Policies & General Info

Accreditation and approvals

The Kansas City Art Institute is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and the National Association for Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). 

Additionally, the School for Continuing and Professional Studies (CPS) has been approved as a continuing education provider through the Cooperating School Districts of Greater Kansas City and is a member of the Professional Development Network.

CPS is also a member of the Kansas City Collegiate Admissions Professionals organization.

Accessibility

Kansas City Art Institute will take such means as are necessary to ensure that no qualified person with disabilities is subject to discrimination due to KCAI facilities being physically inaccessible or unusable by persons with a disability. The accessibility standards required by federal law for existing facilities is that the program or activity, when viewed in its entirety, must be readily accessible to handicapped persons.

KCAI may meet this standard through such means as reassignment of classes or other services to accessible locations, redesign of equipment, assignment of aids, alteration of existing facilities and construction on new accessible facilities. KCAI is not required to make structural changes in existing facilities where other methods are sufficient to comply with the accessibility standard described above.

Because scheduling of classes and arranging for accessible facilities may require reasonable advance planning, students with disabilities should identify themselves one month or earlier before the start of the class and indicate the type of accommodation they will need.

Address inquiries to Ronald Cattelino, executive vice president for administration, Kansas City Art Institute, 4415 Warwick Blvd., Kansas City, MO 64111; 816-802-3431 or rcattelino@kcai.edu.

Art Store

Before you buy anywhere else, come by the KCAI art store and check out our prices and supplies.

Hours during the school year
7:45 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Wednesday
7:45 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Friday
11 a.m.  to 5 p.m. Saturday through Sunday

Hours during the summer
8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed for lunch noon to 1 p.m.) Monday through Friday

Computer usage

Computers are used in KCAI classes for art making and research. At no time should KCAI computers be used for Internet surfing or game playing unless it is directly related to a lesson, and the instructor has approved the usage.

Course Information

Course Formats

CPS classes come in a variety of formats. One-day, two-week, four-week, six-week, eight-week and 10-week classes. Classes are offered during the day, evenings and weekends. Times are picked based on the audience served in the class. Course formats change in the summer for youth and high school students to week-long.

Course outlines and syllabi

CPS provides course outlines for its classes available online with each class. (Please note that not all course outlines are online.)  Course outlines are a basic document that gives the customer a good understanding of what they can expect of the course.

A syllabus will be provided by the instructor on the first day of class. The syllabus is a document that conveys the instructor’s personal plan for teaching the course and encourages creativity and academic freedom.

Supply lists and materials fees

Supply lists are provided online with classes that require students to purchase their own supplies. If a supply list is not provided, then a materials fee will be indicated when purchasing the class. CPS will provide the materials for the course if a fee is charged. Occasionally, a class may have a supply list and materials fee.

Attire

When attending class at KCAI, please wear clothing that can get dirty.  Feel free to bring an apron or shirt to cover your clothes.

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Credits

Undergraduate

Some KCAI continuing and professional studies courses are available for one hour of undergraduate college credit.  High school juniors or seniors may take selected continuing education courses and earn college credit.  There is an additional fee supplement if a class is taken for credit.

Graduate

KCAI offers graduate level classes for art educators but does not offer a graduate degree.  These course credits are non-cumulative towards a graduate degree.  Art educators should check with their respective institutions to ensure that credits transfer prior to taking a class.

Transfer Credits

Students desirous of transferring credit earned at KCAI to other institutions should check with their academic advisors at those institutions for acceptance of credit before enrollment at KCAI.

Change from non-credit to for-credit or for-credit to non-credit

Students enrolled in a non-credit course are not allowed to change to for-credit status once a class has begun.

Students enrolled in a for-credit course may change their status to non-credit through the third class. Once the third class has been completed, status may not be changed.

All graphic design and multimedia studies certificate program classes are credit only.

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Discipline policy

KCAI wants to foster an atmosphere of learning for each and every student. Students who act out in class create a disruptive atmosphere. For this reason, any student violating our policies will be handled in the following manner:

  • The first infraction will be addressed by the instructor, and the student will be told what modifications to his/her behavior is needed.
  • The second infraction will be addressed by the instructor, and the student will be told what modification to his/her behavior is needed and he/she will be given a five-minute time out and returned to class.
  • The third infraction will be addressed by sending the student to the program director for the remainder of the class, and a conference will be held with his/her parent about whetherhe/she will return to class. 
  • If there is a fourth infraction, a student may be removed from class.
  • Refunds will not be given to students with behavior issues.

