For the attention of:

Declan McGonagle,

Director of NCAD

and

Damian Downes,

Registrar of NCAD,

It has become evident that the administration’s primary concern at present is the management of revenue, rather than the education and welfare of its students. This shift in the college’s ideology has left current students abandoned and alumni disillusioned about the value of their degrees and the future of contemporary art and design in Ireland.

In light of the irresponsible actions and policies of the current management of this college, we demand the following changes be implemented immediately, in order that our art and design education may meet its most basic requirements:

-The reckless recent increase in first year student intake by 75% is impossible to justify without appropriate additional facilities for students, and for the staff struggling to teach them. Either these resources must be provided or the number of prospective students must be decreased to meet the available resources.

-Make the necessary provisions for the 2016 Graduate Exhibition, in which two years will be graduating simultaneously, by increasing space, time and resource facilities for affected students. Evidence these plans to the students by the end of term.

-Neither the studio nor material contribution levies have affected the availability and quality of resources. It is not the responsibility of students to fund basic college facilities. Provide evidence that the fees have been contributing to studio and material costs and reverse the fees.

-Reverse the sudden and underhanded inflation in the MA ADW fees from €2850 to €3900 (causing three out of seven students to drop out this year). Make no further increases to postgraduate fees.

-Reverse the appalling decision to introduce a fee for our college doctor, and guarantee that the college counselling and doctor service will always be available for free for students.

-Set a concrete date for the reintroduction of the furnace to the Gtlass department and demonstrate the feasibility of this.

-There has been an enduring failure to provide an adequate MFA studio space. NCAD must source an appropriate space and commit to a long-term lease by the end of the current rental agreement.

-Relocate the Registrar’s office out of the student space in TAA back to the administration floor, as his presence causes detriment not only to the students learning and workspace, but also raises problems in allocating spaces for the Graduate Exhibition.

-Meet the wage and running costs of NCAD Student Union punctually and on a fixed pre-agreed budget.

We, the art, design and academic community, stand against the irresponsible and neoliberal governance of college education.