Author: MIAD Family Forum

MIAD’s spring semester classes begin this week. Students are attending classes remotely, and are able to access facilities on campus such as studios and labs. The MIAD Innovation Center continues to work with clients virtually and plans are underway for the 2021 MIAD Senior Exhibition.

Updates to 2021 Spring Break Dates
In late fall, MIAD decided to adjust the Spring 2021 Academic Calendar to eliminate the traditional full-week Spring Break. In its place, five individual break days were placed in the academic calendar throughout the semester to reduce traveling.

In late December, a group of students came forward with a request to return Spring Break to a full week. MIAD conducted a survey to discover the comfort level of our student body to do so. With nearly 70% of our students responding, over 90% wanted to return to the full week.

With those results, MIAD decided to eliminate the individual break days and return Spring Break to the week of March 8–12. We encourage students, faculty and staff to continue to make smart choices throughout the semester – including wearing masks and maintaining social distancing – to protect the health of our community.

COVID-19 Testing
MIAD will continue on-campus COVID-19 testing once per week for the foreseeable future this semester, with 25% of students in MIAD-affiliated housing being tested each week. There is limited opportunity for additional MIAD students to get a test, based on availability. 

Throughout the Spring 2021 semester, MIAD also will provide transportation for students from MIAD to the COVID-19 testing site at Miller Park every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Students must schedule a ride in advance due to limited seating. More information is sent to students’ emails. 

On January 11, 2021, MIAD conducted 96 on-campus COVID-19 tests, with 0 positive results in the latest round of testing. To access the latest testing data at MIAD, visit the COVID-19 dashboard.

Important Dates and Deadlines for Spring
Check our blog post on important dates this spring for details on the academic calendar, the MIAD Holiday Sale and more.

Here are the important dates that you and your student should know for the Spring semester. 

January 11: Classes begin 

January 16: Open Enrollment ends 

January 18:  Martin Luther King, Jr. Day; no classes 

February 5 – 6: MIAD Holiday Sale 
Show your love for MIAD students and find one-of-a-kind work created by MIAD students. Works available include jewelry, stickers, sculptures, paintings, prints, winter hats and more. 70% of the proceeds support the participating student artists and designers, and 30% supports MIAD student scholarships. Shop starting on Feb. 5, 8 a.m, at miad.edu/holidaysale2021.  

March 8 – 12: Spring Break; no classes 

March 19: Last day to withdraw from classes

April 16 – May 8: 2021 MIAD Senior Exhibition
MIAD’s annual Senior Exhibition features innovative work of emerging creative professionals who passionately contribute to the world and meet universal challenges in new ways. This year’s exhibit features 160+ artists and designers representing all of MIAD’s Bachelor of Fine Arts majors and minors. More details will be announced later in the semester. 

April 30: Last day of the semester 

May 8: Graduation ceremony
More details to come.

As the Fall 2020 semester comes to a close, MIAD is already preparing for the Spring 2021 semester. 

Important Dates

• First Day of Classes: January 11, 2021
• Last Day of Classes: April 30, 2021
• Spring Break: To reduce travel and mitigate the virus, MIAD has converted its traditional weeklong spring break into single day breaks throughout the semester. The number of days off will remain the same. The updated calendar is at https://www.miad.edu/calendar-galleries/academic-calendar

Spring Classes
Spring classes will look very similar to fall, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. MIAD will continue to focus on the safety and well-being of its community in the Spring 2021 semester. 

We aim to continue providing students, faculty and staff safe access to the facility and labs. Faculty will continue to focus on creating robust online learning experiences and, when possible, will provide opportunities for in-person engagement. Some classes will be fully online—particularly those in Writing, Art History, Sciences and Humanities. In addition, students can choose to study entirely online for the semester.

If infection rates continue to rise, more restrictions may be required at the start of Spring semester, including additional limitations on access to the building. In this scenario, access will increase as infection rates subside. The only thing we can say with certainty is that the situation will continue to be dynamic and we will have to adjust accordingly, just as we have done this fall.

COVID-19 Testing 
In the fall, MIAD received state funding to perform limited COVID-19 testing. That funding ended on November 30, 2020 and MIAD is evaluating testing options for spring. Once determined, details will be sent to students via their MIAD email address.