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Discounts

Course discounts

All discounts exclude graduate level classes, certificate program classes and Unbottling Creativity™  workshops.  Only PDN members will receive a discount on the grad level classes for art educators. The following discounts are ongoing through CPS:

  • KCAI Alumni: 10%
  • KCAI auxiliary group members (membership must be current): 10%
  • Senior citizens (60 plus; must provide a copy of driver's license): 10%
  • Clay County senior citizens: Additional $30 per class per semester is available for all Clay County senior citizens through Clay County senior services. This discount can be used in addition to the regular senior citizen discount.
  • Warwick Society: 30% (each participant is allowed one discount per semester)
  • Professional Development Network, a branch of the Cooperating School Districts of Greater Kansas City: 25%

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Computer software

In order to purchase software with an educational discount, you must follow the purchasing requirements and provide academic proof relative to each company. This information can be found on their websites:

http://www.journeyed.com/students
http://www.academicsuperstore.com/
http://www.adobe.com/education/students/

Academic proof

To print a copy of your enrollments go to your enrollment history page.

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Emergency alert system

All faculty, staff, and students are advised to subscribe to the KCAI emergency alert system. In the event of an emergency, subscribers to this system will be notified via text message. To subscribe, use your mobile phone to text KCAIALERT to shortcode 78247. Additional information may be found on the Web at http://artnet.kcai.edu

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Enrollment information

Maximum and minimum numbers

All CPS classes are assigned a minimum number (the number of students a class needs to convene) and a maximum number (the number of students a class can handle based on room size and class type).

How to enroll

Visit www.kcai.edu/artforeveryone

  • Click on "Sign up online"
  • If you have not enrolled before you will need to create an account before adding a class to the cart.
  • If you are enrolling more than one student under your account email you will need to create a profile for each person.
  • If you are enrolling more than one student make sure you change profiles and pay for each student individually.
  • If you have an account - login using your email and password.
  • Add class(es) to cart – proceed to checkout
  • Choose discount if applicable
  • Pay for class. We accept Visa, MasterCard, Amex and Discover.
  • Print receipt for your records. KCAI Continuing and Professional Studies students who enroll online are asked to print this for their records when enrolling; we are not able to regenerate this document for you.

To print a copy of your enrollments go to your enrollment history page. If you wish to use a paper enrollment, print an enrollment form.

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Field trips

Some classes have supervised field trips that may be scheduled during class time. Field trips are on foot for those under 18 years of age and in close proximity to KCAI. Adults may be asked to meet for class at another location for course enhancement.

Within KCAI classes, field trips may be taken to explore and learn about different art. On any off-campus field trip all students are to conduct themselves in a polite and courteous manner. Students are to remain with their instructor and supervisors. Any student violating this policy will be addressed in accordance with our discipline policy. Permission for field trips is given during registration. 

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Food and drink

No food or drink, except water, will be given to students under 14 years old without permission by parents due to possible allergic reactions or parental concerns.

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Hotel accommodations

Many art educators make our graduate level classes a weekend getaway. Below is information on hotel accommodations. 

Main campus

Holiday Inn on Main Street
Marriot on Main Street

North campus

Argosy Casino Hotel & Spa
Hilton President, Downtown
The Marriott, Downtown

Hours of operation

Business hours

8:30 am to 5 pm Monday through Friday

Instruction hours

Courses are offered during the day, evening and weekend hours and fluctuate depending on the session. Consult your course schedule for instruction hours.

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Incomplete

An incomplete (“I”) may be given at the discretion of an instructor only in exceptional documented cases such as illness, family emergency or other extenuating circumstances.

The School for Continuing and Professional Studies will enter a grade of “I” in the WebReg system if the following process for granting an incomplete has been followed.

The student must complete the work and the incomplete grade must be reconciled within six weeks after the end of the session or prior to the beginning of the next regular session (whichever is earlier). If the incomplete is not cleared within the specified period, the grade will automatically default to a failure (F).

