Crystal Williams

Dear RISD Community, 

Last week College Hill experienced one of its darkest moments, the effects of which will be long felt. In advance of the new year, we want to offer essential and timely information and next steps that have emerged from the many conversations held within and outside of our community. In addition, we have compiled an at-a-glance list of current safety and wellbeing resources available to students, staff, and faculty at RISD. These resources are also available on RISD’s emergency site. 

RISD safety and wellbeing, currently:

• All RISD academic, residential, and administrative buildings are equipped with security cameras and normally require card access for entry. Several operational exceptions exist with restricted schedules and for specific events during which general public access is allowed (e.g., art openings, galleries, RISD stores, Admissions, etc.).

• RISD Public Safety officers are on duty 24/7. They collaborate with the Providence Police Department so that, when needed, our systems and operations are as coordinated as possible. 

• RISD Public Safety officers use vehicles that are equipped with laptops connected via FIRSTNET, the largest 5G cellular network prioritized for first responders. This enables RISD to communicate immediately with a wide range of rescue workers, ensuring our ability to quickly gather essential, reliable information and bolster our ability to act with immediacy and effectiveness. 

• Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate (ALICE) training for the community continues to be available, as it has been for years. To schedule a training, email pubsafe@risd.edu. 

  • Going forward, we will work to ensure that all members of our community are aware of this ongoing service.

• Residence Life and Student Life staff are trained to handle emergency and incident response procedures, and they activate those procedures at all levels of emergency. 

  • Residence Life staff rotate on-call coverage for students who live in on-campus housing.

  • Student Life staff (i.e., central office, International Student and Scholar Affairs (ISSA) and Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) rotate on-call coverage for the entire campus.

• RISD leadership regularly participates in training exercises led by RISD’s Emergency Operations Command Team to ensure the effectiveness of our processes and procedures. 

• The CARE Network routinely conducts outreach to students who are affected by natural or human-caused disasters and emergencies. 

• Services and support available to the RISD community in moments of need and emergency are outlined in the attached resources document. 

What RISD will offer and do regarding safety and wellbeing:

• RISD will continue to conduct annual emergency drills with local law enforcement agencies and first responders. 

• Although our academic, residential, and administrative buildings are card accessed, and we have previously sent out reminders to the community regarding safety, we will more regularly communicate the importance of situational awareness and not holding doors open. 

• Regarding our card access and camera systems:

  • RISD is notified immediately upon failure or system trouble with card access readers or cameras. Equipment is repaired or replaced as soon as possible. 

  • Along with our normal systematic review, RISD will perform additional reviews of all card access points and camera locations to enhance areas that may be improved or updated for increased security and monitoring.

• To supplement RISD-supported RIPTA access, there will be several changes to RISD Rides services. They are: 

  • RISD Rides will begin operating one hour earlier, at 4 pm, to provide early evening service. This will take effect Monday, January 5 and end on Sunday, March 8, 2026, when daylight is extended.

  • Service hours will end at 2:30 am to better align with building hours of operation, as previously communicated.  

  • For the remainder of this academic year, the service area will remain unchanged, thus reversing the plan that was communicated earlier this month.

  • Beginning in August 2026, the service area will change to operate within a one-mile parameter, as communicated earlier this month.

• RISD will continue to work closely with the Providence Emergency Management Agency to enhance our emergency response protocols in the new year. 

• In addition to CAPS support for students and EAP support for employees, we are offering additional opportunities for care and connection in the days ahead. 

  • On Monday, January 5, and Wednesday, January 7, counseling support will be available from 10 am– 3 pm at two locations: Carr Haus Café and 15 West (first floor office behind the Portfolio Café). 

    • These sessions are drop-in and open to everyone in our community. They are not limited to grief counseling; they are also available for those who may want extra support, a place to talk things through, or for small groups who would benefit from a guided conversation about the recent events.

  • On Tuesday, January 6, we are offering a different format focused on being together as a community:

    • Students are invited to gather at The Fleet Library from 10 am– 12 pm.

    • Employees are invited to the same space from 1– 3 pm.

    • These times are intended to provide a shared, supportive space to connect with one another. A counselor will be present and available to help guide conversation if needed.

