Section 6: Student Life

Housing On-Campus Housing

Primarily first- and second-year students live on campus in CIA-owned housing. Living on campus for your first two years eases the transition of moving away from home while learning the necessary skills of living on your own.

Residency Requirements All unmarried, first-time college students who are under 21 years of age are required to live in the residence hall for their first two academic years. Students with parents or guardians within Ohio’s Cuyahoga County are considered to be within commutable distance to the college.

All first-year students living in the residence halls are required to join the Case Western Reserve University meal plan (a variety of meal plans are available). Most students select CaseCash, which enables them to use the funds on their student ID card, like a debit card, in area restaurants and shops.

Students new to CIA who are 21 years of age or older are not given priority to live in on-campus housing. If students in either of these categories desire to live on campus, they will be put on a waitlist according to the date of their housing deposit. If there is housing available after mid-July, those on the waitlist will be assigned housing.

First-year students live in the Uptown Residence Hall, located on Euclid Avenue, within view of the CIA campus, moCa Cleveland and the Uptown development.

Second-year students live in Euclid 117 Apartments, just across the street from our academic campus.

Limited availability to additional upper-class students is also available in these apartments. Any upper-class student who wishes to live in a CIA apartment can participate in the upper-class student Apartment selection held in the spring. Get there early. Spaces are first come, first serve. Off-Campus Housing

If you are not required to live in the on-campus housing and want to live off campus, Student Life + Housing offers a list of apartment search engines and provides a “roommate wanted” board to assist you in finding a CIA roommate(s). In addition, Student Life + Housing holds several workshops in the spring to assist students in the transition from living on-campus to moving off campus.

Information and forms concerning on- and off-campus housing can be found at cia.edu/housing. Recreational Facilities

Each residence hall has its own fitness room for residential students only.

You can purchase a semester or annual membership at CWRU’s physical fitness facilities near campus. (studentaffairs.case. edu/athletics/facilities/membership.html) The Veale Recreation Center at 2158 Adelbert Road includes four multi-purpose courts; a six-lane indoor track; Veale Natatorium and Donnell Pool; a multipurpose aerobics room; a cardio exercise room; weight room; nine racquetball courts; two squash courts; and a rock-climbing wall. Facilities for track, basketball, baseball, volleyball, tennis and intramural sports are also available.

Another option popular with students (a month-to-month membership available) is 1-2-1 Fitness, located on Adelbert Street on the CWRU campus (onetoone.case.edu).

Activities Student Activities

Looking for something to do on campus? The Office of Student Life + Housing offers a variety of events and programs for you to take advantage of. For example the CIA Activities Board (CAB) hosts activities such as movie nights, improv nights, and drag bingo. If you are into tradition, we have that too! For more than 75 years, CIA students have planned the Student Independent Exhibition (SIE) and no school year since the 1940’s would be complete without the student Halloween party. Our end-of-theyear event, the Pink Pig, is also something that you will not want to miss.

Looking for a way to build leadership skills? The Office of Student Life and Housing offers students opportunities to develop leadership through involvement in clubs and organizations, participation in the emerging leaders program, and serving the greater Cleveland community. In fact, you could end up with one of the coveted Gnomes of Leadership for your efforts in this area!

Please see the Student Life + Housing Office for all the offerings.

Athletic Activities

Need to get out of the studio and stretch those legs? Are you a high school athlete looking to relive the glory days? Stop by Student Life + Housing for information on how to play intramurals at CIA. In conjunction with CWRU, sports ranging from ultimate Frisbee to flag football are at your fingertips. Please see Student Life and Housing to find out how to participate.

Kulas Ticket Program

How about a little culture in your life? The Kulas Ticket Fund, supported through a grant from the Kulas Foundation, allows students to attend performances by the Cleveland Orchestra, Broadway plays and opera for free. Look for advertisements posted on myCIA on our weekly shows. Entering is easy and only a click away.

Student Organizations

Student Leadership Council (SLC) invites you to make a difference on campus! Composed of representatives from academic departments, student groups and other concerned students, SLC meets twice a month to discuss issues they face on campus. They then serve as a bridge between the student body and the faculty and staff.

All recognized student groups receive funding through the Student Leadership Council for their individual events. Student Organizations submit budget requests for activities, speakers, trips, and other fun things. The budget process for the following year begins in February of the previous year.

Student Clubs

There are a variety of organizations and clubs at CIA. If you’re interested in starting a club or organization that does not yet exist, contact Student Life + Housing to get a club application form and find out more about the process. Approved student groups receive funding from SLC to support their activities. Depending on the membership, clubs may be more or less active each year.

Bad Movie Club Who does not love a great “bad” movie? This organization only shows the best movies public content can provide. It also allows for great commentary about them. Come laugh—or cry—at the weekly showings in all of their “bad” glory.

Black Scholars and Artists The BSA vision is to create an environment of diversity through the expression of art and education while uplifting all cultures and ethnicities. Activities include art critiques, speakers, game nights and other social events.

CIA Activities Board (CAB) Need a lift? Jump on the CAB wagon and help plan or just participate in great acts like comedians, illusionists, musicians, as well as activities like Drag Bingo, Tour de Thrift (our annual thrifting trip to prepare for Halloween), an annual T-shirt design contest or a dodgeball tournament. CAB is also responsible for the planning of great CIA traditions like the Halloween Party and Pink Pig, our annual end-of-year celebration.

