Knowing that the MFA-V program is well loved as it was originally designed and updated over the years from student requests, what would it take for you not to love it?
In other words, if you feel that your support of the program is conditional, what are some of the changes that would have to happen for you to stop recommending it to future students? Where is the breaking point for you?
About Me
- Visual Artists of Vermont College
- Visual Artists of Vermont College was created by MFA-V alumni as a collective comprised of visual artists and visual art scholars working to ensure that the founding pedagogy of the MFA in Visual Art program remains firmly in place, now and in the future, at Vermont College of Fine Arts.
1. Major changes to what makes VCFA special - open communication, integrity, willingness to engage with un-conventional ways of learning. 2. Loss of high quality faculty and major staffing changes- also part of what make VCFA special. 3. Significant Inflation of program costs. 4. Too much focus on marketing/facilities and not enough on what the program actually offers - student centered learning. 5. Developing new programming before getting the current program on stable footing - do a few things very well instead of a bunch of things halfway. 6. Total drop in over all standards especially for admissions in a desperate attempt to fill seats and generate revenue!
ReplyDeleteI do still love my BFA Alma Matter Maine College of Art but over the past 15 years I have seen them make ALL of these mistakes to their detriment. Staff, students, and faculty are disgruntled. They've gone through several presidents and many, many, many key staff in an attempt to "fix" the college, enrollment is down and their marketing materials look great and facilities are awesome - hmmm go figure?
In February of 2002 I received my MFA from Vermont College. That two year process (struggle, exchange, metamorphosis, intellectual expansion, what ever description you give it) was nothing less than "life changing" for me. I embrace those memories and the program that provided that experience. Since then, I have recommended several friends to the program who are now graduates. I even visited the College a few summers ago.
ReplyDeleteThis recent turn of events at the college, at the time of my greatest hope for the future of the program, has altered my views. The dismissal of Jessica, shrouded in secrecy, has sent a very clear signal to me. The program I had the privilege of experiencing no longer exists. It is apparent to me the misguided "suits" who are currently in charge are unaware of the irreparable damage they have already initiated.
I can only say that I am grateful for the opportunity to have experienced the program as designed by Roy and Jessica. What they produced came from a passion and heartfelt commitment to Art, not a business model. It was a wonderful program and there will never be another like it! I morn its demise.