Fall 2020 semester
Thanksgiving Break is coming up and the spring semester is right around the corner. No classes will be held November 23-27 and the building will be closed November 26-27. To promote safety before students travel home, MIAD will have limited COVID-19 testing on November 16; students were sent a survey to request a test for the 16th. 

Classes resume on November 30 and continue through December 18. MIAD’s academic building will be open for the last three weeks of classes, and students will have limited access between semesters. 

Students wanting building access after Thanksgiving break need to have a COVID test at MIAD on November 30; students were sent a survey to request a test for the 30th. The last day for on-campus COVID testing is November 30. If a student’s travel plans do not allow them to take a COVID test on the 30th, please have them contact Mark Fetherston to discuss alternatives.

All MIAD housing (Two50Two and MIAD-affiliated off-site units) will be open during Thanksgiving Break, the last three weeks of classes, and through Winter Break. Because all MIAD housing is through a third-party lease, students always have access to their apartments. 

Spring 2021 semester
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, MIAD continues to focus on the safety and well-being of its community in the Spring 2021 semester, which starts on January 11. If cases in Wisconsin continue to rise, more restrictions may be required at the start of next semester, including additional limitations on access to the building. MIAD will continue to be dynamic and will adjust accordingly, just as we have done this fall. 

In spring MIAD aims to continue providing students, faculty and staff safe access to the facility and labs. Faculty will continue to focus on creating robust online learning experiences and, when possible, will provide opportunities for in-person engagement. Some classes will be fully online—particularly those in Writing, Art History, Sciences and Humanities. There also will be several short breaks throughout the semester in lieu of a traditional weeklong spring break. Specific dates will be announced soon.

As always, MIAD thanks you for the support you give not only to your student, but also to MIAD, through this challenging and complex time. We appreciate trusting your student’s educational experience to MIAD.

The MIAD Holiday Sale is an opportunity for students to showcase and sell their work to a wide audience. This year’s holiday sale is going virtual and moving to February 5 – 6, 2021. All students currently enrolled at MIAD are invited to submit work to sell in the college-affiliated sale.

Proceeds from the MIAD Holiday Sale support the participating student artists and designers, while also benefiting MIAD student scholarships.

How your student can participate
Registration is now open for MIAD students to sell their work at the 2021 MIAD Holiday Sale. Any student – from first-year to seniors – can participate by selling drawings, photographs, prints, paintings, design work, sculptures, jewelry, handmade gifts and cards, or other work. 

Our virtual platform space is limited, and we expect the spaces to fill quickly. Available spaces will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Students need to submit an application to participate by December 11, 2020. Students should check their MIAD email for the latest updates.

On Monday, October 12, MIAD conducted its first round of on-campus COVID-19 testing. MIAD conducted a second round of testing this week. We’ve received the results and a summary has been posted to www.miad.edu/coronavirus.

We’d like to take a moment to explain what the numbers mean, and what we all can do to help keep the virus under control on campus.

The short version:

• There are currently 4 active confirmed COVID-19 cases on campus. We will maintain an updated list of active cases on the following link: www.miad.edu/coronavirus
• Appropriate quarantine, isolation and contact tracing procedures are underway, in compliance with the CDC and the Milwaukee Health Department. Isolation occurs when an individual tests positive; quarantining occurs for individuals who may have had direct exposure to the virus.
• Students with questions or concerns about COVID-19, testing and other counseling and support resources available can contact covidstudentsupport@miad.edu.
• Students who live in MIAD-affiliated housing and need to quarantine or isolate can order food to be delivered from MIAD food service. MIAD also will work with students to deliver any essential items to students in MIAD-affiliated housing during the students’ isolation or quarantine period. MIAD staff will contact isolated students daily for a wellness check.
• There is currently no indication that MIAD will further restrict access to the building. MIAD encourages students to make use of the labs and studio workspaces in the building, and to participate in small group critiques and other learning opportunities. Students have received information via email on how to schedule an appointment to use the labs and to participate in small-group campus opportunities.
• It is imperative that all members of the MIAD community continue to wear masks, practice social distancing, and wash hands frequently without exception.

More details about what this means are below.