Community Outreach Team Students at CIA love to serve the community. The Community Outreach Team provides opportunities for service in the University Circle neighborhood and in the greater Cleveland community. Some of the past activities include painting window scenes for the children at Ronald McDonald House, raising money for holiday presents and toiletries for a women’s and children’s home, walking and chalking at the Greater Cleveland AIDS walk, passing out candy for neighborhood children at the Trunk or Treat at Halloween, and making dinner for the residents of the Hope Lodge. The Community Service Club also hosts an Alternative Spring Break service trip where students do a week’s worth of service in New Orleans! Les bon temp rouler!

ColorWheel Whether you are LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer) or an ally, this group works to support LGBTQ students, while educating the campus about LGBTQ issues.

Glass Guild If you are into potlucks and molten hot glass (at the same time!), then this group is for you. Glass Guild not only comes together to talk about their work, it also brings in guest artists to talk to students about different techniques in glassblowing. Best part: You do not have to be a major to enjoy the fun.

Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA) student organization The IDSA is a chapter of the national organization of Industrial Designers. Throughout the year, IDSA members will host guest speakers, drawing nights and social activities for all students, despite being centered on Industrial Design. Additionally, students from IDSA participate in the annual conference and other professional development opportunities.

Intervarsity Intervarsity is a student group that gathers weekly to bring together Christian art students. The purpose of Intervarsity is to promote the spiritual life of CIA students by providing opportunities for Christian spiritual growth through worship, fellowship, training and service. Intervarsity is a local chapter of the larger Intervarsity organizations on many campuses. Ask about their PB+Js!

Latinx Heritage and Appreciation Club LHAC’s main goal is to foster a safe space for those of Latinx/Hispanic descent and those who aim to further educate themselves about the Latinx culture. The group will make sure to spread awareness about the issues that occur within the community, along with encouraging Latinx/ Hispanic individuals to grow in their creative careers.

Photo Club CLICK! Photo Club is a group that discusses the field of photography and critiques each other’s work, brings in guest artists to talk to students (Photography majors or not), and sponsors trips to see shows in the area and other cities like Chicago and New York.

Student Holiday Art Sale Committee Want to make some money? The Student Holiday Sale in early December is an annual event where for $10 you can rent a table and sell your work. Students from a variety of departments come together to sell merchandise the weekend before final crits in fall semester.

Student Independent Exhibition (SIE) More than 75 years old, the Student Independent Exhibition is a time-honored tradition and one of the exhibitions featured in the college’s Reinberger Gallery each year.

The exhibition is sponsored by the Student Leadership Council and offers students the opportunity to introduce their work to the public for viewing and/or sale. Show rules, jury selection, publicity, exhibition design and installation, and the opening reception are organized and coordinated by students. All majors are encouraged to submit work for exhibition consideration.

ZIP Club The ZIP Club’s annual “zine” is an opportunity for students within the CIA community, regardless of major or year, to collaborate on a zine based on a singular theme. The zine allows for students to learn the pipeline of illustrating and formatting artwork intended for print, which is an essential skill to learn before entering the art industry. It also gives students an outlet to work with peers outside of their departments in a friendly and fun extracurricular environment. The zine is a printed project that is available for free to all CIA students (while supplies last).

Supporting Student Enrichment Cinematheque

Founded in 1986, the Cleveland Institute of Art Cinematheque presents new and classic motion pictures—foreign films, independent movies, thematic film series, touring retrospectives, second-run films, and special guests—50 weekends of the year in CIA’s Peter B. Lewis Theater.

Approximately 250 different feature films (or full-length programs of short films) are shown every year (over 450 separate screenings). Many offerings are local premieres. Movies are projected from 35mm film and DCP. The New York Times has called the Cinematheque “one of the country’s best repertory movie theatres.”

Cinematheque screenings are open to the general public (attracting thousands of moviegoers every year) and require an admission fee. But CIA students can attend any Cinematheque presentation for the discounted member price simply by showing their CIA ID at the box office.

The Cinematheque publishes a bi-monthly film schedule. Online listings are available at cia.edu/cinematheque.

Continuing Education + Community Outreach

We offer professional enrichment opportunities for art educators through teacher workshops and our Summer Teacher Residency program, both of which offer CEUs or graduate-credit. CECO coordinates CIA’s summer Pre-College program for high school students who want to experience life as an art student. In addition, CECO is the regional host of the Scholastic Art + Writing Competition for Cuyahoga, Geauga, and Lake counties.

As part of our outreach, CECO partners with organizations and schools to offer in-school and after-school programming and interactive community events to neighbors in surrounding areas.

For more information, visit cia.edu/continuinged.

Galleries at CIA

The mission of the Reinberger Gallery is to serve the Cleveland Institute of Art in exhibiting and fostering the understanding of the finest modern and contemporary art at the highest possible scholarly standards. The programs of Reinberger Gallery adhere to the overall mission of the college, embracing its values of academic excellence, social justice and freedom of expression.

The gallery is dedicated to creating exhibitions that illuminate and reinforce contemporary art, including new media, animation, installation and performance, video, drawing and painting, sculpture, design and craft. The gallery recognizes that the enhancement of the aesthetic experience is essential to fostering understanding of works of art.

Ancillary programs furthering its aesthetic role, such as artist lectures, panel discussions, gallery tours, films and internships have been part of the gallery’s mission since the early 1990s.

The gallery seeks to enrich educational, cultural and artistic communities regionally, nationally and internationally through short-term artist residencies, newly commissioned works of art, and institutional collaborations while being accessible to a public that ranges from scholars to young children.

Public Events

Throughout the year, CIA hosts a wide variety of events that celebrate the diversity of visual art. You’re invited to join us.

For more information, visit cia.edu/events.