To be eligible for an incomplete, a student must otherwise be passing the course at the time his or her semester is impacted by the extenuating circumstances. Students who are on academic probation or special continued probation are not eligible for incompletes.

Download a policy procedure and incomplete form.

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Injuries

Any student injury requiring minor or major medical attention will be reported promptly to campus security. For minor injuries requiring a simple band-aid, the band-aid must be applied by the student or staff must use disposable gloves if blood is present due to the possible spread of blood borne illnesses. If there is a major accident, 9-1-1 will be called and in the case of under 18 years old parents will be alerted.

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Library policy

All CPS students are welcome to use the Jannes Library during regular library hours. If you wish to check out materials, adult students enrolled in courses at least six weeks or longer may purchase a limited-term library card for $10. If you wish to apply for a library card, please present a valid picture ID to the library staff. All library materials must be returned and fines must be paid before your library card expires.
 
There may be a waiting period before receiving a library card.

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Minors

Signing in and out

Parents or their designated party must sign students, ages 6 to 14 in and out for each class. No student may come to or leave campus without a designated party signing them in or out.

Illness

All sick students will be sent home. Parents will be called at home and work numbers to alert them that their student is ill. If a student is found to have a communicable disease or illness other than a cold, parents in the class will be alerted.

Parent pickup

Parents or their designated adult must pick up students ages 6 to 14 years old within 10 minutes of a class ending. All students are to be picked up within this timeframe. If needed, make arrangements with another parent or family member to pick up children promptly. For pick up other than the parent, another person must be designated on the enrollment sheet as someone who can pick up the child or the program director must receive a written permission slip from a parent before the class starts. No child will be released without appropriate permissions. For any child remaining 15 minutes past the end of class, parents will be assessed a $15 per hour. fee.

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Models

Drawing the human form is an important part of art classes and so are the models that make this possible. KCAI has a policy of respect for all of our models. For classes involving students up to the age of 14, all models will be clothed. For high school classes ages 15 to 18 years models may be either clothed or nude at the discretion of the instructor. For adult classes (18+), models will be nude unless otherwise determined.

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Non-discrimination

KCAI is committed to a policy of non-discrimination on the basis of race, sex, national origin, ancestry, disability, age, religion, color, creed, sexual orientation, marital or parental status in admission, educational programs or activities and employment as required by applicable laws and regulations.

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Payment options

Continuing and Professional Studies takes the following forms of payment:

  • Cash, check or money order: Do not send cash through the mail and make sure your payment is included with an enrollment form. Cash payments must be for the exact amount.
  • Credit and debit cards: Mastercard, Visa, Amex and Discover
  • Online with a credit card; mail an enrollment form with a check or money order; or walk in an enrollment with any of the above forms of payment to either the main or North campuses.

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Permissions

When a student creates a profile the following permissions will be requested of either the parent/guardian or the adult student:

  • Use of nude models (ages 15 and over)
  • Field trips
  • Photography
  • Injury and medical attention

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Photography

Occasionally, KCAI takes photographs and videos for marketing purposes. When enrolling a student in a class, permission can be given on the form. If there is a concern about photographs, please contact Ruth Kartman at 816-802-3333.

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Refunds

Continuing education, certificate program and graduate level courses

Refunds for classes are calculated based on the date the continuing and professional studies office is officially notified of a student withdrawal. Non-attendance is not considered a withdrawal; we must receive a phone call, fax, letter or e-mail. All drops are assessed a $25 processing fee before refund. We do not pro-rate class fees if you are unable to attend, nor will we grant credit for a future class because of your non-attendance. Lab fees are fully refundable if you withdraw from the class up to five business days prior to the start of class. After this cutoff, no refund will be given for lab or material fees since supplies will be ordered and received.

  • If a class is three or more sessions long: 100 percent up to five business days prior to the first class minus $25 processing fee; 50 percent up to and including the second class meeting minus $25 processing fee. No refund will be given if a withdrawal occurs after the second class meeting.
  • If a class is one or two sessions the policy is: 100 percent up to five business days prior to the first class minus $25 processing fee. No refund will be given if a withdrawal occurs after the class starts.
  • All tuition and fees will be refunded automatically if a class is canceled due to insufficient enrollment.

