Hi neighbors, 

I hope you are all enjoying summer. It’s hard to believe we are once again preparing our campus to welcome students back! But as we do, I want to provide you, our community of neighbors, with a brief update on work that continues to be done both on campus and through the virtual collaboration of students, faculty, staff and alumni to ensure another safe and healthy reopening. In addition, I also want to share a few highlights of the resiliency, generosity, and ingenuity of our collective community over the last several months. 

As always, if you have a question or concern that you would like to be addressed, please feel free to reach out. Also, I would love to include more neighbors and friends! Do you know others who might be interested in receiving periodic updates from RISD? Please feel free to forward this email and encourage them to join the email list! 

Sincerely, 
Bethany Costello
Executive Director
Center for Community Partnerships 

Fall 2021 Planning

In the spring of 2021, a minimum goal of 80 percent community immunity was set in order to allow RISD to pivot to a “Near Normal” scenario on August 16. To date, approximately 76 percent of the RISD community has been vaccinated and we expect that number to greatly increase as we approach the start of the semester in September. Like every institution, we face complex challenges as variant infections increase in certain locations in the US and globally. For this reason, we are continuing to assess the specific health and safety protocol we will implement as part of the “Near Normal” scenario for the fall, alongside numerous experts and organizations, including Brown University epidemiologists and infectious disease experts; medical consultants Keeling & Associates; Rhode Island Department of Health; and local and national peer institutions. We are also simultaneously planning contingencies in case events unfold either before or during the fall semester that require us to tighten protocol and/or restrictions.

A final decision on protocol is expected in early August. Read more 

Fleet Library Acquires Local Underground Comix Collection

When journalist, former Def Jam publicist and hip-hop collector Bill Adler received a pen-and-ink drawing of ’90s rappers Salt-N-Pepa for Christmas, “the nerd” in him immediately went online to learn more about the artist, Ariel Bordeaux. He discovered that she worked in the special collections section of RISD’s Fleet Library and got in touch to see if there was any interest in his thousand-item collection of Underground Comix. Read more 

Industrial Design Students Offer Innovative Ideas for Supporting Sustainability in Rhode Island and Beyond

When environmentally conscious housemates Louis Hand 22 ID and Zoe Lee 23 ID heard about the BlueGreen Innovation Challenge, they dove into an intensive research phase to come up with a viable proposal, which went which went on to win first prize in the competition. The annual student competition was established to increase the availability of clean, sustainable energy in Rhode Island, enhance sustainability of the Ocean State’s seafood system and promote a circular economy. Read more 

Museum Staffers Promote Inclusivity

Three rising museum professionals help to make the RISD Museum a place where everyone feels welcome and represented. Read more

Maharam Fellowships Support Greater Good

Ten Maharam fellows use their design skills to promote social justice and sustainability locally and nationally. The program, which is funded by NYC textiles manufacturer Maharam, began in 2012 with a focus on nonprofits and government agencies interested in exploring. Read more