Rhode Island College (RIC) has announced it will suspend several academic programs, including the Portuguese concentration within the Modern Languages BA, beginning in Fall 2025, prompting community outcry. 

Community advocates are calling on RIC leadership to reverse course and engage meaningfully with students, faculty, and stakeholders.

The decision, outlined in RIC’s recently released Productivity and Efficiency Report, will not affect current students or result in faculty layoffs, according to RIC President Dr. Jack R. Warner.

While Portuguese minors and language courses will remain available, the decision raises concerns about the future of Portuguese teacher education in the state. 

Dr. Valdemar de Oliveira, Director of Portuguese Studies at RIC and head of the Institute for Portuguese and Lusophone World Studies, emphasized the broader implications of the suspension. “RIC is the only public institution in Rhode Island offering a Portuguese undergraduate teacher education program,” he told The Herald News.

“Eliminating this concentration could have significant ripple effects for the state’s educational system at a time when demand for world language teachers is growing,” he said.

The suspension also affects concentrations in French, Francophone Studies, Latin American Studies, and World Languages Education—French and Portuguese.

In a campus-wide statement, Dr. Warner said the decision followed a comprehensive Program Productivity and Efficiency Review led by the Office of the Provost. The review recommended suspending enrollment in 20 programs or concentrations, consolidating 15, and continuing 21 others pending improvement plans.

Despite reassurances, opposition has grown. The Coalition for a Multilingual Rhode Island—comprising over 30 community organizations, educators, and advocacy groups—has strongly criticized the move.

The Institute for Portuguese and Lusophone World Studies’ Community Advisory Board also issued a statement condemning the suspension.

Dr. Oliveira noted that efforts are already underway to develop a new, more versatile Portuguese major tailored to evolving academic and professional interests. 

RIC’s World Languages Education and RITE (Rhode Island Teacher Education) programs currently serve as key certification pathways for teaching Spanish, Portuguese, and French. The BA and MAT programs in world languages education prepare students to teach grades PK–12, while the RITE program certifies educators for grades 9–12 in content areas and PK–12 in world languages.

The Portuguese community in Rhode Island

Rhode Island boasts one of the most vibrant and historically rich Portuguese communities in the United States, with deep roots and enduring cultural traditions.​

Portuguese immigration to Rhode Island began in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Many immigrants arrived primarily from the Azores, Madeira, and mainland Portugal, to Providence between 1911 and 1934. Fox Point in Providence became a central hub for these newcomers, drawn by maritime and textile jobs. By 1915, Providence and East Providence had nearly 5,000 Portuguese-born residents.

Today, Rhode Island has one of the highest percentages of Portuguese ancestry in the United States, with approximately 9.7% of its population identifying as Portuguese. Notable concentrations include ​East Providence, where over 40% of residents report Portuguese ancestry; Pawtucket, home to one of the largest Portuguese communities in New England; and Bristol, Warren, Tiverton, and Central Falls, each with significant Portuguese populations.

As of 2025, Rhode Island is home to approximately 83,000 to 96,000 Portuguese Americans, making it the state with the highest percentage of residents of Portuguese descent in the United States. Estimates suggest that Portuguese Americans constitute between 7.6% and 9.7% of Rhode Island’s population, which totals around 1.12 million people (World Population Review)

The Portuguese community maintains strong cultural traditions through festivals, music, and cuisine. The annual Day of Portugal celebration is a major event, featuring folk dancing, parades, and flag-raising ceremonies in cities like Providence, Newport, and East Providence. In 2023, Providence renamed India Street to “Portugal Parkway” to honor the community’s legacy.

PAJ/Staff