Navigating Student Life at SAIC: A Comprehensive Guide to Resources

The School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) offers a wealth of resources designed to support students' academic, personal, and professional growth. From food security initiatives to health services and student organizations, SAIC is committed to fostering a supportive and inclusive environment where students can thrive. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the resources available to SAIC students.

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

The Art Institute of Chicago, encompassing both the School and the museum, is dedicated to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all its members. This commitment extends to students, visitors, faculty, and staff, ensuring that educational and employment decisions are based solely on an individual’s abilities and qualifications. The institution maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards unlawful discrimination based on various factors, including race, color, sex, marital status, religion, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, military or former military status, or any other status protected by law. This commitment to diversity and inclusion underscores the institution's dedication to creating a supportive and equitable community for all its members.

Campus Life and Student Engagement

SAIC boasts an active campus environment fueled by a variety of student groups, organizations, and leadership opportunities. The Campus Life office offers numerous avenues for students to engage with the SAIC community, fostering a sense of belonging and connection.

Groups and Organizations

Joining a student group is a fantastic way to meet new people, learn new skills, serve the community, mentor fellow students, and develop leadership skills. Student groups at SAIC encompass a wide range of interests, including community service, professional development, spiritual and faith-based activities, cultural and affinity groups, discussion forums, exhibition and art-related initiatives, and more.

Starting a Group

Students interested in starting their own officially recognized student group need at least two student leaders and an SAIC faculty or staff advisor. The student group registration process is available at engage.saic.edu.

Student Government

Student Government plays a vital role in allocating funding for student group events and activities. Additionally, Student Government actively engages with students, organizes informational meetings, gathers feedback through surveys, and provides guidance to the SAIC administration.

Student Publications and Media

F Newsmagazine: SAIC students design and edit this publication, making all editorial and design decisions. The editors welcome submissions of writing, illustration, and photography from students for both the print and web editions. Students can find freelancing opportunities through Handshake and attend monthly open meetings to pitch article ideas.
** রেডিও ( রেডিও ):** The station operates on an open format, allowing individual DJs, performers, and sound artists to program their shows according to their interests.
SITE Galleries: These galleries aim to build relationships between different departments and stakeholders within SAIC and strengthen the institution's role as a teaching gallery. SITE provides a consistent space for undergraduate and graduate directors to organize exhibitions that realize the vision of student artists.

Student Programming Board (SPB)

The SPB plans both on- and off-campus activities, with most events held in the LeRoy Neiman Center. Activities include movie nights, artist talks, off-campus trips, and live music. The SPB also collaborates with other departments to facilitate large-scale campus events.

Health and Wellness Resources

SAIC prioritizes the health and well-being of its students, offering a range of resources to support their physical and mental health.

Health Services

Health Services provides quality healthcare to SAIC students, encouraging them to focus on their physical and emotional well-being. The department is staffed by board-certified nurse practitioners and registered nurses who offer basic medical care for minor injuries and illnesses.

Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP)

All full-time domestic and international students are automatically enrolled in SAIC’s Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP), with the insurance fee appearing on their accounts. Students with alternative health insurance coverage may submit a waiver, provided their coverage meets SAIC's requirements. To be eligible for a waiver of enrollment in the SHIP, SAIC requires that students provide evidence of coverage equal to or better than the coverage provided by SAIC’s SHIP. Please be advised that the waiver request will be reviewed and verified active with the insurance carrier. If a non PPACA compliant plan, the sponsoring entity must guarantee payment of all health expenses in writing.

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The alternative coverage must meet the following minimum requirements:

Insurance plan must provide coverage for medically necessary care in the Chicago area equivalent to the SAIC’s student health plan.
Provide the Essential Minimum Benefits required by the PPACA with no annual limits.

Disability and Learning Resource Center (DLRC)

The mission of the Disability and Learning Resource Center (DLRC) is to support a universally accessible educational community that fosters full participation and contribution of every member.

Wellness Center

The Student Support Team is a multi-disciplinary group including representatives from Academic Advising, Residence Life, the Wellness Center, International Student Affairs, and Korean and Chinese Student Advising. Led by the Director of Student Support, these individuals meet weekly to consult, provide guidance, and offer support for students who are struggling with health or personal concerns.

Food Security Resources

Recognizing that food insecurity can be a significant challenge for students, SAIC offers several resources to ensure students have access to nutritious food.

The Spoonful Pantry

The Spoonful Pantry provides food kits to students facing food insecurity. According to the Office of Student Affairs, Spoonful was developed by three students: Madison Neel (BFA 2021), Kat Pitre (BFA 2021), and Alicia Morgan (MFA 2020). The students worked to highlight food insecurity on all college campuses, including at SAIC. Due to the pandemic, a contactless pick-up system was established. The system also works to ensure complete student privacy - the pantry is supervised and managed by only one staff member in the Student Affairs office, the only person who sees the names of students receiving support from the pantry. Students ordered 847 food kits - serving a total of 311 students - from Sept. 2023 to Aug. 2024, according to the Office of Student Affairs. Applying is not difficult - there is no screening process for receiving a kit through the pantry, and students are not turned away from receiving a kit. All current degree-seeking SAIC students are eligible to pick up a food kit once a week. The amount of weeks you pick up a bag is up to you. The Office of Student Affairs stated that maintaining Spoonful is a priority, and that they continually seek resources to help students with food insecurity. The Spoonful Pantry has different food kits depending on students’ diets, including non-vegetarian, dairy-free, gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan. The funding for the pantry comes out of the Office of Student Affairs’ annual budget. Most of it was Good & Gather food, Target’s generic brand, and all of it was shelf stable.

