Guide to the Rhode Island School of Design Faculty records, 1901-2022


Rhode Island School of Design Archives
Fleet Library at RISD
2 College Street
Providence, RI 02903
Tel: 401-709-5922
Fax: 401-709-5932
email: risdarchives@risd.edu

Published in 2009

Collection Overview

Title: Rhode Island School of Design. Faculty records
Date range: 1901-2022
Creator: Rhode Island School of Design. Faculty.
Extent: 3 linear feet and 55.5 MB
Abstract: The records document the activities of the Faculty Meetings and Faculty Council, 1901-1946, and Faculty Meetings, 1958-2022.
Language of materials: English
Repository: Rhode Island School of Design Archives
Collection number: 10.1

Scope & content

The records document the activities of the Faculty Meetings and Faculty Council, 1901-1946, and Faculty Meetings, 1958-2022. Meetings were not held during the period 1947-1957. The minutes document the development of RISD's educational policies, faculty-administrative and faculty-student relations, faculty committees, and faculty governance. For committee records after World War Two see the Office of Academic Affairs and Office of the President records.

Access Points

Subject Topics Subject Topics Document Types

Arrangement

Materials in this collection are arranged in three series:

  • I. Faculty Council minutes, 1901-1946
  • II. Faculty Council records, 1938-1946
  • III. Faculty Meeting Minutes, 1958-2014
  • IV> Faculty Meeting records, 2014-2022

Historical note

The Rhode Island School of Design Executive Committee hired Eleazer B. Homer in 1901 as the first Director of the school and organized RISD around five departments.: Freehand drawing and painting; Decorative design; Architecture; Mechanical engineering; Modeling and sculpture; and Children's Dept. The Director and the Dept. Heads constituted the "faculty" with the registrar as Secretary of the Faculty. The faculty was instructed to "prepare and present [to the Executive Committee]...a system of rules and regulations for the administration and discipline of the school" and "to submit...plans for the revision of the various courses of instruction." All other members of the teaching staff were considered instructors.

The faculty served as an advisory body as the Executive Committee retained the authority for approving all policy recommendations forwarded to them. Standing Committees of the Faculty were: Nominations; Petitions; Special Students and Scholarships; Catalogue; Library; and Graduation Exercises. The faculty discussed the academic structure and policies of RISD including curriculum development, class schedules, student discipline and probation, graduation eligibility, and the grading system.

The structure of the faculty was modified in 1934 at the request of Faculty personnel. All members of the teaching staff became faculty members and "Department Heads and such members of the school as the Executive Committee of the school may appoint," became members of the Faculty Council, 1934-1946, with responsibilities identical to the former faculty. President John R. Frazier and the Executive Committee instituted academic rank in 1956 creating the positions of Professor, Associate Professor, Assistant Professor, and Instructor.

The faculty organized as a duly constituted body during the 1959-60 academic year creating several faculty committees: Educational Policy; Admissions Policy; Faculty Responsibilities; Student Affairs; Library; Exhibitions and Publications; and an Academic Council composed of an Executive Secretary, Chairmen of the Standing Committees and a Recording Secretary. Efforts to merge Faculty and Administrative committees began in 1961 culminating in a new Administration/Faculty organization for the 1962-63 academic year.

In 1978 the Faculty organized a union, the Rhode Island School of Design Faculty Association, signing the first contract in 1979. The Part-Time Faculty Association negotiated its first contract in 1982.

Access & Use

Access to the collection: The use of certain documents and collections may be restricted. Please consult the Archives staff for further details.
Use of the materials: Permission to publish, reproduce, or quote from archival materials must be obtained in writing from the Archives. The researcher assumes full responsibility for use of material and for conformity to all applicable laws, including copyright.
Preferred citation: Rhode Island School of Design. Faculty records, Rhode Island School of Design Archives.
Contact information: Rhode Island School of Design Archives
Fleet Library at RISD
2 College Street
Providence, RI 02903
Tel: 401-709-5922
Fax: 401-709-5932
email: risdarchives@risd.edu

Administrative Information

ABOUT THE COLLECTION  
Acquisition: The bulk of the records were collected from the Library Archives Cage. Additional records obtained for the President's Office and Faculty members.
Accruals: Born digital Faculty Meeting records are acquired from Academic Affairs each academic year.
ABOUT THE FINDING AID  
Author: Finding aid prepared by Douglas Doe
Encoding: Finding aid encoded by Jessica Bitely 2009 May 08
Revisions:

2014 September 29

  • Minutes for 2008-2014 added to folder list.
  • 2022 March 16

  • Digital records added to the finding aid.
  • Descriptive rules: Finding aid based on Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)

    Additional Information

    Inventory


    Series I. Faculty Council minutes
    Five volumes of Minutes for the monthly meetings of the Faculty, 1901-1934, and the Faculty Council, 1934-1946, comprise the records. The minutes document the development of educational policy including curriculum, entrance and graduation requirements, class schedules, student discipline, and scholarships. In addition, the Faculty, Director, Educational Director, and Executive Vice-President discussed relations with the Executive Committee and changes in the structure and responsibilities of the Faculty and Faculty Council. Minutes may include correspondence from students, parents, and RISD personnel. Volume Five, 1942-1946, documents the activities of the Faculty Council and its the Executive Committee, restructured by the 1942 Faculty Constitution. Minutes are handwritten, 1901-1932, and typed, 1932-1946. A card index to the minutes, 1934-1944, is included.

