Offering online courses and improving marketing were part of a plan to rescue the Salt Institute for Documentary Studies presented by former students to the school’s board of directors Wednesday evening.
While no consensus was reached on whether to keep the school open, members of the group Save Salt left the meeting feeling “cautiously optimistic” that the 42-year-old nonprofit based in Portland might stay open.
The board announced last month that the school will close in September. Board members cited declining enrollment, a lack of an endowment fund and a lack of consistent fundraising as reasons for the decision.
A spokesperson for Save Salt said former students from across the country and world participated in Wednesday’s two-hour meeting – either in person or by telephone conference call.
Save Salt members said the board indicated it would respond to Save Salt’s rescue plan July 17.
“We thought it was a productive meeting and while we didn’t get the assurances that we were hoping for, we left the meeting feeling cautiously optimistic,” said Elyssa East, a former Salt Institute student who now teaches writing at New York University.
Board chairwoman Kimberly Curry declined to comment Wednesday evening.
Save Salt formed three weeks ago, just days after Salt’s board of directors announced the school, now located on Congress Street, would close.
The group’s plan calls for a number of significant changes to the way the Salt Institute conducts business, including offering online courses, hiring a full-time development person or grant writer to raise funds, and making improvements to the way the nonprofit school markets itself.
East said the plan calls for Salt Institute to go into “hibernation mode” for about a year, allowing the school to regroup and position itself financially for a rebound.
One idea to improve marketing would be to bring back the “iconic” recruitment posters that the school decided to discontinue in 2007.
Tavia Gilbert of Brooklyn, New York, and a Save Salt member, said the group conducted a survey and found that more than 40 percent of Salt students discovered the school via the “iconic Salt poster.” The posters contained photographs taken by Salt students and were gorgeous and compelling, alumni say.
“Posters were discontinued as an outreach vehicle years ago because of the expense,” Gilbert said in an email. “This should have been seen as an investment, not an expense, particularly if they were the primary tool for securing enrollment.”
The institute built its reputation by offering students a concentrated 15-week program that focused on documentary storytelling.
Students of Salt had been able to earn college credits in the past, but that opportunity has not been available for the last two years or so. The school typically enrolled 25 students each semester. Tuition is $9,890.
East, who lives in New York City, said in addition to former students who attended the meeting, alumni and board members from around the world offered opinions via phone.
Nelson Chan, a member of the board of directors, called in from Hong Kong. Amanda Waldroupe, a former student, listened in from Portland, Oregon.
“People beyond the state of Maine believe in Salt. It’s a Maine treasure,” East said.
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