i. institutional support and commitment to continuous improvement

I. Institutional Support and Commitment to Continuous Improvement
forts, the Art Institute is committed to a policy of jobs and advancement that actively seeks
the most qualified people from a wide-range of candidates. Applicants are considered on the
basis of their qualifications for the position without regard to race, religion, national origin,
sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or veteran status. If you have any ques-
tions concerning our Equal Opportunity policy or its application, please contact the Human
Resources Department at (312) 629-9420.
Furthermore, the following diversity statement is introduced to all staff:
The Museum’s mission is to enrich people’s lives through the experience of art. To best
serve our visitors and to strengthen our sense of community and pride in our work, our
employees, and our individual abilities and differences must be valued and fully utilized.
We must ensure that everyone is treated fairly, that each person’s concerns are heard,
and that each of us is committed to assuring the environment of cooperation and mutual
respect that is essential for personal and institutional success.
Policies regarding harassment for staff are very similar to those that govern the students;
additionally, the Employee Guidelines also outline polices for conflicts of interest, compen-
sation, financial misconduct, ethical behavior, employment, and separation.
2) Development
Benefits-eligible staff may partake of medical, dental, and vision coverage; pre-tax flex-spending ac-
counts; life and accident insurance; and retirement investment plans for which AIC matches a small
percentage of employee contributions. Frequent employee development sessions are offered by
Human Resources covering topics such as saving and investment, time management, and conflict
resolution. Other privileges available to staff at AIC include access to most local museums and zoos;
use of the many libraries and special collections; Chairman’s, Safety, and other awards; tuition remis-
sion; museum store and restaurants discounts; and, pre-tax transit benefits among others.
D. LECTURES, EXHIBITIONS, AND OTHER DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES
In addition the development opportunities specific to the AIADO department and the MArch program,
the following programming is made available by SAIC and its sister institution, AIC, to all students,
faculty, and staff; many of these events are also open to the public.
1) The Architecture & Design Society of the Art Institute of Chicago
The Architecture & Design Society was created in 1981 as the support group for the Department of
Architecture and Design at the Art Institute of Chicago. The society’s general mission is to enhance
the understanding and appreciation of architecture and design by making them accessible to a
wider audience through a dynamic program of lectures, upper-level-member architectural tours and
special events, and receptions and viewings of Department of Architecture and Design exhibitions. A
diverse roster of speakers represents emerging practitioners at the forefront of the fields of architec-
ture and design, individuals at the peak of their career, and the critics, curators, and scholars whose
words and ideas shape these fields.
The Architecture and Design Society has hosted—or will host—the following lectures in 2009 and
2010 : Jurgen Bey (Studio Makkink & Bey); Matali Crasset; Jeanne Gang Lecture; Dominique Jakob
(Jakob+MacFarlane); MOS Lecture: Michael Meredith and Hilary Sample; Eric Owen Moss; Zoë Ryan in
Conversation with Alice Rawsthorn; Francois Roche (R&Sie (n)); Dialogue: Joseph Rosa in Conversa-
tion with Paul Goldberger; Lindy Roy Lecture
69 | Spring 2011
SECTION I Institutional Support and Commitment to Continuous Improvement