Allow 24hr Access for SAIC Students

My daughter is Presley Baldwin and she will be a senior this fall. She is in the fashion department and has used the studios after hours both in the mornings and evenings for her projects the past three years. This is a huge disservice to all of the students who not only go to school full-time and work full-time and have the flexibility to do their work on my schedule that works best for them. To illuminate over eight hours of studio time is unacceptable. Sincerely, Todd Baldwin.

It is absolutely **impossible** for students working on animation projects to complete any sort of quality work without overnight access. As a student who utilized this in the past, it's unfortunate that working overnight is needed for our workload, but it is a necessity regardless. I would be outraged if I was expected to complete my thesis film with this restriction. Getting a job in the animation field is hard enough, especially with the limited resources the institution gives us to find a job, but without the proper time to complete high quality work, you are effectively neutering the student body from ever entering the workforce.

As the parent of a Class of 2026 student on the Fashion Design path, I am extremely concerned and disappointed by the recent decision to reduce studio access hours. This decision is not only detrimental to students’ education but is also unacceptable given the significant financial investment families make in an SAIC education. 24/7 studio access is not an optional perk — it is a core requirement for students to meet the rigorous demands of their coursework, especially going into Senior year when she also has a job after classes, and late evenings are sometimes the only chance she gets to do studio work. Restricting hours undermines the very program the university markets and charges premium tuition for. My student is now expected to produce the same level of work with fewer resources, while paying the same high cost? The university has a responsibility to provide the facilities and access that students (and parents) were promised when they chose to attend. Cutting studio time (especially her senior year!), without consultation or meaningful alternatives, changes the terms under which these students enrolled. Reducing studio hours limits their opportunity for exploration, creativity and collaboration, all of which are at the heart of SAIC’s reputation for excellence in the arts. I am requesting an immediate review of this policy and a clear explanation of how the university intends to restore the access students need. This extremely compromises the quality of education for which students and families are paying. Please understand that this is not a minor inconvenience — it impacts students’ ability to create, learn, and meet program requirements. If this decision stands, the university risks eroding trust, damaging its reputation, and failing to deliver on the commitments made to its students.

A main reason as to why so many student come to school the access facilities if not the most important reason and for there to not be a noticeable amount of resistance to the circumstance. it seem as if the schools goal is not to provide access for there students. This news is incredible concerning and beyond disappointing. I hope and advocate to have the access to facilities for students whom have traveled so far and dreamed so long to have this very access .

PLEASE!!!!

24/7 access to studios is an incredibly important aspect of this school. Considering that some classes end at 9:45pm- that allows close to zero time for saic’s artists to do what they do best.

People pay a lot to attend. This is breaking the student catalog, the contract you agreed to with the student.

begging and praying

For students who work multiple jobs this hinders the ability to finish assignments.

I am fr graduating spring 26, and this is what they decide to do as i need to prep for BFA show???? Im a fiber student!! do they expect me to dye at home if i cant make it to the studio??? what about my painting and drawing friends who practically live in 280???? what about the print student who cant do anything without studio access????? what are we supposed to do???? give up and submit half ass art cause our schedules don’t allow us to utilize the studio during “open” hours??? is that really what this prestigious art school has come to????

My daughter would not have excelled at SAIC without after-hours access. I fund it very short-sighted for administration to make a decision like this, especially without student input.

This is absolutely ridiculous!!! What kind of art school doesn’t allow 24 hr access to studios? Is this a joke?! I have never heard such a thing. A solid 50% of my friends and colleagues went to school for fine art. All of us were there in the middle of the night and wee hours of the morning.

I understand that it effects our financial situation due to the big beautiful bill but there has to be a way to compromise more equipment in the dorm buildings due to the new time restrictions

My student is a senior and will likely be needing the extra hours and access

24 hour studio access is standard for every art school ever, this is nonsense. My theory? The school used overnight passes as a metric to show that students don’t work overnight enough to justify having security but in reality most students avoid the passes and hide from failures it because it’s annoying and pointless and the school knows that. I think we can afford seven staff overnight

I need the studio at 3am. The best artwork happens at 3am. Do not let a corporate collective do tact art making. Let Saic be a hold out for creative endeavors. You will get more students and money for capitalism.

This is crucial for us to meet our project requirements and especially for seniors to achieve work worth showing to employers. Students have part time jobs and rely on 24 hour access to produce work