Enrolled Students Next Steps

Welcome to the School of the Art Institute of Chicago's (SAIC) Early College Program Summer Institute (ECPSI)

We're excited that you're going to be with us this summer, experiencing what it's like to study at the nation's most influential art and design school. We think there's nothing better for artists, designers, and visual scholars than to come together with our engaged and inspiring faculty, work with fellow students from around the country and across the globe, make amazing work in our state-of-the-art facilities, and experience our world-class city of Chicago.

In addition to the steps below, add saic-youth@saic.edu to your email contacts. This will prevent important information about your course from being sorted into your spam folder.

Before You Arrive on Campus

  • Once you have been successfully enrolled in a course, we will send a confirmation email to the student's email address. Please carefully review this confirmation to ensure everything is correct.

    If you have not received a confirmation email, please contact Continuing Studies at 312.629.6170 or email us at ecp@saic.edu so we can resend it to you.

    Merit Scholarship and Financial Aid Information

    Students who register November through January will be notified of their potential award amounts via email starting in January. Students who register after January will be notified of their potential award amounts approximately three to four weeks after registration. If you do not receive information about your potential Merit Scholarship and/or need-based financial aid in this time frame, please contact the Student Financial Services department at 312.629.6600 or saic.sfs@saic.edu.

  • The payment deadline is May 1, 2024. 

    If you have not made payment by this date you are at risk of being dropped from your selected courses.

    If you need to drop a class, all drop requests must be submitted in writing to ecp@saic.edu and include the student's name, ID number, and course information.

    100 percent of the tuition charge, not including the $100 nonrefundable tuition deposit, is refundable if courses are dropped by May 1, 2024.* If a course is dropped after the deadline, no refund will be granted.*

    Note: This date applies for all sessions.

    You may complete your payment online at saic.edu/cspayment. You may also submit your payment by mailing a personal check or money order with the student's full name and ID in the reference section to: School of the Art Institute of Chicago, SAIC Bursar's Office, 37 S. Wabash Ave., Suite 245, Chicago, IL 60603. For any financial questions, please contact Student Financial Services at 312.629.6600 or saic.sfs@saic.edu.

  • If you did not submit your health insurance information at the time of registration, you are required to submit it ASAP to ecp@saic.edu. Please send an email and list your student's full legal name, seven-digit SAIC ID number if known, insurance company name, insurance company policy number, insurance company phone number, and policy expiration date if applicable. 

    If you do not currently have an insurance policy that will cover you while you are with us, you can purchase a new policy and send us those details to satisfy this requirement. Many vendors world-wide offer a variety of insurance policies.

    You may purchase short-term coverage through Edusure (edusure.com), a marketplace that offers multiple student health insurance offerings, or Patriot (imglobal.com), a travel insurance company for international students. ECPSI students are responsible for making these arrangements, including payment of the premium. 

  • The COVID-19 vaccination is no longer required to be on SAIC's campus. Individuals are empowered to make the appropriate decisions — such as staying up to date on vaccinations and wearing a mask — for their own comfort and wellbeing.

    Even if the community members do not test positive for COVID-19, they should stay home if they experience any symptoms of illness. 

    For more information, please visit the Health Services page. 
     

  • Important: After registering, it will take up to two business days before you are able to activate your SAIC account.

    Your SAIC email account is the key to accessing Canvas and other student resources. Your instructor will communicate with you through Canvas and your SAIC.edu email address. Check it regularly during the course.

    To activate your SAIC email account, you will need to:

    • Locate your SAIC ID number in your Registration Confirmation email, sent from cs@saic.edu. If you have an SAIC student ID card you will also find it there. Your seven-digit SAIC Student ID number is different from the five-digit order number included on the Order Confirmation receipt email sent to you at the time of checkout.
    • Go to password.artic.edu
    • Select Activate Account
    • Enter your seven-digit SAIC ID number
    • Enter your last name
    • Enter your birthdate using this exact date format: DD-MMM (e.g., 22-FEB or 03-JUN)
    • Select Activate

    Pause to record your account information for future reference.

    Your username will be automatically assigned but you will create your own password, which must be alphanumeric and at least six characters.

    Visit gmail.artic.edu to log in to your SAIC email with the username and password from above.

