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From Michelle Gross, Director of Advising

While many students come to MIAD with a major in mind that they want to declare, many students are also unsure or what many would consider “undeclared” or “undecided.” Whether your student is “decided” or “undecided” about their major at MIAD, it is important that they investigate, question and reflect on the major declaration process. MIAD Advising is committed to helping students become confident about their major decision, articulate why they have chosen their selected major, and be able to intentionally connect their major to a creative life plan.

Continue reading Declaring a Major

Hello MIAD Parents,

It is hard to believe spring semester is underway, and time to file the 2015-2016 FAFSA. Kristina and I will be available to assist you through the 2015-2016 financial aid process again this year.

During the beginning of the spring semester, I will be sending an email to all our current students reminding them that it is once again time to file their FAFSA for the 2015-2016 academic year. The 2015-2016 FAFSA application is very similar to the FAFSA 2014-2015 application. Let’s review:

Continue reading Time to file the 2015-2016 FAFSA

Multiple exhibitions are open at MIAD this Winter Gallery Night, Friday, January 16, 5 – 9 p.m.!

Opening Gallery Night:
Engendered
Frederick Layton Gallery

Curated by current Pfister Artist in Residence and MIAD faculty member Niki Johnson, Engendered engages the contemporary experience of personal identity through artwork that addresses our relationship to the modern body. Find out more.

Continue reading Winter Gallery Night at MIAD is Jan. 16

Part of MIAD’s exciting Winter Weekend is the 2014 Student/Alumni Art & Design Sale, December 4 – 6!

All students and alumni may participate, with proceeds benefiting the participants.

Preview Party:
Thursday, December 4, 6 – 9 p.m., $20 (2 complimentary tickets were mailed to parents)

Friday, December 5, 5 – 9 p.m., Free
Saturday, December 6, 12 – 5 p.m., Free

The Student/Alumni Art & Design Sale is generously sponsored by Blick Art Materials.

Blick is proud to support MIAD students, alumni and faculty in support of the 2014 Student/Alumni Art & Design Sale! Click here for your Exclusive MIAD Coupon.

A message from MIAD’s new Director of College Advising, Michelle Gross –

First, please allow me to take this opportunity to introduce myself. My name is Michelle Gross, and I am the new Director of College Advising at MIAD. I began my position here just 10 short weeks ago and I have truly enjoyed every day that I have been able to come to work at this amazing place. In my years working in higher education, I have yet to come across a place that defines community in all aspects of the word as well as MIAD.

I am confident that your student is having a positive, growing and – most of all – challenging experience at MIAD. Some of the things that make MIAD so special are the support and resources provided and available to students to take advantage of to make the most of their MIAD experience, and to get through the challenging times. One of my responsibilities is making sure that advisors and students are aware of the multitude of resources and support that are offered on our campus. Here are some examples that you and your student have heard about at some point, but may have forgotten:

Continue reading Meet the new Director of College Advising

MIAD parents, partners and families are invited to Winter Weekend!

We’ve put together a whirlwind of activities especially for you to experience MIAD, as well as our neighborhood, which will be alive with the Historic Third Ward Association’s Christmas in the Ward. There is a lot going on in and around MIAD this weekend, making it an ideal time to visit your student and the campus.

We are excited about this opportunity for you to better understand your student’s educational experience, to engage you and your student with the MIAD community, and to strengthen your relationship with MIAD in your important role as your student’s coaches and mentors.

Continue reading Experience MIAD’s Winter Weekend, December 4 – 6

“Don’t be afraid to make very strange and awkward artwork your sophomore year. It is an important step in your education.” – Sophomore Welcome speaker Jenna Knapp ’14

On September 4, just a few weeks into the exciting new Fall Semester, MIAD held its annual Sophomore Welcome. The evening discusses the difficulties that sophomore year brings when pursing an art education, and the ways for students to find themselves in the midst of it.

