Youth & Continuing Studies Policies

Students enrolling in ACE courses must be 18 years of age or older and have received a high school diploma or equivalent. 

ACE courses are not offered for credit. SAIC measures and sets standards for individual student academic progress utilizing an academic standing process that does not rely upon GPA and does not assign letter grades. This system best facilitates the education our institution aims to provide—an education that fosters creativity, risk-taking in the context of creative making and scholarship, and an emphasis on iterative evaluation of growth and progress. Non-degree-seeking students must achieve at least average performance in the course (the traditional grade equivalent of a C) in order to earn P (pass). Students who require proof of enrollment for an employer or other reimbursement program can make a formal transcript request.

Continuing Studies reserves the right to cancel or alter the fees, schedule, or staffing of courses when circumstances warrant. If a cancellation or change is necessary, students will be notified prior to the first class, and students enrolled in canceled courses will have the option of taking another class or receiving a full refund. Note: Courses with low enrollment may be canceled a week or more prior to the start date, thus early registration is encouraged.    

If you are interested in registering for a course that is full, we encourage you to add yourself to the waitlist by filling out the waitlist form for the individual course on our online registration website. We will make every attempt to notify you if a spot does become available in your preferred course for purchase online.

A 100 percent tuition refund may be issued one week prior to the session start date. No refunds will be issued after this date. All cancellation requests must be submitted in writing to cs@saic.edu and include the student’s name, 7-digit ID number, and course information. 

Refunds take four to six weeks to process. Note: Nonattendance does not constitute an official withdrawal, nor a cancellation of tuition and fees.

A prerequisite or its equivalent is a course or other requirement deemed necessary to ensure the greatest possible likelihood for student success. It is the student's responsibility to be aware of and meet any course prerequisite(s) prior to registration.

The Adult Continuing Education program reserves the right to enforce prerequisite requirements and may deny or permit enrollment accordingly. Students may be administratively dropped from any course for which they have not met the prerequisite(s).

A student that does not meet the prerequisite(s) for a specific course but feels that they are academically prepared to take the course may request permission from the Adult Continuing Education program. Students may not enroll in a course and its prerequisite(s) in the same semester.

SAIC welcomes many international students to campus each semester, but does not issue immigration support documents for international students participating in non-degree Continuing Studies programs, including Adult Continuing Education courses and certificate programs, and degree program courses for non-matriculated students.

Students in the Adult Continuing Education program are expected to adhere to the Rights and Responsibilities for ACE Students.

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 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.

Students must be in high school and between the ages of 14 and 18. Students who have completed their sophomore year may enroll for college credit. 

Students enrolling in Early College Program Summer Institute or Early College Program Online Summer Institute must be between the ages of 15–18 and have completed their sophomore year at the start of their summer session.

Students are expected to attend all classes regularly and arrive on time. Full participation is required in all aspects of a course.

If a student needs to miss class, it is their responsibility to contact the instructor—preferably in advance—to discuss how to stay updated on missed content and assignments. Students enrolled for credit should be aware that multiple absences may impact their eligibility.

Students who withdraw from a course must do so in writing. Nonattendance does not constitute an official withdrawal.

Religious Holiday Observance: SAIC recognizes our community's diverse religious and cultural practices. Students are expected to notify their instructors early in the semester to discuss reasonable accommodations for holidays they observe.

Teaching Assistants take attendance at the start of each class and report to staff. For planned absences, please notify us ahead of time via email at saic-youth@saic.edu.

Students are expected to attend all classes regularly and arrive on time. Full participation is required in all aspects of a course. Students who register late are responsible for catching up on all missed content and assignments. If a student needs to miss class, it is their responsibility to contact the instructor—preferably in advance—to discuss how to stay updated on missed content and assignments.

Students who withdraw from a course must do so in writing. Nonattendance does not constitute an official withdrawal.

Religious Holiday Observance: SAIC recognizes our community's diverse religious and cultural practices. Students are expected to notify their instructors early in the semester to discuss reasonable accommodations for holidays they observe. 

If you foresee needing accommodations for more flexible attendance, please contact the DLRC.

Credit is optional for juniors and seniors in the ECP program. When you enrolled in your course you selected to take your course for credit or not for credit. If you would like to change your credit status, email cs@saic.edu before the start of class. We cannot change your credit status after the course has begun.