    Materials in this series are arranged chronologically.

    Container Description Date
    Box 1, Folder 1 Faculty Minutes
    1901-1916
    Box 1, Folder 2 Faculty Minutes
    1916-1927
    Box 1, Folder 3 Faculty Minutes
    1927-1932
    Box 1, Folder 4 Faculty Council
    1932-1942
    Box 2, Folder 1 Faculty Council Minutes
    1942-1946
    Box 2, Folder 2 Index to minutes
    1932-1944

    Series II. Faculty Council records
    Faculty Council records include minutes and correspondence for the Curriculum Committee (1942-1946); minutes, reports, and/or correspondence for the Committee on Granting Degrees (1942), Admissions Committee (1942), Fine Arts Committee (1940), and the Executive Committee (1942); rules and regulations for Faculty (1938); and the 1942 Faculty Constitution with accompanying correspondence.

    Materials in this series are arranged alphabetically.

    Container Description Date
    Box 2, Folder 3 Admissions Committee
    1942
    Box 2, Folder 4 Committee on Granting Degrees
    1942
    Box 2, Folder 5 Curriculum Committee Correspondence
    1942
    Box 2, Folder 6 Curriculum Committee Minutes
    1942-1946
    Box 2, Folder 7 Executive Committee
    1942
    Box 2, Folder 8 Faculty Council Constitution
    1942-1944
    Box 2, Folder 9 Faculty Rules and Regulations
    1938
    Box 2, Folder 10 Fine Arts Committee
    1940

    Series III. Faculty Meeting minutes
    Agendas, minutes, reports, and memoranda document Faculty meetings held 1958-present. The records document the formation of and changes to the meeting's governance structure; changes in the academic program; faculty committee elections; reports by administrators, faculty, committees, and others; reorganization of faculty committees; the approval of degree candidates; relations with the administration; creation of the faculty union; and special meeting requests.

    Established by President John R. Frazier, the meetings are held "to discuss and advise on academic and related college activities" and are governed by the Faculty Contract (1982-present) and bylaws adopted in 1997. Previous governing documents were the constitution (1960-1974) and the Faculty Handbook (1974-1982). The position of chair has been filled by the President (1958-1970), the Vice-President for Academic Affairs (1978-1987), and an elected Faculty member (1970-1978 and 1987-present). The agendas are prepared by the Steering Committee (1980-present).

    The minute books are maintained by the Office of Academic Affairs, which is responsible for preparing the minutes and organizing meeting records. Meeting records became digital 2014 September. See Series IV.

    Materials in this series are arranged chronologically.

