Next Steps and Information for Enrolled Students

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.

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, 7-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. 

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 7-digit ID number.

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 facilties.  

For more details about ARTICard, consult the ARTICard Continuing Studies page under High School Programs, or contact them at articard@saic.edu.

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

Click here to see the supply list for your class.

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. 

SAIC provides guest wifi in limited areas on campus. If you would like to connect to the School’s wifi network for students, faculty, and staff, follow the instructions here. You must activate your SAIC account first. 

Please note that the process requires an internet connection: SAIC Guest (available in the MacLean Ballroom, Neiman Center, and 280 S. Columbus Drive Building), Hot Spot, or Off Campus Network.

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.

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

On Thursday, May 18 at 5:00 p.m., we will host a virtual welcome webinar to review the Next Steps and Information for Enrolled Students, as well as SAIC's evolving COVID-19 protocols. Register today to participate and receive the recording. An orientation video will be emailed to students and families in the week prior to arriving on campus.

Staff will be available from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. during move in to answer any questions you may have. Brief presentations will be scheduled at 1:15, 2:15, and 3:15. 

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.

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:

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.

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 30 at 2 p.m. CT
• Session 2: Friday, July 14 at 2 p.m. CT
• Session 3: Friday, July 28 at 2 p.m. CT
• Session 4: Friday, July 28 at 2 p.m. CT
• Session 5: Friday, August 4 at 3 p.m. CT

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.