Lessons for RISD:

Difficult moments offer opportunities for reflection and amendment, as did the events of December 13. RISD is committed to undertaking a meaningful assessment of our emergency response and safety protocols in the new year. Furthermore, as part of this assessment, we will review our internal and external communications protocols as related to any emergency on RISD’s campus, in RISD's buildings, and at neighboring academic institutions.

Thank you for the care you have extended to each other. We remain inspired by the kindness and the courage we have seen in all of you. For those who celebrate at this time of year, may your celebrations be especially meaningful and joy-filled. For those who do not, may these days be restorative and peaceful. And may each of us harbor gratitude for all that we have and might offer in aid of others. 

Sincerely,

Crystal Williams (she/her)
President

Dear RISD Community,

Last night, we learned that the search for the suspect in Saturday’s horrific attack at Brown University has concluded. Law enforcement authorities announced that the man they identified as the shooter was found deceased in Salem, New Hampshire. Authorities believe he was also responsible for the murder of a MIT professor on Monday.

Brown, RISD, our College Hill and Providence neighbors, and all those whose lives were touched by this tragedy are now forever bonded by a common sadness. But we are also connected by much more—our strength and our kindness toward and care for one another. I share Brown’s President Paxson’s sentiment that reaching the conclusion of the manhunt will not restore losses, but may help us begin to move forward. Because Brown University’s community and ours are so closely intertwined,  I encourage you to read President Paxson’s most recent update (linked above). 

We are mindful that many among our RISD community will continue to carry heavy feelings and we, therefore, will continue to offer direct and tangible support. Operationally, RISD’s Emergency Operations Command Team (EOCT) is actively reviewing our current security practices and protocols. 

In the days ahead, we will share additional information regarding all that RISD is doing and will do regarding safety protocols and community offerings. 

In the meantime, take good care, RISD.  

Sincerely,

Crystal Williams (she/her)
President

Resources for community members following the events at Brown University

As we navigate this time together as a community, please know that there are various resources available to provide individual support to those who may be in distress.

For RISD Students:

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All RISD students can access 24/7 mental health counseling by calling Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) at 401-454-6637 at any time, to be connected with our after-hours counseling service.

If you are a RISD student currently in Rhode Island, you can also call CAPS for appointments or support during standard office hours (Monday–Friday, 8:30 am–4:30 pm eastern).

For Faculty and Staff: 
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.

Other support:
Through the 988 Lifeline, you have access to free, quality, one-on-one assistance 24/7. 988 includes resources for call, text, chat and options for the hard-of-hearing community.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration’s (SAMHSA) Disaster Distress Helpline: Available 24/7 and is a free and confidential counseling line for immediate mental health support following critical incidents. Call or text 1-800-985-5990.

Public Safety Guidance:
If at any time you feel unsafe or observe suspicious activity, call Public Safety at 401-454-6666. We encourage you to store this number in your phone. If there is imminent danger, dial 911.

Dear RISD Community,

I write to you following the horrific attack on Brown’s campus on Saturday. First, we at Rhode Island School of Design mourn the loss of life and injury. I know this community extends our deepest condolences to the families, beloveds, and friends of the two students who were killed, just as we share a sense of outrage and sadness for the injuries–both physical and emotional–that the survivors have suffered and will continue to endure. We also lament the heightened anxiety and dismay that now exists in our campus communities and within the city of Providence and across the state of Rhode Island. 

The gorgeous and unique symbiosis and mutuality between the Brown and RISD campuses strengthen both institutions, adding to the incredible variety of modes of making, discovery, and learning that define our institutions. We share degree programs, which graduate brilliant designers, artists, scholars, and engineers. Our students share classrooms, student clubs, a museum, libraries, friendships, community, and a vibrant and vital sense of exploration, innovation, and joy. And, too, our staff and faculty share collegial relationships and friendships, and understand themselves to be not only in community with each other, but also the stewards of that community, precious and rare as it is. College Hill is now forever changed by the scourge of gun violence. And we mourn that change. And we endeavor to learn and grow from it. And while our schools are very different—with unique origin stories, missions, and outcomes, our mutuality is undeniable. And we cherish it. And so, we especially mourn what transpired at Brown on Saturday.  

