Letter From the President

Dear MassArt Community:

Since 1873, MassArt has been an engine of ingenuity and perseverance. This continues to this day through one of our MassArt values: ‘We believe artists and designers can transform our world.’ Currently, our global public health crisis presents many challenges; nevertheless, our MassArt community is skillful at adapting to new ways of serving our next generation of artists and designers. Another MassArt value is that ‘We pursue a just, compassionate, and equitable learning environment.’ Our commitment to social justice and equity pushes creativity and innovation to shape a better future.

Dedicated to our students’ success, our faculty and staff have been hard at work for months planning the best possible learning and making experience this academic year. Through creative thinking, problem solving, and professional development, our campus of artists and designers has reshaped our curriculum and environment. The high-impact and individualized curricula developed also teach students how to practice their art in diverse environments and with a range of materials.

The health and safety of our community members, on and off campus, are important to us. Therefore, MassArt’s plans to repopulate our campus and implement a hybrid learning environment are guided by the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, the Massachusetts Higher Education COVID-19 Control Plan, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, and the Boston Public Health Commission. Respecting the safety protocols that we follow right now in our daily lives to protect ourselves and our loved ones will also be key to successful learning and making: wearing masks, washing hands, and physical distancing. Here is a brief summary of the plan’s sections:

Campus Health & Safety: information on the new policies and procedures that promote the strength of three key habits: face coverings, hand washing, and physical distancing. We will keep campus staff capacity low so the campus space can be maximized for student use.

Hybrid & Remote Learning: a picture of what classes and campus life will look like, including hybrid and remote learning, academic space use, and course grids that illustrate traffic flow and campus occupancy based on each major.

Resources: descriptions of technology resources available, details about library collections, and links to organizations providing support and counseling.

After a summer unlike any other, I know that we are all eager to come together, whether virtually or on campus. Thank you for your flexibility, patience, and commitment to doing your part to keep yourselves and our communities safe and engaged.

Stay well and stay positive,

Kymberly Pinder, Ph.D.

Acting President