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External Food Resources in Chicago

In addition to the Spoonful Pantry, several organizations in Chicago offer food assistance to those in need:

ABE Application for Benefits Eligibility: Application to determine eligibility for benefits including: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Aid to the Aged, Blind and Disabled (AABD) Cash, and healthcare coverage.
Benton House: Provides pre-packaged dry and canned goods through curbside scheduled pick-ups. Each order includes meats, fresh vegetables, bread, juice, dairy, assorted canned and dry goods. The specific items vary each week depending on availability.
Brave Space Alliance: Offers food pantry deliveries to those facing financial insecurities, with care given especially for immunocompromised individuals, people with disabilities, those quarantined without pay, the elderly, and undocumented and BIPOC individuals and families.
Care for Real: Open to anyone who needs food and/or clothing. Clients can visit one of the Care for Real pantries one time per week. A pet food pantry and support services are also available.
Food Distribution Map
Food Stamps or SNAP benefits for college students: Food stamps or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for college students.
Franciscan Outreach: Provides healthy meals, safe shelter and critical services to homeless individuals to empower them to gain the stability they need to transition into permanent housing.
Greater Chicago Food Depository: A network of food pantries and programs in Chicago that provide food to anyone in need.
Housing and Urban Development (HUD): Offers long-term assistance for renters and homeowners and provides information on shelters, food pantries and other resources.
Pilsen Food Pantry: Foods available at the Pilsen Food Pantry include culturally-sensitive perishable and non-perishable foods, and household items like period kits and light bulbs.
St. CT.St. Stans Church: Located in the lower level of St. Stanislaus Kostka Church - not too distant from the downtown area of the City of Chicago, this organization serves over 21,000 meals per year to those in need.
St. Vincent de Paul: A list of food pantries across Cook and Lake Counties operated by the Society of St. CT. Information is available in English and Spanish at 1.866.348.6479 or 1.877.842.6273. You can also text 1.914.415.6617 with a keyword such as "food," "meals," etc. to receive an automated response to resources located near an address/zip code.
The ARK: The Ark is a safety net for all Jewish Chicagoans who are struggling to make ends meet, offering a variety of services including a food pantry and temporary housing.
The Department of Human Services (DHS): The Department of Human Services (DHS) has several resources for food and financial assistance. 800.843.6154
The Fresh Market: The Fresh Market provides groceries and various supplies to families in East Garfield Park. Residents also receive access to legal aid, food stamps, housing and employment information, financial management, GED certification and family workshops.
The Lincoln Park Community Shelter: Provides interim housing, meals, and a targeted array of social services.
The Love Fridge: Available in neighborhoods around Chicago, these refrigerators, painted by local artists to reflect the communities in which they live, provide neighbors the opportunity to take what they need, ensuring accessible food 24/7.
The Night Ministry: The Night Ministry is a Chicago-based organization that works to provide housing, health care, and human connection to members of the community struggling with poverty or homelessness.
The Salvation Army: 19 Chicagoland food pantries remain open to provide curbside service. For more information on emergency services, call 773.725.1100 or visit centralusa.salvationarmy.org/usc.
Too Good to Go: Too Good to Go makes it easy to make a positive impact on the planet while saving money on your favorite foods.

Academic and Professional Development

SAIC offers resources to support students' academic and professional journeys.

Academic Advising

Academic Advising is dedicated to empowering undergraduate students as they aspire to be thoughtful risk-takers, critical thinkers, and practicing artists.

Career and Professional Experience (CAPX)

All Career and Professional Experience (CAPX) services and resources are available to you in-person and virtually. CAPX career advisors are available to meet with you by phone, Google meet, or Zoom.

Study Abroad

Study Abroad specializes in providing students with opportunities to participate in short-term and semester-long education abroad programs. We work closely with faculty members to offer an exciting array of faculty-led study trips during the winter and summer interims and to advise students who apply for semester-long study abroad.

Support for International Students

International Student Affairs provides guidance and advising on F-1/J-1 visa related regulations and provides resources in the form of workshops, presentations, one-on-one advising, and social events to help international students achieve their academic and personal goals. SAIC's Korean Student Advisor and Chinese Student Liaison assist students in adjusting to campus and the US culture by building a supportive community, identifying personal and emotional concerns of students, and providing appropriate resources and referrals.

Additional Resources and Support

Student Success: The Student Success department’s mission is to foster a community of support and inclusion for students to succeed in their educational endeavors, and to help make art and design education equitable and accessible to vulnerable populations.
Staff members in the Office of Student Affairs are available to assist students with a wide-range of issues and concerns that might arise during their time at SAIC.
It is important that students have the support they need when they need it.

SAIC and the City of Chicago

Having the artistically and culturally rich city of Chicago as a playground, laboratory, and a place to explore truly helps SAIC to stand out as one of the very best art and design schools in the US. Chicago is one of the world's great cities. It's sophisticated and brash, sprawling and close-knit, earthy and earnest, and wildly experimental. The city is defined by an extraordinary and rich diversity. For artists, Chicago is irresistible: a city of unparalleled architecture and innovative public art, world-class museums and galleries, and vibrant communities of working artists, designers, writers, and thinkers. Extensive public transportation is available including buses, trains and taxis.

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