Whenever there is a confirmed case of COVID-19 reported in the MIAD community, the following things will happen:

• The person with the COVID-19 positive test is informed immediately and is requested to go into isolation for a period of time determined by the local health department or medical personnel, typically 10-14 days from the onset of the symptoms or the date of their COVID test if they are not showing symptoms.
• Students in MIAD-affiliated housing who test positive will be given an isolation room in a nearby off-site apartment. Students may return to their apartment once to retrieve key personal belongings, as long as they wear appropriate PPE. It is expected that it will not exceed more than five (5) minutes of time so the student can quickly gather what is needed and roommates can be absent from the room. We recommend that students prepare a “covid travel bag” of essential items to expedite the process if needed.
• Students who live in MIAD-affiliated housing and need to quarantine or isolate can order food to be delivered from MIAD food service. MIAD also will work with students to deliver any essential items to students in MIAD-affiliated housing during the students’ isolation or quarantine period.
• MIAD staff will contact isolated students daily for a wellness check.
• MIAD will conduct contact tracing to help determine who likely has a direct exposure to COVID-19 as defined by the CDC and/or the Milwaukee Health Department.
• People with direct exposure to the virus will be asked to self-quarantine for 14 days from the date of the exposure – even if they test negative during those 14 days. (Please note that the incubation period for COVID-19, has a median time of 4-5 days from exposure to symptoms onset. One study reported that 97.5% of persons with COVID-19 who develop symptoms will do so within 11.5 days of SARS-CoV-2 infection.)
• MIAD will report the case to the Milwaukee Health Department, which will provide additional guidance on an appropriate response.
• MIAD isolation spaces will be professionally cleaned after a student leaves the space. Cleaning quarantined spaces is the responsibility of the student tenants living in the unit.
• MIAD will update the number of cases on campus on its coronavirus information page at www.miad.edu/coronavirus each Tuesday at the end of the day.

MIAD remains fully committed to maximizing student access to the MIAD building and its facilities, and to offer opportunities of in-person interactions between students, faculty and staff. As always, protecting the health and safety of the MIAD community remains our most important task. This is a community effort that requires all of us to work together in partnership to help ensure continued access to the building while keeping the virus at bay.

Here’s how students can help keep the campus open and safe:

• Wear a mask whenever you are in the building.
• If you feel sick, don’t come into the building – Even if you think you don’t have COVID-19.
• If you have tested positive for COVID-19, notify the college immediately at covidstudentsupport@miad.edu.
• If you have a known exposure to a person with positive COVID-19 diagnosis, quarantine for 14 days from the date of known exposure.
  • Please notify the college immediately at covidstudentsupport@miad.edu. We can get you in touch with the proper resources, and help you appropriately communicate with your instructors about your need to quarantine.
  • It’s suggested you get tested. MIAD offers a shuttle service to free testing sites, as well as testing on campus once a week. Getting a test will help keep track of the spread of the virus, and make it easier to contain.
  • Even if you test negative, you should still quarantine for 14 days. The virus can incubate for up to two weeks, so even if you test negative you can become positive a few days later.

It is important for us to treat each other with kindness and compassion, including anyone who tests positive for COVID-19. This is an illness that does not discriminate, and we are all vulnerable to it. The best way to show kindness and support each other is by using the best safety precautions to stop the virus from spreading to others. Stigmatizing individuals affected by COVID-19 can create fear or anger toward ordinary people, and can negatively affect our community. Stigma can also make people more likely to hide symptoms or illness, keep them from seeking health care immediately, and prevent individuals from adopting healthy behaviors. Stigma can make it more difficult to control the spread of an outbreak.

Groups who experience stigma may also experience discrimination. This discrimination can take the form of:

• Other people avoiding or rejecting them;
• Getting denied healthcare, education, housing, or employment;
• Verbal abuse; or
• Physical violence.

Everyone can help stop stigma related to COVID-19 by knowing the facts and sharing them with others.

MIAD continues to work directly with the Milwaukee Health Department and will follow their guidance and expertise.   

Every year, the MIAD Senior Exhibition showcases the culminating work of MIAD graduating seniors. Using their creative problem-solving skills, technology expertise and innovation, students in all academic majors create work that addresses different challenges. 

