Student Handbook

We are pleased to welcome you to Otis College of Art and Design. Otis embraces both foundational skills and emerging technologies, always keeping an eye on the future, especially your future.

Our academic programs prepare Otis College graduates for careers in the creative economy. Your creative voice is part of what brought you to Otis College, and it will gain even more momentum as you connect with and find inspiration from other students and from our accomplished faculty. Otis College programs are rigorous, and the standards are high. We know you will be challenged as a thinker, a maker, and a professional, but you will also be supported.

Otis College is one of the most diverse art and design colleges in the country, with our student demographics representing many geographies, races, ethnicities, socioeconomic backgrounds, sexual orientations, gender expressions, and religious and spiritual identities. Varied perspectives represent the world we live in, and Otis is committed to fostering a community that is multi-faceted and inclusive, while also approaching our work with students through a lens of equity. As you begin this academic year, be open to the many possibilities that lie in front of you.

Get to know our faculty and staff in ways that further support your student experience. Be curious and ask questions, and most importantly, take creative risks and find your passion. You join a distinguished group who came before you who have proven that artists and designers can change the world. Welcome to Otis College of Art and Design. We’re so glad you’re here during this extraordinary year. Charles Hirschhorn President Jiseon Lee