Giving insight into their own sophomore year experience through quick presentations were alumni Chelsea Atwell ’10 (Communication Design), Arthur Talayko ’11 (Industrial Design) and Jenna Knapp ’14 (Integrated Studio Arts).

General Election Day is Tuesday, November 4, 7 a.m. – 8 p.m.

MIAD students are able to vote in this upcoming election with the required documents and by registering to vote.

Continue reading MIAD students and voting in Wisconsin

MIAD wants to help make sure that your student’s college experience is a successful one.  An important part of college life is money management whether your student’s focus is on student loans or living frugally on a tight budget.

To help you and your student feel more financially confident, we are providing MIAD AccessReady. MIAD Access Ready is a free website specifically designed for students and their families; it offers engaging videos and interactive tools to help you:

• Better understand the financial aid process
• Create and stick to a budget
• Develop personal life-long money management skills

Continue reading A free money management tool for your student & you

As students meet with their advisors in the coming month to plan course selection, one of the most important topics for discussion then, and at every contact point with an advisor, is their career.

Planning is an integral part of MIAD’s Career Program of Study. Advisors work closely with the faculty and the Office of Career Services to help students progress through a targeted plan of specific career objectives during each year of study.

The tool, “Planning for Your Career, Your Design Profession, Your Artistic Life,” was designed by the Office of Career Services to provide students and advisors a “living four-year plan” backed by resources, services and experiences that lead toward a successful career. It is one of many pivotal linkages between the Office of Career Services and MIAD’s academic and advising programs.

Read more for a detailed list by year of study of the career-related activities students should discuss with their advisor during each of their four years at MIAD. After that, we’ll provide more information about MIAD’s career program.

Continue reading Career planning includes key steps each year!

An amazing opportunity for paid internships is available through Career Services, thanks to the Great Lakes Higher Education Guaranty Corporation. Parents, encourage interested students to reach out to Duane Seidensticker and Christina WickHeiser in Career Services to learn more about getting a paid internship.

From the Great Lakes announcement:

Great Lakes Higher Education Guaranty Corporation is dramatically expanding its Career Ready Internship grant, awarding grant money to 40 colleges and universities in four states to help students with financial need reap the educational and career-boosting benefits of paid internships.

Continue reading Internship grants available

MIAD truly believes in the importance of experiences such as Study Abroad for its developing artists and designers. To that end, we are pleased to be able to offer a limited number of need-based grants for students wishing to participate in the 2015 MIAD-led summer short-term study abroad programs to Florence and Ireland.

Grant awards of $500 – $750 will be based on a combination of factors including financial need, quality of the required written statement of intent and will consider student’s cumulative GPA. Applicants must have a minimum 2.5 GPA, no business office holds, be in good academic standing and currently enrolled as a full-time MIAD student. Interested students must submit a complete application package for the 2015 Summer Florence or Ireland programs by Monday, November 17 to be considered for available grants.

Awards are contingent upon the program receiving enough applications to run. Students must return signed acceptance/commitment letter for the program and grant award. Grant award will be applied to balance owed for travel/course fees after required deposit.

Sophomore Interior Architecture + Design and Industrial Design students take over Catalano Square in the Historic Third Ward on Thursday, September 11!

Students participate in this annual event divided into the Making Shelter Project, undertaken by IA+D sophomores, and the Disaster Relief Shelter Project, by ID sophomores.

Beginning at 3 p.m., students will construct their shelters in Catalano Square, and spend the night. Research, Practice and Methods students will also critique a light house sculpture from 6 – 7:30 p.m.

View images from last year’s Cardboard Shelter Project.

Forget the cake, the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design celebrated its 40th birthday with something bigger to cut into – the 80 cascading ribbons for Two50Two, MIAD’s state-of-the-art (and design) residence hall.

Helping make the cut was Mayor Tom Barrett, who joined the participatory and visually thrilling Ribbon Cutting Wednesday, August 27, 3:30 p.m. at 252 E. Menomonee Street, across from the college’s main academic building.

