i. institutional support and commitment to continuous improvement

School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Department of Architecture, Interior Architecture, and Designed Objects
Master of Architecture
Master of Architecture with emphasis in Interior Architecture
o Resident Life
Chicago offers a wide variety of housing choices to serve the diverse needs of students
at SAIC. Many students often spend their first few years at the school living in one of its
two residence facilities, The Chicago Building and the 162 North State Street Residences.
As a resident, students can truly immerse themselves in a community of fellow artists,
live in the heart of Chicago’s loop, and enjoy conveniences not found in most student
apartments. Both halls of residence are just minutes away from classes, have controlled
access into the buildings and have twenty-four hour security staff in each facility.
Students often find it most helpful to live on-campus as they make the transition to SAIC.
Staff in each of the facilities include student RA’s and full-time live-in professional staff.
who are available to help students become more familiar with SAIC and the city, assist
with personal and academic issues, and build a strong artist community. The Residence
Life staff plans many activities and programs to foster a sense of community and to sup-
port the individual and artistic development of SAIC students. Some of these programs
include: faculty/student dinners; trips throughout the city on the CTA transportation sys-
tem; all-school BBQ; Thanksgiving Dinner; Halloween Ball; the Annual Holiday Art Sale;
Spring Art Sale and many more.
Many students choose to live off-campus in one of Chicago’s interesting and diverse
neighborhoods. The city provides students with a variety of housing opportunities,
including traditional apartments, shared houses and loft spaces. Interested students can
request a copy of the Community Area Booklet (a guide to living options within the city),
or meet with a staff member.
c) Community building
o Student Government
The Student Government represents all students enrolled at the School, providing
students with a strong voice in School decisions. Elections for four officers are held in
the spring of every year. Student Government provides funds for many student groups
on campus. All students are encouraged to attend open meetings, which are held every
week.
o Student Groups
As the list below shows, student groups at SAIC reflect the many interests of its
diverse population. Most student groups apply each semester for a grant from Student
Government to help with programming and operating expenses and digital networking
support is available for free. In 2010–11 registered student groups include:
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