Students at a student groups fair
Life at SAIC

Student Activities

Student Activities

SAIC has an active campus fueled by our student groups, organizations, and leadership opportunities. With scores of student groups and organizations and a full schedule of events, SAIC’s Campus Life office offers countless ways to get involved in the SAIC community. From school-wide events such as the Halloween Ball to film screenings, and from weekly Latin dancing and yoga classes to philosophy discussions and art critiques, you can indulge in almost any interest.

Be sure to stay connected with campus activities by:

SAIC Shows

Every year, our students exhibit their groundbreaking art and design work at SAIC Shows on campus.

Check out this year's lineup

SAIC FASHION: INTRINSIC BEING

GIF of models walking the runway at a fashion show

FALL UNDERGRADUATE EXHIBITION

GIF of artists' work on display

SPRING UNDERGRADUATE EXHIBITION

GIF of artists' work on display

Groups & Organizations

With student groups and organizations and a full schedule of events, there are many ways to participate in the SAIC community. By joining a student group, you can:

  • Meet new people and make new friends
  • Learn new skills
  • Serve the community
  • Mentor new students
  • Have a voice in activities on campus
  • Develop leadership skills
  • Get the most out of your time at SAIC
  • Create a greater sense of community at SAIC

Student groups allow you to share your passions and interests beyond the classroom. At SAIC there are community service groups, professional groups, spiritual and faith-based groups, cultural and affinity groups, discussion groups, exhibition and art-related groups, and many more. All of these groups help to create common space for students to explore what it means to be a person and a student at SAIC.

Start a Group

To start an officially recognized student group, you will need at least two student leaders and an SAIC faculty or staff advisor. Then you can complete the student group registration process, available at engage.saic.edu. For more information, or to discuss your student group registration, stop by Campus Life in the LeRoy Neiman Center, Sharp Building, 37 South Wabash Avenue, room 201.

Join a Group

Student groups are open to all SAIC students. To learn more about student groups and how to join, go to engage.saic.edu or visit the Campus Life Office in the LeRoy Neiman Center, Sharp Building, 37 South Wabash Avenue, room 201. Below is just a sample of student groups and organizations. You can find a full listing of the registered SAIC student groups and learn more about them by visiting Engage SAIC. Don't miss your opportunity to impact the SAIC community!

  • Contact: stugov@saic.edu 
    Advisor(s): Laura Lamb, llamb@saic.edu, 312.629.6884
    Office Location: LeRoy Neiman Center, Sharp Building, 37 South Wabash Avenue, room 202

    Student Government is made up of four elected students who work to address issues that will improve the overall sense of community and student satisfaction at SAIC. Student Government oversees the allocation of funding for student group events and activities. Additionally, Student Government meets with students, plans informational meetings for the community, solicits feedback through surveys and other assessments, and provides guidance to the SAIC administration. Members are elected in the spring for the following academic year. 
     

  • extvsaic.org

    Contact: extv@saic 
    Office Location: MacLean Center, 112 South Michigan Avenue, room 1401

    ExTV is a student-run, experimental TV station broadcasting via the web, on-campus monitors, and at on-campus events such as the Undergraduate Film/Video Festival. ExTV uses its challenging and engaging programming to foster a greater sense of community at SAIC by showcasing student, faculty, staff, and alumni time-arts work.
     

  • fnewsmagazine.com

    Design Advisor: Sophie Goalson, sjohnson23@saic.edu
    Office Location: Lakeview Building, 116 South Michigan Avenue, room 201

    F Newsmagazine is SAIC’s award-winning monthly student publication that is read all over the city and published monthly during the academic year. SAIC students design and edit the publication, making every editorial and design decision. FNews editors are always looking for writing, illustration, and photography from students -- both for the print and web editions. Students can contact us for freelancing work through Handshake and also come to our monthly open meetings to pitch article ideas. Follow fnewsmagazine.com on the web for additional articles and videos.

  • freeradiosaic.org
    Contact: freeradio@artic.edu

    Office Location: MacLean Center, 112 South Michigan Avenue, room 1401

    Free Radio SAIC is SAIC’s student-run Internet radio station, broadcasting daily to a global audience. The station uses an open format, so that individual DJs, performers, and sound artists program the content for their shows according to their own interests. The station provides an unconventional and engaging radio station that airs live shows and keeps a streaming archive of shows available online.
     

  • sites.saic.edu/sitegalleries

    Contact: sitegalleries@saic.edu 
    Advisor: Joseph Josué Mora, 312.899.1459, jmora1@saic.edu 
    Office Location: Sharp Building, 37 South Wabash Avenue, 3rd floor
    Gallery Locations: 280 Building, 280 South Columbus Drive, 1st floor; Sharp Building, 37 South Wabash Avenue, 1st floor

    Founded in 1994, SITE, once known as the Student Union Galleries (SUGs), is a student-run organization at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) for the exhibition of student work. The two central tenets of the galleries are to build relationships between different departments and stakeholders throughout the institution and strengthen our role as a teaching gallery within and beyond SAIC. This is accomplished first through providing a consistent space for undergraduate and graduate directors to organize and generate exhibitions that realize the vision of student artists. Furthermore, with strategic programming, SITE supports these exhibitions and engages evolving currents and discourses in our communities. The student-led structure provides opportunities for emerging artists and scholars to explore artistic and administrative methods by placing emphasis on collaborative processes and professional practice in and out of the classroom.
     

  • Contact: spb@saic.edu 
    Advisor: Director of Campus Life
    Office Location: LeRoy Neiman Center, Sharp Building, 37 South Wabash Avenue, room 202

    The Student Programming Board (SPB) plans activities and events for all SAIC students. While the SPB plans on and off-campus activities, most activities are held in the LeRoy Neiman Center. Events include things such as movie nights, artist talks, off-campus trips, and live music. SPB also helps facilitate events and activities planned by other departments in the School. They are great partners for large-scale campus events. Their programming schedule fills up quickly, so be sure to contact them at least a semester in advance if you are interested in collaborating. 
     

Contact Us

Campus Life Office

Sharp Building
37 S. Wabash Ave, suite 201

Director, Campus Life

Laura Lamb llamb@saic.edu

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