“In gathering for the ribbon cutting,” said MIAD President Neil Hoffman, “we celebrate the vision of the college’s founders, the generosity of its supporters and partners, the accomplishments of its alumni, the hard work of its students, faculty and staff, and the trust and support of its parents.”

Continue reading Mayor joined in 40th birthday bash & Two50Two Ribbon Cutting!

Due to conflicts with earlier programming at the Skylight Theatre, we have to move our Wednesday, August 20 evening orientation program back an hour.

New Times:
5 – 6:30 p.m. Parent & Partner Orientation at Skylight & Student Mural Program at MIAD
6:30 – 7:30 p.m. Dinner in Catalano Square
7:30 – 8:30 p.m. Tours of MIAD by Mentors

Orientation for new fall students is Wednesday, August 20 – Saturday, August 23. Orientation is mandatory, and a schedule of events is now available. Also available is MIAD’s Logistic Packet. The Logistics information includes details on art supplies, parking, meal plans, health services, ID card information, new student orientation dates, and more. We encourage you to read the entire packet thoroughly, and contact your admissions counselor with any questions.

Read the Logistics Packet for First-Time Freshmen.

Read the Logistics Packet for Transfer Students.

May 29, 2014

Dear MIAD Parents:

I am sure your MIAD student is sighing a big breath of relief now that school is finished and summer is officially here. The last month has been a flurry of activity with studio projects wrapping up and final exams. With all of this activity, I am sure it was easy to overlook some important information about MIAD’s student housing for next year. After all, the Fall Semester feels like a distant time and place.

I am writing to personally invite you to consider (or in some cases reconsider) the exceptional opportunity we have with our new MIAD student apartments available for the first time this fall. Perhaps you have decided to have your student live at home. Perhaps your student is discussing options for living off campus. Before you make a final decision, I encourage you to consider the following:
Continue reading A Special Message for Parents Whose Students are Not Signed up for the New Res Hall

MIAD’s largest fundraiser for student scholarships, Creative Fusion, is Saturday, May 3. Set-up for the evening begins at 2 p.m. Students, faculty and staff will not have access to the building beginning at 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 3.

Please plan accordingly when visiting your student at the end of the semester.

A daughter’s diabetes diagnosis, childhood struggles with Asperger’s, understanding human identity through anatomy.

These are only a handful of the captivating inspirations for the MIAD 2014 Senior Exhibition, on view April 18 – May 10 throughout MIAD galleries, and generously sponsored by BMO Harris Bank.

More than 150 seniors representing MIAD’s Bachelor of Fine Arts majors show their impressive and intriguing work. Gallery Night and Day offer the public opportunities to speak with seniors about their work during an Opening Reception Gallery Night, Friday, April 25, 5 – 9 p.m., and Gallery Day Conversations, Saturday, April 26, 1 – 5 p.m. Regular hours for the Senior Exhibition are Tuesday – Saturday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Read more.

A letter from Dean of Students Tony Nowak –

Dear Parent,

On March 23, 2010, President Barack Obama signed into law the Affordable Care Act (ACA), a comprehensive and far-reaching program designed to ensure everyone has access to affordable health insurance. A key component of the ACA is the requirement that effective January 1, 2014, all United States Citizens must have an ACA-qualified health insurance plan.

Continue reading Student Health Insurance and the Affordable Care Act

A letter from Dean of Students Tony Nowak –

Dear Parents,

MIAD will be conducting HOUSING REGISTRATION WEEK during the week of March 3 – 7, 2014. This year’s Housing Priority Registration Deadline is March 21, 2014. An information table will be located in the lower level of the main lobby.

Hours are:
Monday, March 3: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Tuesday, March 4: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Wednesday, March 5: 2 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Thursday, March 6: 2 p.m. – 8 p.m.

The week after Spring Break the information table will again be open during the same hours as well as Friday, March 21, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Continue reading Housing Registration, March 3 – 7