the student’s roommates and will be reaching out to their social circle. We ask that you be respectful of everyone's privacy during this difficult time. In moments like these, we aspire to respect the surviving family’s wishes.

Students who seek support from Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) may request an appointment with a counselor by calling 401 454-6637. CAPS will be open Friday, February 21, 8:30am-4:30pm. Outside of CAPS hours, any student who calls that number will still reach a live person therapist who can assist. Students may also contact Student Life via email at StudentLife@risd.edu to be directed to available campus resources.

For any faculty or staff needing personal support, Coastline EAP, our Employee Assistance provider, offers confidential counseling and referral/resource services 24 hours a day at 800 445-1195.

We encourage anyone who needs support to take advantage of these resources. In addition, we ask anyone who is concerned about the wellbeing of a RISD community member to contact RISD Public Safety at 401 454-6666, our counseling office at 401 454-6637, or to submit a Concern Assessment Response Evaluation (CARE) referral.

During this time and always, please take good care of yourselves and of each other.

Sincerely,

Crystal Williams (she/her)
President

Dear students, faculty and staff,

I am pleased to share that we have completed the search for our vice president for Social Equity and Inclusion (SEI). Rame Hanna, a seasoned leader in diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging, will join us on April 7.

Throughout the interview process, I was impressed by Rame’s extensive experience in a broad range of areas in higher education, his systematic approach to helping organizations effectively align SEI values to actions and his ability to take an intersectional approach to this work. Rame aims to center the voices and lived experiences of community members from many backgrounds while creating spaces that encourage self-reflection and dialogue.

Rame has more than a decade of experience cultivating cross-campus connections and fostering supportive communities within higher education. As the inaugural vice chancellor for Inclusive Culture and Belonging at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs (UCCS), Rame chaired a campus-wide body that engaged senior administrators, faculty, staff, student leaders and community partners in aligning diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) initiatives with institutional goals. The council provided a platform for diverse voices, bridged gaps between campus constituencies and enabled collaborative efforts to create a more inclusive campus culture. Under Rame’s leadership, UCCS received several national designations, including LGBTQ+ Friendly Campus, Military Friendly School, Military Friendly Spouse School, Age-Friendly University, and First-Generation Forward Institution.

Rame has played a key role in advancing inclusive excellence and global engagement at UCCS. He established a scholarship and grant fund to support programs aligned with the university’s strategic vision for DEIB. His commitment to cultural awareness and international collaboration is evident in his efforts to expand student participation in study-abroad programs, increase engagement among international students and scholars and promote global citizenship. In addition, Rame worked with local Indigenous nations to introduce UCCS’s first official land acknowledgment, developed a mindfulness calendar to enhance cultural awareness and worked with the Department of Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA) to host the first Artist Residency centering a disabled artist  at UCCS.

Previously, Rame served as director of Diversity and Inclusive Excellence at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, where he promoted faculty and staff agency and social responsibility through learning opportunities, partnered with the Provost to attract, develop, and retain diverse faculty and led an inaugural council to cultivate shared responsibility for strengthening institutional DEI transformation efforts. Rame also held roles at Olin College of Engineering, College of the Holy Cross and Dartmouth College, where he led DEI and compliance initiatives.

Rame holds a Bachelor of Arts in Law and Society from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and a Master of Science in Student Affairs in Higher Education from Colorado State University. Rame is currently a doctoral candidate at the University of Colorado, pursuing a degree in Educational Leadership, Research and Policy. Rame’s research focuses on the intersections of social justice education, leadership development and organizational change, with an emphasis on fostering a culture of belonging across institutions of higher education.

We enlisted the expertise of Isaacson, Miller to identify a strong pool of candidates for this search.  I would like to thank all of the staff, students, faculty and trustees who participated in this process, either through small group interviews and/or during the campus presentations. I deeply value your engagement and feedback.

I would also like to extend my gratitude and appreciation to General Council Renee Byas and Vice President for Student Life Ray Quirolgico for their interim leadership of the Social Equity and Inclusion division, as well as to Assistant Vice President, Social Equity and Inclusion Tony Johnson and Director, Intercultural Student Engagement Richard Song, who will report to and work closely with Rame to advance SEI efforts at RISD.

Please join me in welcoming Rame to the RISD community!