Whether on campus today or at home among family, our students, staff, and faculty are experiencing a range of potent emotions: disbelief, sadness, anxiety, relief, anger, bemusement, or all of the above. Today, I sat with a small group of staff and faculty around a table over a brown-bag lunch. We talked about this painful moment—acknowledging the complex emotions our community is experiencing in the wake of such terrifying gun violence. And it is a moment experienced not just at Brown and RISD, but in Providence and the state of Rhode Island, made more difficult by the facts on the ground, which are, unfortunately, changeable and leave us without the answers that would assuage our anxieties and bewilderment. I am thankful to those who attended today’s lunch, as their insights were invaluable. 

Further, this afternoon a group of RISD senior leaders debriefed Saturday’s events and our response to them. We acknowledge that there are lessons to learn and act upon–among them enhanced internal and external communication and coordination, especially given the mutual nature of our campuses. Thank you to all members of our community who have made suggestions to strengthen RISD and how we support our community members. And thank you, too, to those whose letters of support and appreciation have reached us. 

I now turn to several practical interventions that are worth sharing. First, the city's shelter-in-place order is lifted; as such, RISD remains open. RISD’s Emergency Operations Command Team (EOCT) is actively monitoring the situation. The lines of communication with the City, the Mayor, and President Paxson remain open and active. We appreciate their leadership and acknowledge the incredible complexity of this moment. RISD stands ready to be of help in any way we can. Likewise, we will continue to coordinate with local law enforcement and neighboring institutions. Public Safety guidance and reminders are included below my signature. We will communicate critical information as promptly as possible via RISDAlerts and the RISD Emergency web page.

Given last night’s news about the release of the person of interest, many among us are feeling a renewed sense of tension and uncertainty.  For some of us, that means a desire to come to work and be in and among this community. For others, it may mean a different option if there is one available. We encourage RISD managers to offer increased flexibility this week for their employees wherever possible. Employees, please speak with your managers about flexible work arrangements or engage RISD’s time away policy. As a reminder, for any faculty or staff needing personal support, resources are listed at the end of this message. We are also working on securing additional crisis-response support for staff in the immediate term. We will send a separate notice regarding that resource if it becomes available.

For students, Student Affairs professionals are systematically identifying and contacting those who remain on campus or may be in Providence but in off-campus housing to provide care. While classes have concluded and most (not all) students are now away from campus for winter break, support is available and encouraged. Please see updated information from CAPS and additional crisis response resources below or at students.risd.edu/counseling.

But more, this situation is a harsh reminder that we live in a world where safety is not a given and where gun violence can cruelly touch each of our lives in the most lamentable way, no matter where we live, who we are, or what we dream of for the future. Last night, I attended a community vigil at Providence’s Lippitt Park – it was a reminder of the power of being in the light of loving, caring, human beings. As a community of people who seek to serve the human project rather than destroy it, I hope that we all find strength in the light of our loved ones and each other.

Sincerely,

Crystal Williams (she/her)
President

Resources for community members following the events at Brown University

As we navigate this time together as a community, please know that there are various resources available to provide individual support to those who may be in distress.

For RISD Students:

Image

All RISD students can access 24/7 mental health counseling by calling Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) at 401-454-6637 at any time, to be connected with our after-hours counseling service.

If you are a RISD student currently in Rhode Island, you can also call CAPS for appointments or support during standard office hours (Monday–Friday, 8:30 am–4:30 pm eastern).

For Faculty and Staff: 
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.

Other support:
Through the 988 Lifeline, you have access to free, quality, one-on-one assistance 24/7. 988 includes resources for call, text, chat and options for the hard-of-hearing community.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration’s (SAMHSA) Disaster Distress Helpline: Available 24/7 and is a free and confidential counseling line for immediate mental health support following critical incidents. Call or text 1-800-985-5990.

Public Safety Guidance:
If at any time you feel unsafe or observe suspicious activity, call Public Safety at 401-454-6666. We encourage you to store this number in your phone and to also download the LiveSafe app, which provides safety resources such as tracking a friend and crime reporting. If there is imminent danger, dial 911.