    Need Help? Contact the CRIT Help Desk at 312.345.3535 or email crithelpdesk@saic.edu, Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

  • It is important that we have a unique mobile phone number and email address for you and your parents or guardians. We also request the name and contact information of an individual that can be reached at any time and be on SAIC’s campus in Chicago within 24-48 hours. This is important for all students and in particular, those from outside the United States or whose parents or guardians may be traveling while they attend the Early College Program Summer Institute. 

    Email updates to ecp@saic.edu, include the student's first and last name and seven-digit ID number.

  • Canvas is SAIC’s online learning platform and will be the central resource for all of your course materials and communication with your instructors and peers. You will need to log in with your SAIC username and password.

    Instructors will publish courses in Canvas in the days leading up to the start of class.

    Visit canvas.saic.edu or download the app for Android or Apple and log in using your SAIC username and password. Complete the virtual  Canvas Student Orientation to get started.

    Need Help? Contact the Canvas Support Team at canvas-help@saic.edu, Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

  • Students will need an ARTICard, the SAIC ID, to enter campus buildings including the residence hall. You will receive an email from articard@saic.edu to your home email address in the time leading up to the start of your class which details how to submit your identification photo. 

    If all materials are submitted, you will receive your ARTICard on the day of your orientation.

    In addition to the meal plan, you have the option to load funds onto your ARTICard to use at vending machines and in residence hall laundry facilities.  

    For more details about ARTICard, consult the ARTICard page or contact them at articard@saic.edu.

  • ECPSI students who reside on campus will be housed in Jones Hall, located at 7 West Madison Street. 

    Visit Summer Institute Residence Hall General Information for details about what to bring, rules for residential students, the meal plan, and more. You will be notified about your roommate and room assignment during move in.

    Note: International students may arrive the Saturday prior to move-in for the session after 5:00 p.m. Contact Residence Life at saic-reslife-ecp@saic.edu to let them know that you intend to arrive early. Students arriving later than 3:30 p.m. on Sunday should notify the Residence Hall staff in advance. Email saic-reslife-ecp@saic.edu.

  • Students are responsible for purchasing their own art supplies. Expect to spend $150-450 depending on session length and number of credits.

    Course Supply Lists: These will be posted June 1.

    Students are encouraged to bring any materials they would like to use that are not on the supply list, and students that live out of town can purchase materials they need when they arrive. The Chicago Loop BLICK Art Materials store is located two blocks from Jones Hall at 16 West Randolph Street. 

  • Lockers are made available at the start of classes on a first-come, first-served basis and must be registered through the Office of Student Affairs each term. Students who have registered a locker during the current term must provide their own lock. If an unregistered locker is found locked, the lock will be cut and the contents disposed of, as well as locks and personal belongings not removed at the end of the semester.

    Students may register their locker one week in advance of the start of their class, as it will take up to two business days for the locker registration to be completed. 

    Student​ ​Locker​ ​Registration​ ​Checklist

    • Email​ student affairs at studenthelp@saic.edu
    • Use subject line: Locker reservation request - ECP student
    • Include​ ​the​ ​following​ ​information​ ​in​ ​the​ ​body​ ​of​ ​the​ ​email. ​​Failure to provide all information will cause a delay in completing the registration.
      • Full name and SAIC ID number
      • Location of your course - building, floor, and classroom
      • Dates of your course

    Students will be assigned the closest available locker to their classroom and may use it for the duration of their course.

  • Important Dates:
     

    • June 19, Juneteenth, no classes
    • July 4, Independence Day, no classes
    • July 6-7, NASCAR, pre- and post-road closures
    • August 1-4, Lollapalooza, pre- and post road closures

    **Please be aware that classes are held in downtown Chicago and occasionally, we may be impacted by protests and other events. While we will make every effort to notify you via email, there may be instances where these events occur unexpectedly.**

    Road Closures:
     

    Due to NASCAR Chicago & Lollapalooza, there will be road closures in and around the vicinity of the SAIC campus. Roads leading into and around downtown may become blocked as the city prepares for, and cleans up from the event.

    We strongly advise you to use public transportation. Details regarding road closures will be sent closer to the event.

    Information on public parking can be found at saic.edu/visit/directions-campus.
     

Traveling to Chicago

  • Students are responsible for their own transportation to and from either of Chicago's airports (O'Hare or Midway). We recommend students use Airport Express and call 1.888.2THEVAN or visit airportexpress.com to make a reservation. 

    O'Hare: Pick-up GO Airport Express van across from baggage claim in the domestic terminal by doors 1E, 2D, 3F, or 5E.