SAIC has a credit/no credit policy. Standards of individual student academic progress are measured utilizing an academic standing process that does not rely upon GPA and, therefore, does not assign letter grades. This system best facilitates the education our institution aims to provide—an education that fosters creativity, risk-taking in the context of creative making and scholarship, and an emphasis on iterative evaluation of growth and progress. Non-degree-seeking students must achieve at least average performance in the course (the traditional grade equivalent of a C) in order to earn CR (credit).

At the end of the term, you can order official transcripts online. Please contact us regarding the timeline for transcript availability. You can reach us at saic-youth@saic.edu.

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.

Continuing Studies reserves the right to cancel or alter the fees, schedule, or staffing of courses when circumstances warrant. If a cancellation or change is necessary, students will be notified prior to the first class, and students enrolled in canceled courses will have the option of taking another class or receiving a full refund. Note: Courses with low enrollment may be canceled a week or more prior to the start date, thus early registration is encouraged.    

If you are interested in registering for a course that is full, we encourage you to add yourself to the waitlist by filling out the waitlist form for the individual course on our online registration website. We will make every attempt to notify you if a spot does become available in your preferred course for purchase online.

A 100 percent tuition refund will be issued if courses are dropped one week prior to the session start date. No refunds will be issued after this date. All requests must be submitted in writing to cs@saic.edu and include the student’s name, ID number, and course information. Refunds take four to six weeks to process.

Note: Nonattendance does not constitute an official withdrawal, nor a cancellation of tuition and fees.

If requested by May 1, a 100 percent tuition refund, less the $100 nonrefundable deposit, will be issued. All requests to drop a course must be submitted in writing to cs@saic.edu and include the student's name, 7-digit ID number, and course information. No refunds will be granted after May 1. The May 1 deadline applies to all sessions.

No tuition will be refunded, and financial aid and merit scholarships may be revoked if a student is asked to leave the program for violating policies or regulations. No refunds will be given if a student leaves the program voluntarily or for personal reasons such as homesickness. Refunds take four to six weeks to process, depending on payment time.

Note: Nonattendance does not constitute an official withdrawal, nor a cancellation of tuition and fees.

All drop requests must be submitted in writing to cs@saic.edu and include the student’s name, ID number, and course information. One hundred percent of the tuition charge, less a $100 nonrefundable tuition deposit, is refundable if courses are dropped by May 1. If a course is dropped after the deadline, no refund will be granted. 

Note: This date applies for all sessions. Refunds take four to six weeks to process, depending on payment type. No tuition will be refunded, and financial aid and merit scholarships may be revoked, if a student is asked to leave the program for violations of policies or regulations. Nonattendance does not constitute an official withdrawal, nor a cancellation of tuition and fees—withdrawals must be submitted in writing as outlined above by the deadline.

The full payment deadline is May 1.

Note: This date applies for all sessions. If you register after May 1, you will be given a payment due date of two weeks from the date you receive your statement of accounts from SAIC. 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. 

The payment deadline is May 1 for all classes. 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 cs@saic.edu and include the student's name, ID number, and course information. One hundred percent of the tuition charge, not including the $100 nonrefundable tuition deposit, is refundable if courses are dropped by May 1. *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 for your remaining tuition balance 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.

The health and safety of our community are top priorities. SAIC follows CDC guidance for all communicable illnesses.

Because SAIC cannot provide medical supervision, students who become ill during the program may need to recover off campus under the care of a parent, guardian, or designated caregiver. This can also be true for students experiencing severe mental or emotional distress.

Caregivers must be prepared to:

• Pick up their student within 24 hours of notification.
• Supervise and care for the student until recovery.
• Communicate with program staff before the student returns to campus.

Students may return once they are feeling better and meet CDC criteria, when applicable.

For the latest public health guidance, please visit cdc.gov.

SAIC welcomes many international students to campus each semester, but does not issue immigration support documents for international students participating in non-degree Continuing Studies programs, including Adult Continuing Education courses and certificate programs, and degree program courses for non-matriculated students.

Students in the Early College Program are expected to adhere to the Rights and Responsibilities for ECP Students.

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.

