Basic Needs Emergency Funding
This program is for currently registered students, to assist with purchasing supplies, books and other indirect educational costs needed to be successful at Otis College. Your request will be evaluated based on your demonstrated financial need (FAFSA Expected Family Contribution) or your extenuating circumstances detailed in your application. These are one-time funds that are meant for students facing unexpected situations.
Upon approval, processing time is approximately 3-5 business days.
If you need emergency funding, please contact the One Stop at onestop@otis.edu to apply.
Feed-A-Need Food Assistance Program
If a student is experiencing temporary food insecurity (i.e., can’t afford to eat and/or do not have access to food within a given period of time), students may apply to the Feed-A-Need program once per semester. This program provides students with up to 14 free meals a semester, which can be used within the semester a student has been approved to receive free meals. To qualify for this program, a student must:
- Be a full-time enrollment in a BFA or MFA program;
- Be able to demonstrate need (i.e., disclosing on the Feed-A-Need application the current situation and why the student temporarily does not have access to food);
The application is located on the Student Dashboard at my.otis.edu. Applications are processed within 48 hours. If a student is approved, meals will be placed on the student’s One Card, and meals can be used at Elaine’s Dining Hall only as a meal during meal hours.
Food Pantry
Otis College has an open access food pantry and students who are enrolled have the ability to use their ID Card to access the Food Pantry at any time for any reason, no questions asked. This is open to any student, with no application requirements. Otis College solicits donations every semester from faculty, staff, students, and community members throughout the academic year.
Identification Cards/ One Card
All students are required to obtain an Otis College Identification (ID) Card, available through the Student Engagement and Leadership Office and Campus Safety and Security. Otis College ID Cards remain valid with current enrollment. ID Cards are used for campus access, purchase food in Elaine’s and the Café, pay for laundry, buy supplies in the campus art supply store, check out library materials, tools, and equipment, and to establish a student’s identity as a currently enrolled student. Students are encouraged to treat the ID Card as an important document and to take care not to lose it. Students are required, upon the request of any Otis College faculty/instructor, staff, administrator, administrator, or security guard, to show their ID Card. Under no circumstances should students allow their card to be used by any other person. Lost or stolen ID Cards should be reported to the Office Campus Safety and Security. Replacement costs for lost cards is $25.00.
Personal Appliances
Students are prohibited from bringing personal appliances and personal electronics, including but not limited to coffee makers and teapots, microwaves, refrigerators, hot plates, and televisions to their campus studios. Such items will be removed and held by Campus Security for pick-up.
Posting Policy
The College supports the freedom to publicize activities and distribute materials by internal or external entities relating to functions both on- and off-campus that benefit the College community and are consistent with the College’s values.
General Posting
Approval must be obtained prior to making use of campus facilities for the sale, promotion, posting or distribution of any type of material. All material must have a responsible sponsor stated directly on each piece and adhere to all policies that apply. All printed materials posted or distributed on campus by students and guests must meet the approval of the Director of Student Engagement and Leadership. Printed materials include flyers, posters, banners, announcements and advertisements. Bring your poster/flyer to the Office of Student Engagement and Leadership for stamped approval. Allow 24 hours turnaround time for approval.
Additional Approvals
The Office of Student Engagement and Leadership (or designee) must approve all promotional material for any and all activities before being posted. Career Services must also approve announcements advertising employment opportunities for Otis’ students.
Academic and Administrative office posters do not need the approval of the Office of Student Engagement and Leadership. The promoting group must obtain permission of the appropriate department to post on bulletin boards in Academic/Administrative areas for non-departmental ads.
Literature Distribution
Literature distribution must be supervised by a student member of the sponsoring registered organization. Nonstudents may not distribute literature on campus without specific approval of the Director of Student Engagement and Leadership or the Dean of Student Affairs. Each sponsoring organization will be held responsible for the conduct of the distribution activity, including the behavior of any nonstudent participant. For a complete guide to posting on campus, you should contact the Director of Student Engagement and Leadership directly. Failure to adhere to this policy may result in losing the privilege to distribute or post printed materials on campus for a period of time to be specified by the Director of Student Activities.
