RIC President Carriuolo to step down following spring commencement

December 17, 2015 1:00 pm

By News Staff

news@abc6.com

The president of Rhode Island College announced Thursday in a letter to the campus community that she is stepping down following the schools commencement in May 2016.

In the letter, Dr. Nancy Carriuolo cites recent criticism by some in the campus community of her time as president as a factor in her resignation.

"As we are all aware, recently the campus community has voiced a very public mixture of support and criticism of my time at RIC," wrote Carriuolo. "I cannot ignore the fact that the college community is divided. Consequently, for the sake of the college, the Postsecondary Council and I have agreed that I will step down as president after spring graduation."

Several faculty and staff members had criticized her management style and decisions in a letter last month to the state’s Council on Postsecondary Education. Another group of faculty and staff responded in support of Carriuolo.

Dr. Nancy Carriuolo began her tenure as president in 2008. Prior to joining RIC, she served as Deputy Commissioner and Chief Academic Officer at the then Rhode Island Office of Higher Education.

The Council on Postsecondary Education says they plan to begin the search for a new president in the new year.