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Campus Update

Update 3/27/20

Several major events that were scheduled for the spring semester have been postponed or canceled.

  • Commencement: Dates are being reviewed for a postponed commencement in late August or September.
  • Annual B.F.A. Show: KCAI’s senior thesis show will be postponed. Plans are being made to host this exhibition in late August or early September.
  • ArtPop: KCAI’s biennial fundraising event is postponed until the End of Semester Exhibition and Sale in December 2020. All events related to ArtPop, including Backer’s Bash and New Friends gatherings will be rescheduled for future dates. Please visit ArtPop for patron and sponsor information
  • Spring End of Semester Exhibition and Sale: This popular event will not take place on campus in the usual format. Instead, faculty members are exploring virtual shows or alternative methods for sharing students’ work with their peers and others.

Information for the rescheduled dates for each of these events will be made available as dates are finalized. Read the full message below.

KCAI EVENT UPDATES

 

Update 3/26/20

Nerman Family President Tony Jones CBE  outlined the college’s plans for partial reimbursements for the studio fees, housing, dining and parking.

  • Major Studio Fees will be refunded at 50%
  • Graduation fees will be refunded for those who have paid and waived for those who have not yet paid.
  • Housing fees will be prorated and refunds will be made from the time a student moved out.
  • Meal plans, both resident and commuter, will be prorated and refunded from the time a student moved out or when campus was closed.
  • Parking permits will be prorated and refunded.

Refunds and credits will be made directly to student accounts by Friday, April 3.

READ THE FULL MESSAGE HERE

Update: 03/18/2020

Dear  KCAI  Students,  Parents,  Faculty,  and  Staff -- 

I write to you today from my self-quarantine following recent travel to the United Kingdom. I am taking all the precautions necessary to keep myself and others healthy and safe. I share this with you because COVID-19 is affecting all of us, which means that we are all in this together. In addition to the regulations of the Department of Education and our accreditors, we have a responsibility to follow and abide by the CDC and local government guidelines in the interest of keeping our campus community safe from the rapid spread of the coronavirus – as well as our larger communities of family members, neighbours, and friends.  This is our moral and legal obligation as citizens.

We are in close communication with our fellow professional schools of art and design, many of whom have followed KCAI’s lead to work remotely. All the colleges we contacted have closed their studios and workshops.  Our faculty are working diligently to deliver a high-quality online curriculum that will keep you earning credit hours towards your degree. As a “making college” the decision to close our facilities and move online was extremely difficult and brings additional challenges. We are sensitive to the ways that this will change your artistic practice in the short term. With studios closed, we are discussing partial refunds of studio fees, and we are exploring creative solutions such as open-access studios this summer for all students, should conditions improve.

We are actively discussing fair and creative solutions for students as they relate to KCAI’s financial obligations and operations. Similarly, we are discussing the Barbara Marshall Residence Hall and how to safely accommodate students who rely on this housing, while also working with those students who are able to move home. It will take us a little bit of time to come up with solutions in the way that is most fair and that honours our students’ diverse needs and circumstances. No simple single plan will work for every student, so rest assured this, as well as open constant communication, is our top priority.

While each of us strives to understand and accept this “new normal,” it is paramount that civility and kindness prevail. I have read your emails and social media posts, and I know that some of you are very frustrated - and so are we. No-one has been in a situation like this. We are in constant communication and working to assess needs, maintain necessary operations, and determine next steps while complying with ever-evolving guidelines and restrictions from multiple sources.  We will be communicating again soon with more specific information, but I ask you to understand this : the situation changes every day, so every plan is a work in progress. 

Until then, be well and stay safe. I ask for your patience as we work through this pandemic –together.
 
Tony Jones CBE
The  Nerman Family  President
 

Update: 03/17/2020

We continue to monitor the situation surrounding COVID-19 and want to keep our campus community informed of our plans. Following the new CDC regulations and Kansas City, Missouri guidelines, KCAI is moving to online classes for the remainder of the semester. We have made this difficult decision in the interest of preserving the health and safety of our students and community.

Students who are home for spring break are encouraged to remain and not return to campus. KCAI studios, classrooms and all public-access buildings will remain closed. Department chairs will be contacting students with further instructions about how to retrieve personal property from campus studios.

While the Barbara Marshall Residence Hall (BMRH) remains open to residents, all students living in the BMRH must complete this housing update form no later than 5:00 pm on Monday, March 23rd to notify us of your plans and may be subject to quarantine based on recent travel. As noted in the form, students who have indicated they would like to pick up their belongings will be contacted by Security to arrange a specific date and time in order to stagger trips and adhere to local restrictions. Questions should be directed to the KCAI COVID-19 Response Team at responseteam@kcai.edu. Due to the swiftly changing nature of this pandemic, we cannot guarantee that the residence hall will remain open if circumstances change.

Wylie Dining will be available to residents only and will be operating on a limited basis. We will be contacting students who have purchased commuter meal plans with details.

At this time, we do not plan to cancel the BFA Exhibition, End of Semester Exhibition and Sale, ArtPop or Commencement. We are evaluating the situation and will make announcements about each event soon. We have cancelled all visiting artist presentations through the remainder of the semester.

This is an extraordinary and challenging time, and we sincerely appreciate your patience and understanding as we work to keep our community safe. Please use this unprecedented time to seek moments of joy and be kind to one another.

 

RESOURCES

Remember to practice preventive steps used during flu season, including frequent hand washing, covering coughs and sneezes, and refraining from touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.

To learn more about coronavirus (COVID-19) we have compiled this list of resources:

https://www.kcmo.gov/city-hall/departments/health/coronavirus

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

http://www.naicu.edu/research-resources/coronavirus-disease-covid-19-resources

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/communication/factsheets.html

 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Understandably, there are a lot of questions. We have compiled a list of the most frequently asked questions here. If you have a question that is not answered in this document, please email responseteam@kcai.edu.

 

KCAI’s 2018 Combined Annual Security Report & Fire Safety Report

KCAI's 2018 Combined Annual Security Report & Fire Safety Report

This report is provided in compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act, as amended. It provides students and employees of Kansas City Art Institute with information on the Institute’s security arrangements, policies and procedures; programs that provide education on such things as drug and alcohol abuse, awareness of various kinds of sex offenses, and the prevention of crime generally; and procedures the Institute will take to notify the campus community in the event of an emergency. Its purpose is to provide students and employees with information that will help them make informed decisions relating to their own safety and the safety of others.

KCAI will also provide a paper copy of this report upon request.

 

 

KCAI Alerts

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The Kansas City Art Institute has implemented a campus-wide Emergency Alert System which will provide emails and mobile alerts to all members of the college community who have signed up. The system is reserved for emergency situations and weather related school closings. Please sign in here to manage your account: https://www.getrave.com/login/kcai

 

For assistance with account setup: https://mykcai.kcai.edu/ICS/Campus_Technology/How_To's/