    Midway: Pick-up GO Airport Express van lower level across from baggage claim by door 3.

    Students may also use a taxi service, rideshare (Lyft, Uber), or public transportation from either airport. Cab fare is approximately $40–$50 and public transportation is $2.25–$5.00 one way. For public transit maps, visit transitchicago.com.

  • There are several hotels convenient to campus housing (Jones Hall), the final exhibition location, and the Art Institute of Chicago museum, including:

    Best Western Grant Park Hotel

    1100 South Michigan Avenue

    312.922.2900

    The Blackstone, A Renaissance Chicago Hotel

    636 South Michigan Avenue

    312.447.0955

    Four Seasons

    120 East Delaware Place

    312.280.8800

    Hotel 71

    71 East Wacker Drive

    312.346.7100

    Palmer House Hilton Hotel

    17 East Monroe Street

    312.726.7500

    Renaissance Chicago Hotel

    1 West Wacker Drive

    312.372.0093

    Ritz Carlton, A Four Seasons Hotel—Water Tower

    160 East Person Street

    312.266.1000

    Silversmith Hotel and Suites

    10 South Wabash Avenue

    312.372.7696

     

  • A list of parking options can be found on our Directions to Campus page.

Move-In Details

Session

Course Dates

Move-In/Orientation

Session 1: Two weeks

 

Monday, June 17–Friday, June 28, 2024; 

Move-in Sunday, June 16, 11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. 

 

Session 2: Two weeks

Monday, July 1–Friday, July 12, 2024

Move-in

Sunday, June 30, 11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. 

Session 3: Two weeks

Monday, July 15–Friday, July 26, 2024

Move-in

Sunday, July 14, 11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.

Session 4: Four weeks

Monday, July 1–Friday, July 26, 2024

Move-in Sunday,

June 29, 11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.

Session 5: One week

Monday, July 29–Friday, August 2, 2024

Move-in

Sunday, July 28, 11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.

 

ECPSI students attend a series of orientations to ensure that they are fully acclimated to the program and have all of their questions answered at the start of the program. 

• In the weeks preceding the program, students and families will be given access to a virtual orientation with details about campus life and academics.
 
• On move-in day, each student is required to attend an orientation to speak with ECPSI program staff, ask any outstanding questions, and receive important information. 

• On the night of move-in day, Residence Life staff will host orientations for students living on each floor of Jones Hall. During this meeting, students are provided important campus life information and are introduced to their floor-mates and Summer Resident Advisor. 

• Finally, during the first days of the program students are required to attend an orientation led by SAIC staff which outlines safety protocols while attending ECPSI as well as vital ECPSI community guidelines."

After You Arrive On Campus

  • In May we will host a virtual welcome webinar to review the Next Steps and Information for Enrolled Students. Details and a link to register for the webinar are coming soon. An orientation video will be emailed to students and families in the week prior to arriving on campus.

  • The School of the Art Institute of Chicago is committed to providing opportunities for full participation in all programs for students with disabilities, including Continuing Studies students and Students At Large. Disabled students should first contact the Disability and Learning Resource Center (DLRC) to request reasonable accommodations. To plan for the most effective accommodations, we ask that you contact the DLRC at least two weeks before the start date for your course.  

    Disability and Learning Resource Center - To learn more about the DLRC including common accommodations provided by their office, their approach to providing accommodations, and how to schedule an appointment.

    The DLRC can be reached by phone at 312.499.4278 or email dlrc@saic.edu.

  • To confirm the location of your course visit continuingstudies.saic.edu/ecpsi and enter your course number in the field under Early College Program Summer Institute Courses.

    Occasionally course locations change prior to the start of class. We also encourage you to check the location at the link above in the days leading up to the start of class.

    AIC-FRONT: Front lobby of the Art Institute of Chicago, 111 South Michigan Avenue 
    280: 280 Building, 280 South Columbus Drive 
    LV: Lakeview Building, 116 South Michigan Avenue 
    MC: MacLean Center, 112 South Michigan Avenue 
    SC: Sullivan Center, 36 South Wabash Avenue 
    SP: Sharp Building, 37 South Wabash Avenue

    View a campus map here.

  • SAIC's Early College Program Summer Institute (ECPSI) is a rigorous academic program for independent, highly motivated students. To be successful in the program, students must be able to perform at the college level by, among other things, assuming responsibility for getting to and from class on time and managing their obligations with respect to classes, workshops, activities, and homework assignments. 

