My understanding is that the Student Alliance wants this to be published widely, especially since there is no updated contact list for our presently pandemic-dispersed student body at this time of simultaneous crises...
We, Student Alliance, in solidarity with SFAI faculty and staff, have compiled a list of demands for the current administration that serve to aid in providing clarity and security for the student body, faculty, and staff. We are students of an institution that, due to persistent systematic errors, has failed us. Now, moving forward we require open communication and clarity on all fronts regarding the school’s closure and the process under which this will be undertaken from here on out. With our education, well being, and community at stake we do not treat this matter lightly. With these demands we seek to rectify some of the past errors and prevent more from occurring in the future.
Student Demands
1. We demand clarity on the Board’s approval of past projects that set SFAI further into an economic deficit. We demand an independent audit.
2. We demand any new vision or proposition of SFAI be shared with the students, faculty, and staff. If SFAI is no longer an institute pertaining to the growth, development, and education of fine arts, we demand that the name be changed. For that institution will no longer be SFAI.
3. We demand that students, faculty, and staff be included in conversations and consequent decisions made on our behalf.
4. We demand to have a student representative(s) present at any future board meetings, with equal opportunity and time to voice the concerns of the student body. That in future meetings, such as the Student Town Hall on April 1st, 2020, the student body representative(s) is able to speak, be seen, and ask student-organized questions throughout the entirety of the meeting.
5. We demand access to our Student Alliance funds and if it cannot be used for the remaining balance to be returned to the students.
6. We demand transparency in the administration's attempts to raise funds for the institute and to know how the funds will be allocated if they do not go to the continuation of the institute or to the students directly.
7. We demand that the administration protects our intellectual property and will not appropriate and/or plagiarize our work without consent, and that when student ideas are used and/or published to be cited as “SFAI Student Lead”.
8. We demand the school aids students in transferring to other AICAD universities, since we were not prepared nor planned to apply to other institutes at this time, with an official letter detailing the situation of the school’s future to be distributed to the student body.
9. We demand to be provided a list of affiliated schools that will take our credits and be notified of our current situation immediately through a resource document.
10.We demand that the administration upholds responsibility for current spring 2020 students’ ability to complete coursework. Faculty alone cannot transition all courses online and locate all of the students.
11.We demand that student workers be properly compensated for the remainder of the semester as promised in their contracts and financial aid, including 60 day pay. To lay off student workers during a pandemic is unconscionable.
12.Studio classes that cannot be translated to online learning must be refunded or students must be given access to studios after the shelter in place is lifted equivalent to time lost, with extensions to allow adequate time for completion of studio based assignments. If an incomplete grade is necessary during spring semester to accommodate adequate completion time, studios must reopen after the shelter in place is lifted for that equivalent lost time. All studio and facilities staff must be compensated for said time.
13.With supplies no longer being delivered to the institute, we demand that the administration works with faculty and staff to allocate a budget for project essentials that will be given to all students for their respective coursework. This can be in the form of a refund check or an online coupon.
14.We demand to be informed on the status and maintenance of the equipment at SFAI. Much of the equipment was donated to be used by and for the student body. If those assets are to be liquidated, we shall be informed on where the funds will be going. Studio managers are essential in both maintenance and liquidation of the equipment and studios.
15.We demand that all student organized exhibitions, planned for the Diego Rivera Gallery or Schafer Gallery, are rescheduled. With consideration of the future use of spaces and taking into account the funding, planning and promises of exhibitions offered to students who submitted proposals, curated shows, only to have them cancelled without consideration for future opportunity. SFAI has the space to honor them and therefore is able to honor the use of said space after the shelter in place has lifted. All facilities staff and studio staff who offer their time for these exhibitions shall be adequately compensated for said time.
16.We demand for those who have pending tuition receive allocated time to pay it off before graduation and the potential closure of the institute.
17.We demand that the $150 BFA show fee be refunded to each undergraduate senior OR that the BFA exhibition be rescheduled according to the needs and timeline presented by graduating BFA students. We demand that the $150 Petition to Graduate be refunded to each undergraduate senior if the BFA show is not rescheduled.
18.We demand that the $300 MFA show fee be refunded to each 2nd year graduate OR that the MFA exhibition be rescheduled according to the needs and timeline presented by graduating MFA students.
19.We demand that when the shelter-in-place mandate is lifted that students, faculty and staff will be able to collect their property that is currently at the Chestnut Street campus, the Fort Mason Campus, and the Abby Hall Dorms in a timely manner. For those students who have left and cannot return they must be accommodated and if desired have their belongings shipped. Furthermore, we demand to have a grace period where we can return to campus to gather our property, and to be appropriately notified as to when that time will be. NOT the day of.
20. We demand that when we are able to collect our items that studio managers be present and compensated for their time and assistance. Without them not only will there be chaos, but their knowledge of student work is paramount in returning property to those unable to collect their items physically.
21. If needed, we demand a meeting with the Student Alliance and administration to discuss the terms of these demands.
22. Above all, we demand respect, honesty, and transparency.
Above all, SFAI is a community of artists striving to offer society an engaged dialog. We believe in ethical, honest and fair community-building through the many generations: past, present and future—all who have been a part of our community.
These demands are the necessary foundation for mutual trust and respect amongst the student body, the board, and the administration. In this time of crisis, it is essential that we are informed and have a voice in the decision-making process, which will impact our futures, as well as the future and legacy of our beloved institution. It is unethical to leave us outside of the discussion.
Please know that we are not your adversaries. We believe that by joining forces and efforts, the community can come up with additional ideas and solutions to resolve this crisis. SFAI lives amongst us, and we refuse to let it’s legacy go. It’s important for this city, and it’s important for culture at large.