Each academic major approaches the Senior Exhibition/Senior Thesis differently. Students in Communication Design, Product Design, New Studio Practice: Fine Arts and Interior Architecture and Design have already begun working on their senior thesis projects. For example, Communication Design students have already picked their topics and are moving into the research phase of their projects. Illustration students start on their projects in the spring semester. 

Seniors work with a select group of professionals throughout the entire process, in addition to their senior thesis faculty. They meet periodically to provide in-depth, graduate-level critique, feedback and support. 

The cost of each project varies depending on the major and project. Students have the choice of determining what materials they need for their project.

Estimated thesis project costs for each major: 

• Communication Design: Average $350 (Ranges from $250-$850) 
• Illustration: Average $500 (Ranges from $250-$1,000) 
• Interior Architecture and Design: Average $200 (Ranges $250-$350)
• New Studio Practice: Fine Arts: Average $500 (Ranges $100-$1,000)
• Product Design: Average $1,500 (Ranges from $1,000-$2,000)

The decision of whether the MIAD 2021 Senior Exhibition will be in-person or virtual will be determined at a later date.

This semester is unlike any other and it may be challenging for students to connect with others. However, there are many ways for them to connect with their peers virtually. 

1. Join a student organization. MIAD has more than 20 student organizations and if your student doesn’t see anything they might be interested in, they can create their own! Organization meetings and events are virtual this semester.

2. Check the River Rat Review. Make sure your student checks the River Rat Review sent their MIAD email each week. It contains the latest MIAD news and events for students. 

3. Participate in weekly MIAD Innovation Center virtual hangouts. The MIAD Innovation Center has a weekly community Google Meet “meet-up” that any student can join to discuss anything. Details are emailed to students each week.

As the year goes on, encourage your student to check the MIAD event calendar and their MIAD email for updates on new events and opportunities to connect. 

Dear Parents and Families, 

I am pleased to welcome new and returning students to this fall’s MIAD education. This semester will be a historic one and we remain committed to delivering an exceptional learning experience for our students. 

Faculty and staff have worked throughout the summer to prepare for a safe return to campus. It will take all members of our MIAD community participating in social distancing and wearing masks to keep one another safe and healthy. Among the ways we are encouraging safety: 

• All students, staff and faculty members will receive a MIAD mask and masks are required.
• Hand sanitizer stations are available throughout the building. 
• Digital, hands-free temperature checking stations are located throughout the building.
• Labs are open by appointment only. 

Even though it’s not a normal semester, there are many new and exciting opportunities for our students to nurture their passion and career aspirations:

• The 4th floor has been renovated and designed to add more classrooms and student studio spaces.
• The MIAD Innovation Center has partnered with Nō Studios for free memberships for students. The center is also hosting weekly virtual meetups for the MIAD community and continues to connect students to paid professional projects with clients.
• We continue to fundraise in support of scholarships, MIAD Student Emergency Fund grants and other programs.

Thank you for your patience as we implement our fall plan and for entrusting your student’s education to us. We are excited to help further your student’s learning and career pathway.

I encourage you to check back with this blog often for tips and advice on how you can best support your student this year. Also, if you haven’t already, sign up to receive our monthly Parent Communication Program emails to stay up-to-date.

Jeff Morin
MIAD President

With the fall semester starting soon, check out these important dates that you and your student should know.

August 25–28 – Student Residence Hall Move-In
New out-of-state students move in August 25, new in-state students move in August 26, and upperclassmen move-in is August 27-28. Each student is assigned a move-in time. Students can check their MIAD email for details.

August 26–28 – New Student Orientation
This year’s orientation will be completely virtual. Students will receive information in their emails on how to attend orientation. New students will learn about MIAD, its resources and COVID-19 protocols for the semester. 

August 31 – Fall classes begin
Fall semester begins August 31, and continues without a Fall Break until Thanksgiving Break, November 23 – 27. The semester continues online after Thanksgiving Break until December 18.

September 7 – Labor Day; no classes

September 24 – 4-Week Reports due

October 3 – 2020 Commencement
MIAD’s 2020 commencement ceremony is scheduled for 10 a.m. – noon at the Pabst Theater. Read the graduation blog for more information.

