May 22, 2020 — Today Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt) announced preliminary plans for the fall 2020 semester to offer a hybrid curriculum of on campus and remote learning. These plans are in accordance with guidelines of federal, state and city public health officials and will continue to evolve over the coming months.

This transformational hybrid model aligns with the college’s commitment to a just, compassionate and equitable learning environment by increasing access to an art and design education. Committed to excellence and rigor, MassArt will offer attentive, individualized instruction, in keeping with its student-faculty ratio of 10:1, while keeping its community safe.

As part of this model:

• Faculty and studio managers will provide instruction both online and on campus. On campus instruction will be given to students while maintaining necessary physical distancing and strict PPE protocols, which are already required for many artistic practices on campus.
• Campus spaces will be reconfigured to provide scheduled studio access and individual study spaces to students.
• When on campus, students will engage in instruction and utilize the facilities (printmaking studio, kiln room, wood shop, hot shop, etc.) as a resource for their projects.
• Students enrolled in studio classes will receive kits of materials to use outside of class. These kits will complement all instruction and will enable students to optimize their use of the facilities during their scheduled times on campus.
• Unlimited access to materials will be provided for remote portions of instruction.
• MassArt will ensure that every student and instructor has the appropriate digital devices to successfully engage in remote learning.

“MassArt has always offered an excellent art and design education and that has been its mission for the last 147 years. This curriculum teaches students how to practice their art in diverse environments and with a range of materials while keeping the entire campus community safe,” said Dr. Kymberly Pinder, Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs.

A task force of representatives from departments across campus will work throughout the summer on a wide range of issues to finalize details for the fall semester. Frequent updates will be shared with the campus and the Greater Boston community and will be available at massart.edu/coronavirus.

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About MassArt

Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt) is a public, independent institution that prepares artists, designers, and educators to shape communities, economies, and cultures for the common good. Since 1873, MassArt has built a legacy of leadership as the first freestanding public college of art and design in the country, and the nation’s first art school to grant a degree. MassArt offers a comprehensive range of undergraduate and graduate degrees in art, design, and art education, taught by world-class faculty.