Student Activities Fee
Otis College’s student activities fee is a fee based requirement for all enrolled students. The student activities fee supports the co-curricular activities and services produced by the Office of Student Engagement and Leadership. All fees associated with the student activities fee must be used within the purview of Student Engagement and Leadership and are managed by the Director of Student Engagement and Leadership and Dean of Student Affairs. Any proposed use of student fees that lie outside of student co-curricular programming and services within student activities, cannot be done without full engagement of the student community, namely Campus Activities Board (CAB) and Student Union (SU).
Student Education Records - Ferpa
The Family and Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords students certain rights with respect to their education records. These rights include the following:
The right of the student to inspect and review their education records within 45 days from the day the College receives a request for access. Students should submit requests to the registrar, dean of student affairs, department chair, or other appropriate official written requests that identify the record(s) they wish to inspect. The College official will make arrangements for access and notify the student of the time and place where the records may be viewed. If the requested records are not maintained by the College official to whom the request was submitted, that official shall advise the student of the correct official to whom the request should be addressed.
The right to request the amendment of education records that the student believes are inaccurate or misleading. Students may ask the College to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate or misleading. They should write the College official responsible for the record, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading. If the College decides not to amend the record as requested by the student, the College will notify the student of the decision and advise the student of his or her right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the student when notified of the right to a hearing.
The right of consent to disclosures of identifiable information contained in the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent. One exception that permits disclosure without consent is disclosure to College officials with legitimate educational interests. A College official is a person employed by the College in an administrative, supervisory, academic, research, or support staff position, including a member of law enforcement unit personnel and health staff; a person serving on the Board of Trustees; or a student serving on an official committee or assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks.
A College official has legitimate educational interests if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility. The College may disclose certain information, known as directory information, at its discretion without consent. Students may refuse to let the College release any or all of this information. If a student does not want this information released, the student must send written notice annually to the Office of Registration and Records. Forms are available from that office. The College has established the following student information as public or directory information: student name, address, college assigned student email address, telephone number, birth date, major field of study, dates of attendance, degrees and awards received, and the most recent previous educational agency or institution attended. Upon request, the College discloses education records without consent to officials of another school in which a student seeks or intends to enroll.
The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the College to comply with the requirements of FERPA.
The Office that administers FERPA is the Family Policy Compliance Office, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20202-4605
Student Work
All artwork, projects, and other work (including digital work) done by any student while studying at the College or during any official College activity off-campus, are created for educational purposes. The College reserves the right to retain any student work for exhibition or publication, and each student grants to the College such rights to all student work and photographs. When the College has no further need for the student’s work, it will be returned to the student if so requested in advance. Although the College will take caution in the care and handling of the student’s work, the student releases the College from any liability for the loss, theft, or damage of any student work in its possession or control.
Unclaimed Student Work
The College will dispose of any unclaimed materials or work left by students who have graduated, withdrawn, been dismissed, departed for summer vacation, or otherwise left the College. Any work blocking a fire exit, left in a hallway, or other non-storage area, or in any way interfering with the normal activities of the College will be removed without notice. The College will assume no liability for the loss, theft, or damage of any student work at any time. Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS) assignments must be picked up from the LAS office by the end of semester following the semester in which the work was completed.
Sustainability
The College demonstrates its commitment to sustainability throughout its facilities. Ahmanson Hall was retrofitted from a former IBM research facility, while the North Building was retrofitted from a former bank. The Galef Center was designed according to green principles using low-energy glass and HVAC systems. To reduce waste and conserve energy, Ahmanson Hall employs a highly efficient cooling tower heat exchanger system; computer-controlled “smart” variable speed heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC), thermostats, and elevators; and new water bottle filling stations. Across campus gray water is used for the sprinklers, non-emergency lighting is sensor-controlled, hand dryers reduce paper waste, energy-efficient ceramic kilns are fired during low peak hours, and lighting with ballast and fluorescent tubes all save energy and resources. In addition, the Café offers eco-friendly packaging and discounts for bringing your own cups, while College publications use Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) recycled paper and printing methods.
One of the most important ways that students can contribute to Otis College' sustainability initiatives is by separating trash into the proper receptacles on campus, taking care not to mix the different types. Excess materials and supplies can be donated to the campus Resource Exchange (located behind the ground floor wood/metal shop in the parking garage). Students can also trade for needed materials and supplies that may be in stock throughout the year, and on our Annual UpCycle Day, held on the second Wednesday of each fall. Students are also encouraged to carpool, bike or take public transportation to and from campus. More info about Otis College' sustainability issues is available at http://www.otis.edu/sustainability.