Your child’s age during the time that they are enrolled in a camp should coincide with the correct age range noted in the camp description. This allows your child and their peers to have the best experience working alongside others of the same age range. If you prefer to have your older child enroll in a camp for a younger age range, or to place your 10-year-old in the Children’s Multi-Arts Camps rather than the Middle School Program Camps, you may enroll your child in the next age range down at the time of registration. If your child is enrolling in a camp one age range down due to a disability, please contact the Disability and Learning Resource Center (DLRC) prior to registration to discuss accommodations by calling 312.499.4278 or emailing dlrc@saic.edu.  

Students are expected to attend all classes at the scheduled time. 

Continuing Studies reserves the right to cancel or alter the fees, schedule, or staffing of courses when circumstances warrant. If a cancellation or change is necessary, students will be notified prior to the first class, and students enrolled in canceled courses will have the option of taking another class or receiving a full refund. Note: Courses with low enrollment may be canceled a week or more prior to the start date, thus early registration is encouraged.  

If you are interested in registering for a course that is full, we encourage you to add yourself to the waitlist by filling out the waitlist form for the individual course on our online registration website. We will make every attempt to notify you if a spot does become available in your preferred course for purchase online.

A 100 percent tuition refund may be issued one week prior to the session start date. No refunds will be issued after this date. All cancellation requests must be submitted in writing to cs@saic.edu and include the student’s name, seven-digit ID number, and course information. Refunds take four to six weeks to process.

Note: Nonattendance does not constitute an official withdrawal, nor a cancellation of tuition and fees.

SAIC Continuing Studies values arts classrooms in which all individuals are treated with respect, kindness, and understanding. We work together to build and maintain safe, joyful, and rigorous arts learning environments where all community members are able to learn and grow as artists and people. In order to participate in the Middle School Program, the student and his or her parent/legal guardian must agree that the student will, at all times, abide by the Rules of Conduct below and participate in the Progressive Consequences process as needed.

Please review the MSP Progressive Consequences and Rules of Conduct or, alternatively, view the video presentation.

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.

Your child’s age during the time that they are enrolled in a camp should coincide with the correct age range noted in the camp description. This allows your child and their peers to have the best experience working alongside others of the same age range. If you prefer to have your older child enroll in a camp for a younger age range, or to place your 10-year-old in the Children’s Multi-Arts Camps rather than the Middle School Program Camps, you may enroll your child in the next age range down at the time of registration. If your child is enrolling in a camp one age range down due to a disability, please contact the Disability and Learning Resource Center (DLRC) prior to registration to discuss accommodations by calling 312.499.4278 or emailing dlrc@saic.edu.

Students are expected to attend all classes at the scheduled time. 

Continuing Studies reserves the right to cancel or alter the fees, schedule, or staffing of courses when circumstances warrant. If a cancellation or change is necessary, students will be notified prior to the first class, and students enrolled in canceled courses will have the option of taking another class or receiving a full refund. Note: Courses with low enrollment may be canceled a week or more prior to the start date, thus early registration is encouraged.    

If you are interested in registering for a course that is full, we encourage you to add yourself to the waitlist by filling out the waitlist form for the individual course on our online registration website. We will make every attempt to notify you if a spot does become available in your preferred course for purchase online.

A 100 percent tuition refund may be issued one week prior to the session start date. No refunds will be issued after this date. All cancellation requests must be submitted in writing to cs@saic.edu and include the student’s name, seven-digit ID number, and course information. Refunds take four to six weeks to process.

Note: Nonattendance does not constitute an official withdrawal, nor a cancellation of tuition and fees.

SAIC Continuing Studies values arts classrooms in which all individuals are treated with respect, kindness, and understanding. We work together to build and maintain safe, joyful, and rigorous arts learning environments where all community members are able to learn and grow as artists and people. In order to participate in the Children's Mult-Arts Camp, the student and his or her parent/legal guardian must agree that the student will, at all times, abide by the Rules of Conduct below and participate in the Progressive Consequences process as needed. 

Please review the Children's Multi-Arts Camp Progressive Consequences and Rules of Conduct or, alternatively, view the video presentation.

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.

• ACE Media Consent Form
• Tuition Repayment Agreement

• Allergy History and Emergency Action Plan Form‌
• Consent Form‌
• Tuition Repayment Agreement