SFAI Student Alliance 2019-2020
We, Student Alliance, in solidarity with SFAI faculty and staff, have compiled a list of demands for the current administration that serve to aid in providing clarity and security for the student body, faculty, and staff. We are students of an institution that, due to persistent systematic errors, has failed us. Now, moving forward we require open communication and clarity on all fronts regarding the school’s closure and the process under which this will be undertaken from here on out. With our education, well being, and community at stake we do not treat this matter lightly. With these demands we seek to rectify some of the past errors and prevent more from occurring in the future.
Student Demands
1. We demand clarity on the Board’s approval of past projects that set SFAI further into an economic deficit. We demand an independent audit.
2. We demand any new vision or proposition of SFAI be shared with the students, faculty, and staff. If SFAI is no longer an institute pertaining to the growth, development, and education of fine arts, we demand that the name be changed. For that institution will no longer be SFAI.
3. We demand that students, faculty, and staff be included in conversations and consequent decisions made on our behalf.
4. We demand to have a student representative(s) present at any future board meetings, with equal opportunity and time to voice the concerns of the student body. That in future meetings, such as the Student Town Hall on April 1st, 2020, the student body representative(s) is able to speak, be seen, and ask student-organized questions throughout the entirety of the meeting.
5. We demand access to our Student Alliance funds and if it cannot be used for the remaining balance to be returned to the students.
6. We demand transparency in the administration's attempts to raise funds for the institute and to know how the funds will be allocated if they do not go to the continuation of the institute or to the students directly.
7. We demand that the administration protects our intellectual property and will not appropriate and/or plagiarize our work without consent, and that when student ideas are used and/or published to be cited as “SFAI Student Lead”.
8. We demand the school aids students in transferring to other AICAD universities, since we were not prepared nor planned to apply to other institutes at this time, with an official letter detailing the situation of the school’s future to be distributed to the student body.
9. We demand to be provided a list of affiliated schools that will take our credits and be notified of our current situation immediately through a resource document.
10.We demand that the administration upholds responsibility for current spring 2020 students’ ability to complete coursework. Faculty alone cannot transition all courses online and locate all of the students.
11.We demand that student workers be properly compensated for the remainder of the semester as promised in their contracts and financial aid, including 60 day pay. To lay off student workers during a pandemic is unconscionable.
12.Studio classes that cannot be translated to online learning must be refunded or students must be given access to studios after the shelter in place is lifted equivalent to time lost, with extensions to allow adequate time for completion of studio based assignments. If an incomplete grade is necessary during spring semester to accommodate adequate completion time, studios must reopen after the shelter in place is lifted for that equivalent lost time. All studio and facilities staff must be compensated for said time.
13.With supplies no longer being delivered to the institute, we demand that the administration works with faculty and staff to allocate a budget for project essentials that will be given to all students for their respective coursework. This can be in the form of a refund check or an online coupon.
14.We demand to be informed on the status and maintenance of the equipment at SFAI. Much of the equipment was donated to be used by and for the student body. If those assets are to be liquidated, we shall be informed on where the funds will be going. Studio managers are essential in both maintenance and liquidation of the equipment and studios.
15.We demand that all student organized exhibitions, planned for the Diego Rivera Gallery or Schafer Gallery, are rescheduled. With consideration of the future use of spaces and taking into account the funding, planning and promises of exhibitions offered to students who submitted proposals, curated shows, only to have them cancelled without consideration for future opportunity. SFAI has the space to honor them and therefore is able to honor the use of said space after the shelter in place has lifted. All facilities staff and studio staff who offer their time for these exhibitions shall be adequately compensated for said time.
16.We demand for those who have pending tuition receive allocated time to pay it off before graduation and the potential closure of the institute.
17.We demand that the $150 BFA show fee be refunded to each undergraduate senior OR that the BFA exhibition be rescheduled according to the needs and timeline presented by graduating BFA students. We demand that the $150 Petition to Graduate be refunded to each undergraduate senior if the BFA show is not rescheduled.
18.We demand that the $300 MFA show fee be refunded to each 2nd year graduate OR that the MFA exhibition be rescheduled according to the needs and timeline presented by graduating MFA students.
19.We demand that when the shelter-in-place mandate is lifted that students, faculty and staff will be able to collect their property that is currently at the Chestnut Street campus, the Fort Mason Campus, and the Abby Hall Dorms in a timely manner. For those students who have left and cannot return they must be accommodated and if desired have their belongings shipped. Furthermore, we demand to have a grace period where we can return to campus to gather our property, and to be appropriately notified as to when that time will be. NOT the day of.
20. We demand that when we are able to collect our items that studio managers be present and compensated for their time and assistance. Without them not only will there be chaos, but their knowledge of student work is paramount in returning property to those unable to collect their items physically.
21. If needed, we demand a meeting with the Student Alliance and administration to discuss the terms of these demands.
22. Above all, we demand respect, honesty, and transparency.
Above all, SFAI is a community of artists striving to offer society an engaged dialog. We believe in ethical, honest and fair community-building through the many generations: past, present and future—all who have been a part of our community.
These demands are the necessary foundation for mutual trust and respect amongst the student body, the board, and the administration. In this time of crisis, it is essential that we are informed and have a voice in the decision-making process, which will impact our futures, as well as the future and legacy of our beloved institution. It is unethical to leave us outside of the discussion.
Please know that we are not your adversaries. We believe that by joining forces and efforts, the community can come up with additional ideas and solutions to resolve this crisis. SFAI lives amongst us, and we refuse to let it’s legacy go. It’s important for this city, and it’s important for culture at large.
SFAI Student Alliance 2019-2020
No comments:
Post a Comment