Refund Policy for intersession degree classes for the community

  • KCAI has adopted the following withdrawal policy to establish charges based on the amount of time completed in the enrollment period. All students who withdraw from KCAI during an intersession will be charged a $35 administrative fee per course. Studio and materials fees are not refunded.
  • Liberal Arts refund policy (16 class meetings): 
  • 100% refund if withdrawn on or before first day of class
    90% refund if withdrawn during classes one through two
    50% refund if withdrawn during classes three through four
    25% refund if withdrawn during classes five through eight
    No refund after class eight.
  • Studio refund policy (25 class meetings):
  • 100% refund if withdrawn on or before first day of class
    90% refund if withdrawn during classes one through three
    50% refund if withdrawn during classes four through six
    25% refund if withdrawn during classes seven through 12
    No refund after class twelve.
  • All tuition will automatically be refunded within four weeks if a class is canceled due to low enrollment.

Any refund will be credited back in the form it was paid, ie. if you pay by check you will receive a check, etc. Checks may take approximately four weeks to process.

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Physical contact

KCAI believes in a positive atmosphere for students to create. There is to be no threatening behavior by instructors or students. There will be no aggressive or threatening physical contact between instructors and students, or student and student. Any aggressive or threatening physical contact will be addressed by our discipline policy.

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Security and safety

KCAI’s main campus is an urban campus and has 24 hour, seven-day a week security on-site.  If you need any assistance, please contact the security officer on call at 816-931-6666. Emergencies dial 911

KCAI’s North campus is located in Riverside, Mo. If there is a non-emergency, contact the Riverside police at 816-741-1501; emergencies dial 911.

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Student IDs and access cards

Access cards are required to enter any KCAI main campus facility. North campus will issue access cards as necessary. Access cards are issued the first day of class on the main campus.

For students enrolled in continuing education courses and graduate level classes, visit Mineral Hall at 4340 Oak St. 10 to 15 minutes before class to sign for and pick up an access card. The card is free but there is a $50 replacement fee if not returned. Your instructor will collect it during the last class or you will need to return it to our office.

Student IDs are only available for KCAI degree students and certificate program students. Certificate program Students (graphic design, multimedia studies and fine arts) will receive instructions in their welcome letter on how to obtain a student ID/access card.

Lost IDs/access cards should be reported to security immediately since they are access cards to enter buildings.

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Student respect

Students attending KCAI’s School for Continuing and Professional Studies program will treat each other with dignity and respect. This overarching premise informs all we do. Any form of physical or mental abuse will not be tolerated from students or instructors. Any concerns will be addressed by our discipline policy.

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Subject matter and art making

KCAI Continuing and Professional Studies program supports the development of ideas and subject matter through art making. However, if a student is showing harm to themselves or others through controversial or inappropriate subject matter, CPS staff reserves the right to intercede if necessary.

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Transcripts

Request a transcript online. Call 816-802-3371 with questions.

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Weather

KCAI uses local news channels, our website and a recorded message to alert students if a class is cancelled due to weather. If weather becomes hazardous during a class, for example a severe storm or tornado, we will take appropriate action based on our campus safety plan. During the summer, if a day is forecast to have a heat advisory, all outside activities will be limited to 15 minutes of exposure or will be moved inside for the safety of students.

Main campus decisions are made by 3 p.m. during the weekday or 6 a.m. on weekends.

For evening classes:

1. Check the TV and radio stations
2. Check www.kcai.edu. If classes are cancelled it will be posted on the website.
3. Call 816-802-3333 and listen for the prompts.
4. Call KCAI Campus Security at 816-931-6666.
For weekend classes:
1. Check the TV and radio stations
2. Check www.kcai.edu. If classes are cancelled it will be posted on the website.
3. Call 816-802-3333 and listen for the prompts.
4. Call KCAI Campus Security at 816-931-6666.

North campus decisions are made by 3 p.m. during the weekday or 6 a.m. on weekends.

The North campus will base inclement weather decisions on the Park Hill and North Kansas City School Districts. To find out if your class will be held, call 816-802-3333 and listen for prompts to hear a recording.

Tornados

Each building/room has a specific area where students/instructors are to go in the event of a tornado.  

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CPS Enroll

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Click here to enroll today in a class at the School for Continuing and Professional Studies at KCAI.

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