October 22 – Midterms reports due
If your student is struggling, encourage them to reach out for help through tutoring, counseling and other academic support resources at MIAD.

November 6 – Last day to withdraw from classes
This is the last day students can drop a class and receive a “W” on their transcript. 

November 23–27 – Thanksgiving Break; no classes
Following break, students may either return to campus or remain at home to complete the semester online.

December 18 – Last day of fall classes

January 11, 2021  – Spring 2021 Semester starts

As MIAD prepares to begin the Fall 2020 semester, we know you and your student have many questions about courses, safety protocols and other topics. Here’s four ways to stay informed:

1. COVID-19 information and resources web page. View the current Fall Academic Plan, announcements from the college and links to COVID-19 resources, visit the MIAD COVID-19 page. 

2. Fall 2020 FAQs web page. For information on classes, facilities, financial aid, housing, student employment and more, visit the Fall 2020 Frequently Asked Questions page. You’ll find answers to questions such as: 

• How will we complete courses in Fall 2020? 

• What safety protocols will be in place on campus to reduce the spread of COVID-19? 
• Will the Two50Two Residence Hall be open in Fall 2020? 

3. Sign up to receive emails from MIAD. Make sure you are receiving MIAD Family Forum e-newsletters by joining our mailing list. 

4. Follow us on social media. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn 

Earlier this month, President Jeff Morin released MIAD’s Three-Year Equity and Inclusion Action Plan. This Plan is the result of a year-long study into organizational models, high-impact practices for learning and persistence, and analysis of student-reported data, resulting in 27 steps the college will take to serve our community, including our BIPOC, LGBTQ+ and disabled students and the Greater Milwaukee community.

The Plan presents the items MIAD intends to complete or begin over a three-year period. To maintain a defined scope, the Plan does not include all efforts underway or in development at the college. 

MIAD’s most immediate steps include, but are not limited to: 

• Supporting community advocacy: MIAD committed to a $10,000 annual match of donations made by students, faculty, staff and alumni to selected City of Milwaukee nonprofit organizations fighting racial injustice. Students will provide input each fall on the organizations selected.
• Diversifying the college’s faculty and staff: For the next two years, the college will fill vacant faculty positions with AICAD Post-Graduate Teaching Fellows, who are MFA graduates from underrepresented populations nominated by their home institution for college-level teaching positions.
• Educating and training: Anti-racism training and resources will be provided for new first-year students, returning students and all employees this fall, and on an ongoing basis.
• Reviewing policies: The college is reviewing policies to ensure issues of racism are addressed immediately. 

Click here to view the full Three-Year Equity and Inclusion Action Plan.

If you have any comments, questions or ideas, we invite you to share them with our Director of Inclusivity Richard Anderson-Martinez at action@miad.edu.

Director of Inclusivity Richard Anderson-Martinez, with the help of students, put together events for the MIAD community to celebrate Black History Month. These are the upcoming events for the rest of the month: 

“Token or Legacy” exhibition
February 1 – 28, MIAD Student Union
This exhibition of student work highlights a few of many roles Black students must inhabit when navigating college campuses.

The Remix: Hip Hop X Fashion
February 20, 6:30 p.m., Oriental Theatre
Part of Milwaukee Film’s Black Lens film series, this film talks about how hip-hop isn’t merely a music style, but also a fashion aesthetic. A limited number of FREE tickets are available to MIAD students. Students can visit the Resource Center for Equity and Inclusion (Room 240) for tickets. 

Black Creativity Series
A selection of 25 Black artists and designers are featured alongside a piece of their work on postcards found throughout the building. The cards are designed to surface overlooked persons in the larger art history canon. Students can pick up a card at other Black History Month events, the River Level Reception Desk or in the Resource Center for Equity and Inclusion.

We Are What We Do …This Is How We Fellowship
All students, faculty and staff are invited to make a one-minute video using poet and scholar Fred Moten’s sermon at Trinity Church in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. last week. Students can send a downloadable link to their video to peterbarrickman@miad.edu. Videos will be accepted throughout the month of February and be added to a collaborative loop playing in the building. 

Encourage your student to take part of MIAD’s Black History Month events. More information is in your student’s email.