Sincerely,

Crystal Williams (she/her)
President 

Dear RISD Community,

In recent weeks, the new US federal administration has enacted a series of executive orders and policy changes, raising questions among many in our community. I know that some of these directives have the potential to personally impact us, as well as our friends and loved ones. While there are many unknowns, we affirm our institution’s mission, values, priorities, and principles—and we will continue our work to ensure that every community member can thrive at RISD.

With the guidance of our General Counsel and advice from expert sources, we are closely monitoring how the directives may impact our operations. For example, we are tracking the executive orders to assess their potential impact on how RISD delivers its mission, in areas including (but not limited to): gender, LGBQIA+ and trans and nonbinary protections, immigration laws, social equity and inclusion programs, and federal funding. We are also assessing the meaningful differences between directives and federal and state laws and how those differences relate to our operations, legally. Our dedication to RISD's values and mission has not changed—and RISD remains committed to abiding by our strategic priorities and the principles we hold most dear while remaining in compliance with the law.

As we have seen just over the past week, the terrain is shifting daily, and RISD’s leadership team is prepared to respond to the changing landscape as needed. To help inform our community, we have launched a website section that will be updated periodically with resources and information at risd.edu/guidance.

In uncertain times, artists, designers, and creative people have always found ways to adapt, innovate, and thrive. So, too, now.

Sincerely,

Crystal Williams (she/her)
President

Dear RISD Community,

Last fall, several members of the Investment Subcommittee of the Board of Trustees met with representatives from RISD Students for Justice in Palestine (RSJP) regarding their divestment proposal. During the meeting, the Investment Subcommittee provided information on RISD’s investment philosophy and practices, and spoke to the purpose of RISD’s investments—to secure and strengthen the core of RISD’s mission now and for future generations, including expansion of access and financial aid.

On January 9, 2025, following the recommendations of the Stewardship & Sustainability Committee and its Investment Subcommittee, the Board of Trustees determined the RSJP proposal did not meet the criteria of RISD’s Statement on Divestment and voted against divestment. The Statement, adopted in 2015, states “in rare circumstances [...] the Board may also in its sole discretion take political and social considerations into account when a proposed investment or divestment implicates an issue of importance to RISD as an institution and to its constituents as a whole, and not solely to a segment of its constituents, and would be likely to have a meaningful impact on the resolution of that issue.”

The Trustees appreciate the students’ perspectives and requests, which were reviewed with care and consideration. All of the Trustees’ decisions are guided by RISD’s mission: to educate its students and the public in the creation and appreciation of works of art and design, to discover and transmit knowledge and to make lasting contributions to a global society through critical thinking, scholarship and innovation. The decision is also informed by our obligation to consider all constituencies, our fiduciary duty as Trustees, and our commitment to preserve the future long-term sustainability of the institution.

Sincerely,
RISD Board of Trustees

Dear RISD Community,

I am deeply saddened to inform you of the death, off-campus, of Violet Goldstein, a first-year student. Tragically, Violet and three members of her family passed away on Christmas Day from suspected accidental carbon monoxide poisoning in their vacation home. This is an unimaginable loss for Violet’s loved ones, friends, faculty, peers, and all of us in the RISD community, and we are currently reaching out to Violet’s closest friends. As we process and mourn this tragedy, please take comfort in your loved ones and keep Violet and her family in your thoughts.

While RISD is currently closed for winter break through January 1, Counseling and Psychological Services is available to support our students, and faculty and staff can access support through our Employee Assistance Program. Information on these resources is included below my signature.

I know that you join me in feeling utter heartbreak at the loss of such a promising young member of our community, along with her family, on what should have been a joyous occasion. We are in contact with Violet’s surviving family to offer our support, and we will plan any gatherings of our community to honor Violet’s life in accordance with their wishes.

Sincerely,

Crystal Williams  she/her
President

Support Resources during Winter Break

For students: CAPS is available for any student wanting to access mental health support throughout the day, after hours, or on the weekend. Students can be connected with a counselor by calling 401 454-6637 to connect with CAPS during business hours and that same phone number will be answered by ProtoCall after hours, which offers 24/7 therapeutic support.

For faculty or staff needing personal support: Please contact Coastline EAP, our Employee Assistance provider, for confidential counseling and referral/resource services 24 hours a day at 800 445-1195.

If you are concerned about a RISD community member’s well-being, contact RISD Public Safety at 401 454-6666, our counseling office at 401 454-6637, or submit a Concern Assessment Response Evaluation (CARE) referral.