Vermont College of Fine Arts president under fire by faculty

Faculty and staff members at VCFA are accusing President Leslie Ward of not being transparent and not engaging in collective decision-making. - File photo
Published: Oct. 4, 2022 at 10:50 PM EDT

MONTPELIER, Vt. (WCAX) - Faculty members at the Vermont College of Fine Arts have expressed no confidence in the school’s president.

In June, President Leslie Ward announced the school’s summer residencies would be held at Colorado College instead of the school’s Montpelier campus.

Ward told WCAX News the school couldn’t afford to spend more than $1 million a year on 10 buildings that sit empty for 9-10 months a year.

She wanted to sell or lease some of the Montpelier campus. Now, some faculty are accusing Ward of a lack of transparency and not engaging in collective decision-making.

They also submitted a formal complaint with the New England Commission of Higher Education.

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