    Container Description Date
    Box 1, Folder 1 Faculty Minutes
    1958-1959
    Box 1, Folder 2 Faculty Minutes
    1959-1960
    Box 1, Folder 3 Faculty Minutes
    1960 Sept-Dec
    Box 1, Folder 4 Faculty Minutes
    1961 Jan-May
    Box 1, Folder 5 Faculty Minutes
    1961 Sept-Dec
    Box 1, Folder 6 Faculty Minutes
    1962 Jan-May
    Box 1, Folder 7 Faculty Minutes
    1962-1963
    Box 1, Folder 8 Faculty Minutes
    1963-1964
    Box 1, Folder 9 Faculty Minutes
    1964-1965
    Box 1, Folder 10 Faculty Minutes
    1965-1966
    Box 1, Folder 11 Faculty Minutes
    1966 Sept-Dec
    Box 1, Folder 12 Faculty Minutes
    1967 Jan-May
    Box 1, Folder 13 Faculty Minutes
    1967-1968
    Box 2, Folder 1 Faculty Minutes
    1968 Sept-Dec
    Box 2, Folder 2 Faculty Minutes
    1969 Jan-May
    Box 2, Folder 3 Faculty Minutes
    1969-1970
    Box 2, Folder 4 Faculty Minutes
    1970-1971
    Box 2, Folder 5 Faculty Minutes
    1971-1972
    Box 2, Folder 6 Faculty Minutes
    1972-1973
    Box 2, Folder 7 Faculty Minutes
    1973-1974
    Box 2, Folder 8 Faculty Minutes
    1974-1975
    Box 2, Folder 9 Faculty Minutes
    1975-1976
    Box 2, Folder 10 Letters, Memos, etc.
    1975-1976
    Box 2, Folder 11 Faculty Minutes
    1976-1977
    Box 2, Folder 12 Faculty Minutes
    1977 Sept-Dec
    Box 2, Folder 13 Faculty Minutes
    1978 Jan-May
    Box 3, Folder 1 Faculty Minutes
    1978-1979
    Box 3, Folder 2 Faculty Minutes
    1979-1980
    Box 3, Folder 3 Faculty Minutes
    1980-1981
    Box 3, Folder 4 Faculty Minutes
    1981-1982
    Box 3, Folder 5 Faculty Minutes
    1982-1983
    Box 3, Folder 6 Faculty Minutes
    1983 Sept-Dec
    Box 3, Folder 7 Faculty Minutes
    1984 Jan-May
    Box 3, Folder 8 Faculty Minutes
    1984 Sept-Dec
    Box 3, Folder 9 Faculty Minutes
    1985 Jan-May
    Box 3, Folder 10 Faculty Minutes
    1985 Sept-Dec
    Box 3, Folder 11 Faculty Minutes
    1986 Jan-May
    Box 3, Folder 12 Faculty Minutes
    1986 Sept-Dec
    Box 3, Folder 13 Faculty Minutes
    1987 Jan-May
    Box 3, Folder 14 Faculty Minutes
    1987 Sept-Dec
    Box 4, Folder 1 Faculty Minutes
    1988 Jan-May
    Box 4, Folder 2 Faculty Minutes
    1988 Sept-Dec
    Box 4, Folder 3 Faculty Minutes
    1989 Jan-May
    Box 4, Folder 4 Faculty Minutes
    1989-1990
    Box 4, Folder 5 Faculty Minutes
    1990-1991
    Box 4, Folder 6 Faculty Minutes
    1991-1992
    Box 4, Folder 7 Faculty Minutes
    1992-1993
    Box 4, Folder 8 Faculty Minutes
    1993-1994
    Box 4, Folder 9 Faculty Minutes
    1994-1995
    Box 4, Folder 10 Faculty Minutes
    1995-1996
    Box 4, Folder 11 Faculty Minutes
    1996 Sept-Dec
    Box 4, Folder 12 Faculty Minutes
    1997 Jan-May
    Box 4, Folder 13 Faculty Minutes
    1997 Sept-Dec
    Box 4, Folder 14 Faculty Minutes
    1998 Jan-May
    Box 5, Folder 1 Faculty Minutes
    1998 Sept-Dec
    Box 5, Folder 2 Faculty Minutes
    1999 Jan-May
    Box 5, Folder 3 Faculty Minutes
    1999 Sept-Dec
    Box 5, Folder 4 Faculty Minutes
    2000 Jan-May
    Box 5, Folder 5 Faculty Minutes
    2000 Sept-Dec
    Box 5, Folder 6 Faculty Minutes
    2001 Jan-May
    Box 5, Folder 7 Faculty Minutes
    2001-2002
    Box 5, Folder 8 Faculty Minutes
    2002-2003
    Box 5, Folder 9 Faculty Minutes
    2003-2004
    Box 5, Folder 10 Faculty Minutes
    2004-2005
    Box 5, Folder 11 Faculty Minutes
    2005-2006
    Box 6, Folder 1 Faculty Minutes
    2006-2007
    Box 6, Folder 2 Faculty Minutes
    2007-2008
    Box 6, Folder 3 Faculty Minutes
    2008 Sept-Dec
    Box 6, Folder 4 Faculty Minutes
    2009 Jan-May
    Box 6, Folder 5 Faculty Minutes
    2009 Sept-Dec
    Box 6, Folder 6 Faculty Minutes
    2010 Jan-May
    Box 6, Folder 7 Faculty Minutes
    2010 Sept-Dec
    Box 6, Folder 8 Faculty Minutes
    2011 Jan-May
    Box 6, Folder 9 Faculty Minutes
    2011-2012
    Box 6, Folder 10 Faculty Minutes
    2012 Sept-Dec
    Box 6, Folder 11 Faculty Minutes
    2013 Jan-May
    Box 6, Folder 12 Faculty Minutes
    2013 Sept-Dec
    Box 6, Folder 13 Faculty Minutes
    2014 Jan-May

    Series VI. Faculty Meeting records
    Born digital records including agendas, minutes, reports, and memoranda document Faculty meetings held 2014-2022. The records, a continuation of Series III, became digital 2014 September. Materials in this series are arranged chronologically.

    Container Description Date
    Server Faculty Meeting records
    2014-2015
    Server Faculty Meeting records
    2015-2016
    Server Faculty Meeting records
    2016-2017
    Server Faculty Meeting records
    2017-2018
    Server Faculty Meeting records
    2018-2019
    Server Faculty Meeting records
    2019-2020
    Server Faculty Meeting records
    2020-2021
    Server Faculty Meeting records
    2021-2022