    Residential students must also be able to adapt to dormitory-style living, while attending to their own needs (i.e., getting appropriate amounts of sleep, eating properly, and requesting medical attention when necessary). Finally, students must be able to conduct themselves in a manner that demonstrates self-regulation and self-discipline at all times, especially during unsupervised free time.

  • Reflecting the requirements of SAIC's undergraduate credit-bearing courses, additional work will be required of all students outside the classroom in order to complete assignments. Students should plan to spend an average of two hours each evening in the studios. This outside-of-class work will be a priority for students so they are able to put in the time and energy required to create portfolio-quality pieces. 

  • SAIC is located in the center of downtown Chicago, a vibrant setting conducive to art making. Despite the many attributes of the location, the urban setting and factors that are associated with staying in any large city should be taken into consideration when prospective students and their parents are deciding whether to register for the program.

    Security guards are stationed at the entrance of all SAIC buildings 24 hours a day. All students must show their ARTICard to access campus buildings.

    ECPSI students are allowed free time for lunch, between classes and curfew (curfew is for residential students and the city of Chicago also has a curfew), and on the weekends. If parents or students are looking for a program with one hundred percent supervision, they should consider the nature of this program thoroughly before registering.

    Instructional staff supervises the use of the public transportation system (CTA ) during class and there are also supervised outings coordinated by residence life evenings and weekends so students may explore the city. Students are discouraged from using the CTA without supervision.

    ECPSI students are required to check in/out for the times/events listed below:

    9:00 a.m., Monday–Friday

    Class attendance taken

    All students

    12:00 p.m., Monday–Friday

    Students released for lunch

    All students

    1:00 p.m., Monday–Friday

    Class attendance checked post-lunch

    All students

    6:00 p.m., Tuesday–Thursday

    Workshop attendance taken

    All students

    10:00 p.m., every day

    Curfew in residence hall

    Residential students only

    7:30 a.m., every day

    Students allowed to leave residence hall

    Residential students only

    Note: Lunch times may differ if classes are on a field trip or need to alter the time due to a project. Teaching assistants still keep attendance during these times.

  • Students are advised to use an ATM card or Traveler's Checks for personal spending in an effort to avoid carrying around large amounts of cash. Many banks and automated teller machines are located within a few blocks of the residence hall (Chase, Citibank, and First Chicago, among others) for withdrawals.

    SAIC cannot cash personal checks, nor will most banks. If you need to wire money to a student, the closest Currency Exchange to the residence hall is located at 100 West Randolph Street (312.236.4811).​

  • An exhibition of student work and reception open to all ECP Summer Institute students and families is held on the final class day of each session. 

    • Session 1: Friday, June 28, at 12:00 p.m. 
    • Session 2: Friday, July 12, at 12:00 p.m. 
    • Session 3: Friday, July 26, at 12:00 p.m. 
    • Session 4: Friday, July 26, at 12:00 p.m. 
    • Session 5: Friday, August 2, at 1:00 p.m. 

     

    Arrival

    • Check-in will occur promptly at the start of the event.
    • Guests are required to present a state/government issued ID. Any guests who are under 18 will not need a state/government issued ID. 
    • Exhibitions will take place in two SAIC campus buildings: Sharp Building (37 S. Wabash Ave.) and 280 Building (280 S. Columbus Drive). Look out for an email from saic-youth@saic.edu in the days before the exhibition to learn the location of your student’s exhibit.
    • Guests will be provided a floor plan of the classes' locations when they check-in for the event. 

     

    Interact With the Artwork

    • We highly encourage all guests and students to visit both buildings to experience the work created by our ECPSI students in all SAIC departments.
    • Wander through the exhibition spaces to admire the artwork and engage with students.
    • Strike up conversations with students. Ask about their artwork, the materials they used, the techniques they learned, and what inspired them.
       

    Closing

    • It is recommended to keep the student’s work on display until the end to allow everyone to enjoy the exhibition.
    • Students are responsible for transporting their artwork home at the end of the session. SAIC will NOT store, pack, or ship student work. For more information, click here.
    • ECPSI instructors and teaching assistants will help students prepare work for transport at the end of the session. 
    • At the end of the exhibition, ECPSI students will deinstall their work and repair the exhibition space. They will be free to leave with their family after 4 pm.

     

    IMPORTANT: Due to the Lollapalooza music festival, there will be road closures in and around the vicinity of the SAIC campus. Details regarding road closures and building access will be sent closer to the event. 

  • Students are responsible for transporting their artwork home at the end of the session. SAIC will not store, pack, or ship student work. ECPSI instructors and teaching assistants will help students prepare work for transport at the end of the session. Work that cannot be transported can be photographed and destroyed.

    Students who are unable to carry work home should decide how their work will be transported ahead of time, and purchase materials for packing work prior to the last class.

    Below is a selection of packing suppliers and shipping locations in the immediate area. We recommend calling or visiting websites in advance to confirm days/times of operation. Some shipping locations are not open on Saturdays.

    Staples

    Packing supplies

    111 N. Wabash Ave.

    312.641.1213

    Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m.

    Saturday, 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.

    Sunday, 12:00–5:00 p.m.

    FedEx Office Print & Ship Center

    Packing supplies, shipping

    55 E. Monroe St.

    312.701.0730

    Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m.

    closed Saturday and Sunday

    FedEx Office Print & Ship Center

    Packing supplies, shipping

    71 E. Jackson Blvd.

    312.341.9644

    Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.

    Saturday, 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.

    closed Sunday

    UPS Store

    Packing supplies, shipping

    17 E. Monroe St.

    312.917.1705

    Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

    closed Saturday and Sunday

    UPS Store

    Packing supplies, shipping

    27 N. Wacker Dr.

    312.372.2727

    Monday–Friday, 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.

    closed Saturday and Sunday

     

  • Juniors and seniors, ages 15 to 18, enrolled in an ECPSI course will be eligible to receive college credit upon successful completion. This credit may be applied towards an undergraduate degree at most colleges or universities.

    Students enrolled for credit are expected to attend all classes at the scheduled time, arrive prepared, and successfully complete all homework and assignments.

    Transcripts will not be available until mid-September. Transcripts are not sent automatically; requests can be made online, in person, and by mail or fax. Consult our Transcript Requests page for full details.

  • Please make sure to provide current student and parent/guardian email addresses and phone numbers during registration so we are able to communicate effectively. You may also need to check your junk/spam folder for email messages from SAIC.

    A staff member will be available to respond to emails regarding urgent concerns while ECP Summer Institute courses are in session.

    Youth Curriculum and Instruction Team (Programming) - saic-youth@saic.edu, Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. CT

    Residence Life: saic-reslife-ecp@saic.edu

    To expedite assistance, include as much of the following information as you are able.

    • Student first and last name as it appears on the Registration Confirmation email
    • Student seven-digit student ID number (included in the Registration Confirmation email)
    • The class the student is taking, including when it is scheduled to start
    • A phone number you can be reached at


    ECPSI 2024 Session Information 
     

    Session

    Course Dates

    Move In

    Exhibition/ Move Out

    Session 1: Two Weeks

    Monday, June 17–Friday, June 28, 2024;Move-in Sunday, June 16, 11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. 
    Drop-in orientation: Sunday, June 16, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.
    Exhibition: Friday, June 28, 2:00 p.m. CT
    Move out Saturday, June 29 (by 12:00 p.m.)

    Session 2: Two Weeks

    Monday, July 1–Friday, July 12, 2024Move-in Sunday, June 30, 11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. 
    Drop-in orientation: Sunday, June 30, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.
    Exhibition: Friday, July 12, 2:00 p.m.
    Move out Saturday, July 13 (by 12:00 p.m.)

    Session 3: Two Weeks

    Monday, July 15–Friday, July 26, 2024Move-in Sunday, July 14, 11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
    Drop-in orientation: Sunday, July 14, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. 
    Exhibition: Friday, July 26, 2:00 p.m.
    Move out Saturday, July 27 (by 12:00 p.m.)

    Session 4: Four Weeks

    Monday, July 1–Friday, July 26, 2024Move-in Sunday,
    June 29
    Drop-in orientation: Sunday, June 29, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.
    Exhibition: Friday, July 26, 2:00 p.m.
    Move out Saturday, July 27 (by 12:00 p.m.)

    Session 5: One Week  

     

    Monday, July 29–Friday, August 2, 2024Move-in Sunday, July 28, 11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
    Drop-in orientation: Sunday, July 28, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.
    Open Studio: Friday, August 2, 3:00 - 4:00 p.m.
    Move out Saturday, August 3 (by 12:00 p.m.)

Contact Us

Continuing Studies staff members are available Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. CT at 312.629.6170 or cs@saic.edu to answer your questions. We are here to help!